photo found here
but I just got back into the University grind. I will try my best to keep the blog updated on a more regular basis.
In this post, I basically just want to discuss the shocking scene in Arizona - the attempted assistanation of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the murder of several people at a grocery store.
This is a tragedy, plain and simple.
Sadly, America loves their guns and right-wing extremism. These two factors likely contributed to the disaster that happened in Arizona. This isn't to say that other components were not at play in this shooting. However, it is important that this case, and others like it, serves as a cautionary tale to America's gun lovin' ways.
I doubt I have clarified my feelings on guns, so i'll take this space to do so now. As a Canadian, I have not been exposed to many guns in my life, at least other than hunting rifles. I grew up in a rural farming and mining community that hunted extensively for food not sport. No one in my community had any hand guns or fancy automatic weapons like the ones available in the US. Frankly, I like that we don't have handguns being exchanged like bubblegum. The US, in my opinion, needs a real overhaul of their gun laws.
I hate guns. I don't care who has them. I hate weapons and anything that perpetuates violence. I do not support the idea that everyone has a "right" to arms, as they believe in the US. Many Canadians would agree with me, i'm sure.
The fact that someone could enter a store in broad daylight with a regsitered hand gun is terrifying. Clearly, the gun owner was not stable or "protecting" himself, yet he still possessed this firearm.
So, obviously this has led to many news groups in the US and elsewhere to question America's love of guns. The media has questioned American gun laws before, think about Columbine. Will it be any different this time around?
Will Americans start to really challenge the deeply bigoted tea partiers and other right wing fanatics living in their country? Will the people continue to support violent rhetoric spewing from the mouths of rich, white men?
What can we take from this event? How can we change? Better yet, will we ever?
Please let me know how this tragedy affected you or the people in your community. How do you feel the media is handling the story? I love comments, so feel free to leave me your thoughts.
I'm an American, and I agree that generally speaking this country is too into its guns. I grew up in a rural community where there were guns for hunting as well as for "protection". Most of the hunting that goes on there is for "sport" and any meat that is consumed is a bonus. The real prize is the stuffed animal head the hunter gets to display in his/her home. (There are women who think hunting is "cool" or will make them "one of the guys" which is a whole other issue that I could rant all day against.)
ReplyDeleteThe amount of gun violence that has happened in the small town I grew up in, just during the time that I've been able to be aware if it, is shocking. Or at least it should be. I think there is an overall desensitization to violence that is taught to many people as they grow up. It's packaged as "entertainment", much like misogyny tends to be, and therefore its impact on us is veiled.
I saw the waste of time that is the film "The Expendables" recently. At the end one of the guys in the room said, "So, what exactly was the plot?" I outlined what I saw, which really wasn't much. The response: "Well, that's a lame story, but the explosions were AWESOME!"
Me: I'm not entertained by violence, especially when it has no purpose and there are no repercussions for it.
Guy: It's just a movie. It's not like stuff like that happens.
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI did know some people who genuinely hunted to gather food for the winter, but i know where you are coming from. Thing is though, not every family has a gun and it seems to be that way in the U.S, but i can't say with 100% assurance since I haven't met every Canadian. It's just not in our culture to tote guns around, i guess.
I agree with you with violence and desensitization. I don't think guns even freak most people out. I shot a gun once into the air, a 22. rifle when i was a kid. That was the final time. I had no joy in it, it scared the hell out of me. But yeah, there is a definite desensitization to violence that helps perpetuate it's existence.
But as you said, look at the films today. The expendables...yeah, just a big testosterone-fest of fighting and blood without plot. No one wants a plot anymore, they just want to cut to the blood. It's like porn, they don't want plots, they want gonzo.
I admit to watching some violent films, I'm a horror junkie. But i admit, i have been horribly desensitized. I can remember the films i used to watch and the ones that would shock me, now nothing seems to shock me...and that's really sad...
I know I'll be getting a gun at some point. As long as the police and military have guns, I think it is best if citizens have guns. In general, I think the government is more dangerous than the general civilian population.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, cops kill people all the time, and usually they don't even get arrested for it. Here's the most recent post on Cop Block about a police officer killing someone: http://www.copblock.org/1591/swat-murders-68-year-old-grandfather/
Anastasia,
ReplyDeleteI guess we definitely disagree on that one. Here, in Canada, it wouldn't even be considered normal to just own a fire arm...I can't even picture people walking around with guns like they do in say, Arizona.
I do believe that guns are dangerous, regardless of who has them (the state, the cops or the people) i dislike all of them. I definitely get what you are saying - i think though, but my heart feels so strongly against guns.