Rouxbarb 18

RouXbarB (Bobowen Reflections) #18 August 1, 2012 ~ Bang Bang Bang…and Then It is just as accurate to say that the country is as much “caught up” in the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat tied to the 2012 Olympics as it is with the still painful memory of the movie theatre shooting in Aurora, Colorado a few weeks ago. My sense is that the commentaries and personal conversations will continue until…yes, until the next tragedy of this nature occurs. I am not even remotely suggesting that there is a semblance of anxious anticipation on my part for such a reoccurrence. Rather, that in all likelihood, nothing as in NOTHING of substance will emerge or evolve to head off such an eventuality. There is irony in much of life and although I don’t recall the specifics, I recently heard that America is NOT the most heavily armed country; but that the rate of death by guns is higher here than elsewhere on the planet. The kicker for me is a focus on a failure or unwillingness to make the connection between factors which are directly tied together. A starting point is the national ATTITUDE about violence in general and guns in particular. It would be one thing (although not admirable) to say that Americans are either indifferent or blasé about violent behaviour. Sadly, violence toward one another (civilian against civilian, gang against gang, etc.) is all but worshipped. The rougher, the tougher the better. Violence is readily equated to courage, assertiveness and pride. There is no question (for me anyway) about the direct carryover into amateur and professional sports. And then there is the unbelievable and continuing pattern of violence toward animals. And yes, I must include that whole range of video so-called “games” in which “the enemy” is zapped with the indifferent speed of a button push. My own contradiction is that I am less bent out of shape by the violent electronic syndrome of the sofa than I am over what happens DAILY on our seething streets. The tragedy of our often rather strange attitudes (which, by nature, are internal) is that such attitudes find a way of materializing. That is, making themselves known or felt(!) in the real world that, of course, is well beyond the comfortable confines of our living rooms with their respective flat or fat screens. So during these still sadness-laden post-Aurora weeks the country is (again!) mired in arguments or discussions about guns or no guns. If guns, what kind and for what purpose? Or, a key conversational piece, how many? Referring once again to something I recently read, a man proudly noted that he has 100 of them and thousands of rounds of ammo. Quite frankly I am not sure if this is a sign of unbridled hubris or classic human insanity. What I am sure of is that in the absence of taking another, long overdue look at how and why Americans define either Americans or Americana – that all inclusive pattern of what we think, feel and DO – Aurora will move from a true human tragedy to an unfortunate bit of collective slippage from what should have been a calm night at the neighbourhood movie theatre. YUP and YES and INDEED….guns don’t kill people. They have neither minds nor methods nor self-contained means to do ANYTHING other than to look mechanically attractive or silently menacing. It is MAN (as in human) who brings these feature or factors into “play.” Maybe, in the last analysis (ha!) the best friend a gun ever had or will have is an equally attractive gun rack! Or maybe we might sensibly conclude that in light of that fact that, unless they are used as a battering instrument, guns don’t kill people, BULLETS do, outlawing bullets is the way to go. Now, all one can hope, dream or even pray for is a movement – as only Americans can mount a movement – TO OUTLAW BULLETS!! Then a “bang” will be safely reduced to the way a female curls her hair…….This very thought is infinitely more healthy and pleasing than worrying about some fool picking up “the tool” and doing his stupid and inhuman thing.