How Could Shooting Happen? Just Read the Comments
If the conversation below the articles are any indication, we're becoming a nation of narcissistic label-makers. It's no wonder someone took it to an extreme and shot six people.
Shan Gill, 15, (right), helps light candles for the vigil outside Brookfield's Sikh temple Monday night.
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It was shocking and saddening to read as events unfolded on Sunday, and I don't know that I was prepared to deal with it.
I'm not talking about the shooting at the Sikh temple. I'm talking about the tone of the conversation that followed the articles that were posted.
In a time like this, people need healing, consolation and support. What they got was a continuation of people so entrenched in their own political and social beliefs that they couldn't take their eyes off of themselves to realize others were hurting around them.
Granted, there were a few of you who tried to remind people where the true focus belonged, but folks were already on a roll, calling each other "morons," "liberals," "gun nuts," and likely worse. Statements like this reflect people who find it easier to paint a stereotype of people they feel oppose their opinion than to actually understand them. It likely is how the gunman painted the worshipers on Sunday.
While I don't feel the shooter would have acted any differently if "he would have just gotten to know the Sikh religion," as such hate is so warping to the psyche, it's not too late to ask you all to do the same.
Politics will always exist, but put aside your own need to be understood, and try understanding someone else for a change.
If you could relay a personal message to the members of the Sikh temple, what would it be?
Tell us in the comments.
James R Hoffa
3:40 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Did you honestly expect different from this crowd?
There was also a large influx of national commentators to those stories, probably courtesy of the HuffPo, that tended not to help matters much in this regard, although there were those with the appropriate focus.
All we can do is try - after all, we're only human.
Heather Asiyanbi
4:31 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
@Hoffa - I did expect different and a helluva lot better, to be honest. These innocent people were shot in their place of worship and everyone just has to get their opinion out there and damn anyone who might be hurt in the face of the shooting.
I'm with Denise on this one - grow up and remember the world, truly, does not revolve around you (not you, Hoffa, but you know what I mean).
Denise Konkol
10:32 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
@Hoffa....I'm still not hearing an answer to the question posed at the end of this, unless this is what you'd like to say to those who are grieving. If we are human, why can't we remember that at times like this and stop arguing. No one needs HuffPo's courtesy to comment, but we're asking for your united prayers of support. If you can't give that, don't comment.
James R Hoffa
12:15 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
@Denise -
Of course Hoffa sends his condolences to those who are and will be grieving for a long time to come. Hoffa did this on all the main articles covering the tragedy and only responded against those who were attempting to politicize this tragedy in one way or another. A review of Hoffa's comments on those boards will reveal such to be true.
Hoffa ALWAYS prays for those who are in pain - not just in the aftermath of a tragedy such as this. Even more important, and in honor and memory of the unjustly fallen, Hoffa also prays for understanding, civility, respect, and peace. Hoffa would also like their family members to know in their hearts that their loved ones did not die in vain, as this tragedy has awakened our community's awareness of hate, has brought the righteous together, and will only act to strengthen our community for a long time to come.
The best way to honor their memories is by rejecting fear and embracing love - even towards those that would do you harm. That doesn't mean that people should make themselves easy targets or not take actions to defend themselves or preserve life if faced with such a situation, but love is the only concrete proven way to truly defeat real evil.
By turning a tragic situation into something positive, the victims and the grieving end up prevailing in the end. As a community, we all owe them at least that much!