Friday, July 20, 2012

A Brief Reflection on Reality


At 1:03 am on Thursday, July 19, a mad man (that is the only description he deserves) opened fire in a sold out showing of The Dark Knight Rises. Twelve innocent people (as of this typing) lost their lives and countless others were injured. This truly horrific scene seems like something that almost belongs in the fictional world of the film that was playing during this tragedy. Sadly it was all too real.

As more and more facts are revealed as the investigation continues, I am sure nothing will be able to make sense of this. It is a senseless event. When people lose their lives in battle, society somehow justifies it as part of some noble pursuit. But innocent civilians being shot for nothing other than sitting to enjoy a highly anticipated film? There is no way to justify that.

The cruelest of ironies is that these people were shot while watching a film about a character that disparages the use of firearms. I know much politicizing will be done on both sides of the aisle of the gun debate, and I will most likely be sickened by both sides. The twelve who died do not care what side of the debate you are on. They can’t anymore. That right has been robbed from them.

Instead of fighting to find someone to blame (beyond the shooter who I was happy to learn is in custody) I think that this tragedy should make us all reflect on the world around us. We must not become the thing that destroys us. This tragedy was the act of a mad man. Let us not become mad men trying to stop another one from occurring. Hug your loved ones on this day of mourning.

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