The only thing really known so far about the horrid news yesterday from Texas: The gunman, identified by law enforcement officials as Devin Patrick Kelley shot and killed 26 people at a Baptist church and injured about 20 more..
Among the dead: A 5-year-old. The pastor’s teenage daughter. Conflicting reports still indicate that a 2-year-old may have been among the dead.
Also conflicting: How the shooter died. Did he commit suicide and die in a ditch? Did the cops find him after a high speed chase and he died in a ditch? Or did a set of good samaritans also fully loaded end up killing him in a ditch? Regardless of the factual progression of events, the key ending to the short live of Devin Kelley is that he died in a ditch after murdering others.
The usual suspects will debate gun control.. the right will say it’s a mental health issue while the left will say it’s about the weapons.. Meanwhile, it seemingly does not matter anymore.
Just one month ago, a concert in Vegas was struck by violence with a mass shooting .. though that situation disappeared into the vast black hole of space and time media coverage wise, the horrible event still has ramifications. Along with the yet to be determined reason why Paddock took up arms and killed, we have this: At least 7 witnesses to the event in Vegas are now gone after strange encounters with Death, almost like a diabolical real life plot of a FINAL DESTINATION movie..
This new event could not have been at a worse place: A house of worship. One of those buildings that the lessening amount of Americans who worship still find solace and peace.
Sutherland Springs Texas has about 360 people or so.. To say small town is an overstatement. It has one gas station, a blinking yellow light, a post office, and a Dollar General. That blinking yellow light may have been the most controversial thing in town. A New York TIMES story details how some in town wanted to change it to a red light because of recent traffic accidents.
Now the Texas community where quite literally people know each other by name is besieged by media vans and cameras.. The light of the national press corps will continue for a while. Until the next tragedy. Until the next shooting..
And when that occurs, the plight of Sutherland Springs will be forgotten, like so many other places around the nation hit hard by violence this year.
You can let the darkness creep into your mind easily when you watch the daily dose of news and blues. IT’s not good out there, is it? At least, it is seemingly not good. Sure the majority of people don’t commit random acts of atrocities. But those who get the national limelight, the attention that don’t deserve. We know them by name as a rule, and now instead of getting to know the victims, just remember the number. From Columbine to Sandy Hook, schools have been beset by fear.. from office parties to now concerts.. to now houses of worship. No place safe..
The light of God must shine through you in order for you to become Him. The strength is there.. each mind has the capacity to bring goodness into this world.
The only problem is being hit down time after time.
National trauma of some sort seemingly began around 9/11. And never stopped since.
And over the past year, whether it was because of political anger or just strife in general, we have been barraged by news of global earth changes, population upheaval, political recklessness, bombastic bastards, and random acts of violence that far outpaced anything of recent memory.
Yes, this is America the violent. America the disorderly.. the conduct unbecoming of a nation that once was at least trying to unite under one flag. Now, with the flatter torn and continuing fraying, the only thing that seems to bind us together are the tears over hatred and murder. But those tears dry…and when they do? The usual fighting begins anew.