Even as the nation (as a whole) is reeling in the aftermath of the Orlando ISLAMIC TERRORIST attack and murders, several more peaceful Muslims have committed more murders and attempted murders around the nation, including a TERRORIST shooting and hostage-taking that is happening right now at a Wal-Mart in Amarillo, Texas. Someone has astutely observed today that "we are at war!"
After the murders in Orlando, then after all the expressions of shock and sympathy, an interesting discussion has emerged. Even as shocked, angered, and grieving people around the nation were trying to take in this latest attack, to comprehend the deaths and the sadness of the survivors and loved ones, news commentators began calling the Orlando murders the "largest mass killing" in this nation's history. Indeed, the number of dead has overshadowed the loss of life at Ft. Hood, Texas, at Virginia Tech, at the Boston Marathon, and even all the way back to the killing of over thirty people who were dining at a Luby's Restaurant in Killeen, Texas. I suppose this sort of comparison somehow begins a sort of recovery process.
Unbelievably, to me anyway, suddenly "posts" began appearing on Facebook, and probably on other "social media" as well, "correcting" the newscasters and us "ordinary persons" as well by informing us that the worst mass murder in American History occurred at Wounded Knee in 1890, when United States cavalry troopers began murdering Lakota Indians who had just been disarmed by the same troopers. The story I have heard all my life about this "massacre" is that over 200 Lakota Indians were killed, and that was that. But a little more study indicates that during the process of disarming the Lakota, and BEFORE anyone had been injured, a Lakota shot and killed a cavalry trooper. OF COURSE the troopers returned fire. It was suddenly a life or death matter for all involved.
When the shooting was over not only were several Lakota dead, but so were more than twenty US soldiers. Yes, after the firefight, most of the remaining Lakota were murdered, although it would be a stretch (at least in the minds of the surviving soldiers that day) to say that the murders were in "cold blood." I would venture that in fact the soldiers were "hot blooded" and were seeking revenge for their just-killed colleagues. Nonetheless, this was a very dark incident that certainly marred America, and certainly it was still a criminal and inhumane slaughter. I get it, and I agree.
But...
What I have seen on the Internet in the past two days has been disgusting as well. It seems that people are doing their darnedest to try and "one up" the Wounded Knee Massacre by listing other "massacres" that have occurred in the United States since almost as soon as the ink on the United States Constitution was dry. Please get a grip, people! Yes, those things occurred and yes, those things are disgraceful since they were perpetrated as state policy by the "most peace-loving nation in the world." But now, in just hours after the terror and killing in Orlando, and now other localities as well, now we should be coming together in support of each other, in support of our fellow Americans who have been killed by a group of people that seems bent on destroying this nation as we know it.
By the way, the various massacres have been studied, documented, lamented, decried, denounced, and commentated since the middle of the nineteenth century. The massacres cannot be denied and we, as a nation, have grown to the point that we do not want to deny them, but to make sure that such things never happen again, at least not as a part of national policy. If you want to read a well-written and documented study of such things, I direct you toward Ward Churchill's On The Justice of Roosting Chickens.
Of course those terrible things occurred in America, perpetrated by Americans. But just now I think it would be far more productive and helpful if Americans stopped trying to "one up" the Orlando murders and instead start trying to support each other and help each other begin the healing process. And the healing process will be a long one. First, of course is the shock and sorrow. But later, as some of the shock and surprise begins to fade, a sense of fear and helplessness may set in. I have already talked with people who literally are afraid to go anywhere, because Islamic terrorists may show up ANYWHERE and begin shooting at ANY TIME. And really, this has always been the case. Government agencies and laws may help protect us, but in reality anyone of us could become the target of a terrorist at any time. This is reality!
Given the reality that we live in now, I believe we need to draw together, support and love each other, and join each other in being vigilant as we go about our daily activities. And no, we should NOT go about our lives in fear. We live in what is still a great nation. We enjoy what is still a great amount of freedom. We have much to be thankful for. And we have some work to do. First and foremost, we need to go on with our lives, do the things we usually do. IF WE DO NOT CARRY ON, THE TERRORISTS HAVE WON and there is no point in going any further.
But if we have not succumbed to this "terror," another thing we must do is to resolve to support our fellow countrymen in the face of any new attacks, and there can be no doubt that new attacks will occur. We also, as a nation, must come to grips with a past that is spotted with many events, including massacres, that we are not proud of. Then, instead of denying that those things happened, we must take steps as a nation to insure that those things do not happen again.
May God be with those who have lost friends and loved ones, and....
God Bless America
After the murders in Orlando, then after all the expressions of shock and sympathy, an interesting discussion has emerged. Even as shocked, angered, and grieving people around the nation were trying to take in this latest attack, to comprehend the deaths and the sadness of the survivors and loved ones, news commentators began calling the Orlando murders the "largest mass killing" in this nation's history. Indeed, the number of dead has overshadowed the loss of life at Ft. Hood, Texas, at Virginia Tech, at the Boston Marathon, and even all the way back to the killing of over thirty people who were dining at a Luby's Restaurant in Killeen, Texas. I suppose this sort of comparison somehow begins a sort of recovery process.
Unbelievably, to me anyway, suddenly "posts" began appearing on Facebook, and probably on other "social media" as well, "correcting" the newscasters and us "ordinary persons" as well by informing us that the worst mass murder in American History occurred at Wounded Knee in 1890, when United States cavalry troopers began murdering Lakota Indians who had just been disarmed by the same troopers. The story I have heard all my life about this "massacre" is that over 200 Lakota Indians were killed, and that was that. But a little more study indicates that during the process of disarming the Lakota, and BEFORE anyone had been injured, a Lakota shot and killed a cavalry trooper. OF COURSE the troopers returned fire. It was suddenly a life or death matter for all involved.
When the shooting was over not only were several Lakota dead, but so were more than twenty US soldiers. Yes, after the firefight, most of the remaining Lakota were murdered, although it would be a stretch (at least in the minds of the surviving soldiers that day) to say that the murders were in "cold blood." I would venture that in fact the soldiers were "hot blooded" and were seeking revenge for their just-killed colleagues. Nonetheless, this was a very dark incident that certainly marred America, and certainly it was still a criminal and inhumane slaughter. I get it, and I agree.
But...
What I have seen on the Internet in the past two days has been disgusting as well. It seems that people are doing their darnedest to try and "one up" the Wounded Knee Massacre by listing other "massacres" that have occurred in the United States since almost as soon as the ink on the United States Constitution was dry. Please get a grip, people! Yes, those things occurred and yes, those things are disgraceful since they were perpetrated as state policy by the "most peace-loving nation in the world." But now, in just hours after the terror and killing in Orlando, and now other localities as well, now we should be coming together in support of each other, in support of our fellow Americans who have been killed by a group of people that seems bent on destroying this nation as we know it.
By the way, the various massacres have been studied, documented, lamented, decried, denounced, and commentated since the middle of the nineteenth century. The massacres cannot be denied and we, as a nation, have grown to the point that we do not want to deny them, but to make sure that such things never happen again, at least not as a part of national policy. If you want to read a well-written and documented study of such things, I direct you toward Ward Churchill's On The Justice of Roosting Chickens.
Of course those terrible things occurred in America, perpetrated by Americans. But just now I think it would be far more productive and helpful if Americans stopped trying to "one up" the Orlando murders and instead start trying to support each other and help each other begin the healing process. And the healing process will be a long one. First, of course is the shock and sorrow. But later, as some of the shock and surprise begins to fade, a sense of fear and helplessness may set in. I have already talked with people who literally are afraid to go anywhere, because Islamic terrorists may show up ANYWHERE and begin shooting at ANY TIME. And really, this has always been the case. Government agencies and laws may help protect us, but in reality anyone of us could become the target of a terrorist at any time. This is reality!
Given the reality that we live in now, I believe we need to draw together, support and love each other, and join each other in being vigilant as we go about our daily activities. And no, we should NOT go about our lives in fear. We live in what is still a great nation. We enjoy what is still a great amount of freedom. We have much to be thankful for. And we have some work to do. First and foremost, we need to go on with our lives, do the things we usually do. IF WE DO NOT CARRY ON, THE TERRORISTS HAVE WON and there is no point in going any further.
But if we have not succumbed to this "terror," another thing we must do is to resolve to support our fellow countrymen in the face of any new attacks, and there can be no doubt that new attacks will occur. We also, as a nation, must come to grips with a past that is spotted with many events, including massacres, that we are not proud of. Then, instead of denying that those things happened, we must take steps as a nation to insure that those things do not happen again.
May God be with those who have lost friends and loved ones, and....
God Bless America
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