Tragedy

I am appalled that the media is using a senseless tragedy such as this past weekend's shooting in Arizona as a "cause celbre". Each article I read in the mainstream media points a finger at politicians, at radio personalities, at gun laws. Is it just a feeble bid to find something to blame besides the shooter? If you're going to do that then tell me...what TV programs does he watch, what movies, what music does he listen to? Are these at fault also?

Now while the political climate is, at times, hostile adn while there is room for much growth in attempting civil discourse between all of us...these things are not the cause.

The blame lays solely on the shoulders of the shooter. He is a human and we human beings are flawed creatures. We live in an imperfect world. Alexander Solzhenitsyn has said, “If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?” Evil exists in all of us and it has since the beginning of time. Think of Cain and Abel.

The lesson, if there is one from this tragedy, has nothing to do with political rhetoric...it's that we need to see, understand and do something about the mentally ill within our communities. Don't get me wrong, even though I believe he is mentally unbalanced, he has shown he was able to plan and follow through with this horrific event. He must be held responsible for his actions and judged for them.

Our prayers for healing for all the the victims and may the grace and peace of Jesus Christ be with all who have been affected.