of Christmas Past.
The Ghost
of Christmas Present
The Ghost
of Christmas Yet to Come.
"Before I draw nearer to that stone to which you point," said Scrooge, "answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only?"
11 comments:
Most searing line of the story is delivered by The Ghost of Christmas Present, " . . . for it may be that in the sight of Heaven you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man's child." Dickens was talking to the British government, but he could have just as easily been talking to Ayn Rand . . . Ann Coulter . . . Rush Limbaugh . . . John Boehner . . . Ronald Reagan . . . Bill O'Falafel . . . Eric Cantor . . . any number of anonymous-yet-witless tea-heads . . .
Chilling yet brilliant post.
You know what all these mass shootings boil down to? Terrorism. Not a terrorism with any political purpose or underlying organization. Terrorism based on the rage of nihilistic men who feel like they have nothing to lose, so they might as well hurt a bunch of people.
You know those soulless, remorseless killing machines that Americans imagine Muslim terrorists to be? They’re within your own population, America! Any man, at any place, any time, might suddenly go off like the gun-carrying equivalent to a car bomb.
Wouldn’t you say that an increasing feeling of terror pervades America because of the Reign of the Gun? I’ve read news stories that the elementary school where this latest mass murder occurred had locked doors; that people had to be buzzed in. I’ve seen comments by other people that similar systems are in place at schools all over. A far cry from when I went to elementary in the 1960s. Why? I reckon it’s because of Columbine, and so many smaller custody battle-related shootings.
Part of the reason for the oppressive brutality of American police officers is because they now regard any civilian as a potential shooters, so they’re going to Taser, pepper-spray or just plain blow away anyone who makes them feel hincty. How many other says can you think of that Gun Terror has warped life in the U.S.A.?
Maybe if the media and a critical mass of Americans started referring to gun madness as terrorism, public attitudes would change. But I think it’s too late. America is infected with the gun terror virus, and it’s too deeply rooted to go away. Welcome to Terror World, America, a world that will go on and on and on.
Another idea to consider: these ghastly murders will continue. The Colorado cinema wasn't the last one, this won't be the last one. Among the next few will be a really horrendous murder maybe a pre-natal ward. Old Person's center. Heck, maybe even an airport terminal.
It won't stop until it is stopped.
Is this the tipping point? Is this the event that finally pushes us to make long overdue changes not only in our gun laws but in our culture? I have my doubts. We call our selves the land of the free and home of the brave. But when I look around I see a bunch of cowards, clutching their guns, terrified of whatever imaginary threat their leaders told them was "out ta get 'em."
Making changes will take courage and strength, qualities lacking in those who think owning arsenals is the only thing protecting them from the hordes of scary comminist muslim mexican black gay terrorists coming to rape and kill them. This isn't a land of freedom and bravery. This a land of cowardice and fear. Changing the gun laws Is not nearly as important than fighting the fear that motivates the gun violence.
Is this the tipping point? Is this the event that finally pushes us to make long overdue changes not only in our gun laws but in our culture? I have my doubts. We call our selves the land of the free and home of the brave. But when I look around I see a bunch of cowards, clutching their guns, terrified of whatever imaginary threat their leaders told them was "out ta get 'em."
Making changes will take courage and strength, qualities lacking in those who think owning arsenals is the only thing protecting them from the hordes of scary comminist muslim mexican black gay terrorists coming to rape and kill them. This isn't a land of freedom and bravery. This a land of cowardice and fear. Changing the gun laws Is not nearly as important than fighting the fear that motivates the gun violence.
Connecting these particular dots is very important--great great job! Chris
Matthews had one of these Tea Party fetishists on last night and utterly missed the opportunity to demolish the guy's insanity--although within a minute he had moved from advocating arming teachers and janitors to saying that it was guns that kept the government "scared". There is an obvious connection between Treyvon Martin and this massacre.
Bill- if you're waiting for Chris Matthews to demolish some wingnut's insanity, you have a LONG LONG wait ahead...
Is this the tipping point? Is this the event that finally pushes us to make long overdue changes not only in our gun laws but in our culture?
It's only the tip of the iceberg, not nearly enough to make the berg tip over. When it's one 10+ death-shooting per DAY in Amerikkka, then the change impetus will get serious. When it's one 10+ death-shooting per day per STATE (on average, shooting/day numbers slightly lower in less populated/crazy states outside the Ol' KKKonfederacy) then you'll see change HAPPEN. It's just going to take a lot of cold dead hands first. I'm counting on a million-hand march.
Bukko,
As someone else said, the change will come when someone rich gets capped. As long as it is poor people being killed, companies that produce guns and survival rations are good financial investments. Otherwise, the blood of children and the poor does not pay for campaign adds.
Mike.K.
Where are the leftist/anarchist assassins when you need 'em, Mike? In the late 1800s into the turn of the 20th Century, there were all sorts of crazed killers operating from the Left side of the political spectrum. They knocked off several European prime ministers, a U.S. President (McKinley) and one of 'em touched off World War I by whacking Archduke Ferdinand. Back then the gunmen focused on politicians, instead of bankmaggots and economic potentates as they should do now. When the 10th CEO is mowed, we'll see some change.
Course, I don't know when that will happen. I'm non-violent, which is part of the reason why I decamped from the U.S. My big mouth would have led my sneaky hands to do something bad, and I don't want blood on them. Arson, yeah, that would be a different story. You'l know The Revolution is ON! when the 100th WalMart has been burned and looted.
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