Who Are The Good?—The Bad?

Once again the American people have witnessed a school shooting—another horrendous scene played out on the TV screen in homes across the nation.  It was the 22nd  school shooting of 2018.  Ted Cruz said, “There have been too damn many of these,” suggesting the government must act to keep criminals from gaining firearms.  Governor Abbot said, “It’s time in Texas that we take action,” promising that roundtable discussions with parents, students, concerned citizens and other would begin as soon as possible.  “We want to hear from everybody.” So “once again” we hear the platitudes and the promises offered in the midst of anguish and pain. Once again the issue of gun control, mental health,  school security, etc., ascend to the forefront of our national attention for a few days—and then—and then, it all disappears, forgotten until the next time. As one Houston lawmaker put it:  “Y’all been sending thoughts and prayers for two freaking decades.”

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo probably spoke for many of us when he posted on Facebook last night:  “Today I spent the day dealing with another mass shooting of children and a responding police officer who is clinging to life.  I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve shed tears of sadness, pain and anger.  I know some have strong feelings about gun rights but I want you to know I’ve hit rock bottom and I am not interested in your views as it pertains to this issue.  Please do not post anything about guns aren’t the problem and there’s little we can do….”

There was a disturbing reference by the politicians yesterday to the “evil, criminal, deranged and heinous” persons who commit these mass shootings.  This is disturbing because if we pin the blame on an “evil” person, it absolves the rest of us (society, politicians, government, me and you)  from any culpability.  It is a kind of “blame it on the Devil” mentality and the corresponding attitude that Police Chief Acevedo alludes in his post, “and there’s little we can do…”

The use of the word “evil” for persons who commit horrendous crimes is not new, but it is dangerous.  It is dangerous because it is a form of scapegoating.  It is just as wrong, in my thinking, as calling another human or group of human beings, animals!  It is also a judgment I’m not sure any of us (who assume we are so good, so right and so sane, etc.) are qualified to make.  I urge everyone to remember the Amish grandfather of that other school shooting in 2006 who forgave the killer and the Amish community who also forgave and reached out in compassion to the killer’s family.  It is a dangerous over-simplication to believe that some people are innately ‘good’ while others are innately ‘evil’ or ‘bad.’