Posted on 01/16/2011 8:26:36 PM PST by danielmryan
A base, natural reaction to danger or a threat to a creature's well being is, in many instances, to eliminate the threat; it is just that simple. Even to Jared Loughner's twisted mind in the recent Arizona murders, he needed to eliminate the threat of, apparently, the government's use of grammar to control him and others. The closest representative of this government, unfortunately, was the local congresswoman.
There is no rational explanation for the murderer's actions, only the tragedy of severe mental illness ignored. The discussion du jour should be if it is possible to identify these types of people and provide them the help they need before they harm themselves or others. The discussion should not be the irrational and disgusting political finger pointing spectacle carried out by so many; it is just that simple.
In some instances, there seems to be a natural human inclination to seek other explanations for this type of aberrant behavior. As example are the many conspiracy theories to explain the John F. Kennedy assassination. It appears to be a human inclination to disbelieve that someone perceived to be consequential (in this example JFK) can be eliminated by someone perceived to be inconsequential (Mr. Oswald). To some, there seems to be a need to believe that there is an explanation separate from that which is obvious, or just that simple.
In this instance of the Arizona murders, some on the "left" in our country seem to inherently worry about ulterior motives beyond the simple and obvious explanation. Worse, many on the left seek to play on the human foible desire to infer a more complex explanation. They have attributed a separate, more sinister political explanation to this tragedy, thereby "targeting" their political enemies.
Arguably, the left seems to have an intuitive, deep seated fear that as they seek to control more and more of others freedom and liberty, that those whom they exert their will over may remove the threat, it is that simple. Alternatively and/or in addition to the first explanation, there are others on the left who seem to believe that individuals simply cannot be trusted to interact with one another in other than a stimulus-response, barbaric way. Some on the left apparently fear we citizens are too base, too close to the raw aspects of nature to be trusted with the means to eliminate a threat.
This inherent, deep-seated fear of other citizens by those on the left historically plays out in two main trains of thought in the liberal mind; controlling speech (thoughts) that disagrees with their speech (thoughts), and disarming citizens. We see this in the current rush to develop legislation to control political speech and additional gun control. Unfortunately for the leftist's, these two issues are specifically protected by the U.S. Constitution.
These two Constitutional protections are recognized as god-given rights of individuals, off-limits to government control, and are clear and concise foils for the leftists. These rights of free speech and the means of self-defense are, through the genius of the U.S. Constitution's framers, just that simple. One need only reflect on the leftists' apoplectic response to the recent reading of the U.S. Constitution as a reminder of the disdain with which the left holds these types of basic, simple ideas.
A bit unique to Americanism is the gut reaction of being uncomfortable with special recognition of some over others. There are no kings or potentates in America, we are all equal. In the case of the Arizona murders, the federal representative and the federal judge being wounded or killed in many ways has been portrayed as more important or newsworthy; they are depicted as special people.
These special people appear to warrant more recognition, even a higher penalty for harming these officials. This apparent lack of proportionate recognition portrays that mere citizens may die as a matter of the daily grind of life, but we all must be especially aware of and mournful over harm to the special ones.
All of the Arizona victims deserve equal recognition. The 9-year old girl Christina Greene has had some attention due to her age, but Dorothy Morris, Dorwan Stoddard, Phyllis Schneck, and Gabriel Zimmerman, and the others wounded but not dead equally deserve no less recognition than the federal judge or the federal representative.
The Arizona tragedy should remind us of the fallen state of man, the frailty of the human mind and human life, the smallness of so many politicians and the politically motivated, the largeness of all those who quickly helped subdue the shooter and helped the victims in the aftermath, the equal value of each human life lived here on earth, and the humbleness afforded through providence that there but by the grace of God go you or I. It is that simple.
Robert T. Smith is an environmental scientist who spends his days enjoying life and the pursuit of happiness with his family. He confesses to cling to his liberty, guns and religion, with antipathy toward the arrogant ruling elites throughout the country.
Good article. Thanks.
“Even to Jared Loughner’s twisted mind in the recent Arizona murders, he needed to eliminate the threat of, apparently, the government’s use of grammar to control him and others”
And then the Left took up that loony screed from a madman and concocted the theory that it was Sarah Palin that was the one sending secret mind control messages to the guy’s decoder ring.
Spouting the same theories as the crazy guy doesn’t help your case.
Well said Mr. Smith. Hear, hear!
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