Confederate Flag

With all the media attention, it did not take long for someone to ask me what I thought about the Confederate Flag. My response was, "Do you mean the flag atop of the Dukes of Hazard car?" Growing up in New York, that sums my personal experience of that flag: a TV show I knew as a teenager in the early 1980's. Then I wrote a longer response, which I will share with my readers.

Flags are symbols. Symbols can mean something at one point of time, yet something completely different at another point of time.

The Nazi swastika, for example, was used as far back as 12,000 years before Hitler, as a sun symbol in India. It was also used by ancient Greeks, Chrisitans, Celts, Druids, Arabs, Native Americans and Buddhists. The word "swastika" in Sanscrit means: It is, well being, good existence and good luck. However, through the actions of Hitler and the SS, that symbol now has a far more sinister meaning in the global perspective. Their actions changed its meaning.

Likewise, the confederate flag was once a sign of the unified South (USA). Yet it has become associated with racism, bigotry, segregation, hate, lynchings, arson and violence. Much of this (but not all) was directed at the African Americans from the end of the Civil War through the 1960's. Growing up in the North, I did not see any from the 1970's onward -- until recently.

It reappeared on a National level when Obama became President, with an uptick in violence and hate. Not just toward African Americans, but against homosexuals, Muslims and any others whose appearance, lifestyle and/or beliefs do not match those hating.

I have seen a shocking level of hate spewed from Republicans toward Obama, and anyone and anything associated with Democrats or Liberals. Sadly, many of these people are self-proclaimed followers of Christ.

I can only guess that this hatred stems from either (or both) of two reasons: (1) Republicans are sore losers from the last two Presidential elections, or (2) Obama is Black and there is still bigotry and racism in some American hearts.

The Confederate flag is still a symbol of unification, but now used by those who degrade and hate others, as well as think themselves superior or on higher moral ground. While defendants argue the Confederate flag is a symbol of Southern heritage, like the swastika, it has been recast by the words and actions of negative people and become a symbol of elitism, bigotry, violence and hate. I am not against its historical symbol, but I am against the latter.

~ ESA

Reflections on Taft Union

While my prayers join with others for the students and community of Taft Union following the shooting, I do want to share an observation with my readers.

The shooter was bullied.

The shooter mentioned he would like to take steps to end his torment, but no one listened.

No one stopped the bullies.

The news media covered, covers, and will continue to cover violence done by people, which can seem to a desperate mind the one resort left to stop the torment of their lives.

While I certainly do not condone what transpired today, as no one should be on either end of that scenario, I would like to share my thoughts.

The focus of many, including the US President, will be on gun control... not bully control.

I was an outcast in school, and still have the scars today to prove it, inside and out.

While steps should be taken to ensure the safety of our citizens, especially our children, perhaps we should view a root cause, which is how we as a society respond to bullies.

May we see a time where no one needs to fear.

...or take such sad desperate measures. :*(

~ESA

News link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/10/taft-union-high-school-shooting-teacher_n_2450578.html 

Bang, Bang - You're Dead

I've read, wept and prayed over the tragedy in Aurora. I've shed tears and pray each time I hear news of violence. Yesterday, the news struck closer to home, just outside the Empire State Building in New York. While I no longer live in New York and work in Manhattan, it is where my roots are.

There are many who will use this and other recent shootings as a platform for gun control. New York has the strictest gun-control laws, yet several people were shot on the street during rush hour yesterday. It has happened before in New York. I remember stepping off the commuter train at Grand Central Station and someone in the crowded mass of humanity was shot 20 feet from me, in the middle of morning rush hour.

And I still clearly remember the 5:35.

On December 7, 1993, there was a mass-shooting on the 5:35 pm train from Penn Station to Long Island. This was my regular commuter train home each night. I will not share the grizzly details of what I witnessed; the basic information is at the link.

But I know this: Guns do not kill people; people kill people. If you take away guns, there will be knives. If you take away knives, there will be box cutters and scissors. If you take away all blades... a broken glass bottle will do. I hope you see the pattern.

We fixate on the tool and never get to the root cause.

What is broken is people, and society. It is how people treat people. It is how the media fixates on horrific crimes rather than angelic acts of good will. This way, some see the horrific acts as the only way to send a message. It is often a last desperate attempt.

Is there an easy answer to fix this so there will be no more crazed killings when people are pushed too far and snap? There is no easy answer; but there is always how we treat one another and our prayers.

Following the Aurora shootings, Angelic Insights shared a beautiful post titled: Tragedy, Angels and Prayer. I encourage you to read this post, if you feel inclined, but I will share a potent part with my readers below, the prayer:

Beloved Creator,
I don’t understand. How could anyone cause so much harm?
I’ve been angry, I’ve been sad, I’ve been confused…
But I hope I would never be in that place to hate and kill so many.
Please God, help me see that it’s all a matter of degree—
Heal me, dear Lord, of all my anger, frustration, judgment,
Whatever within me is a faint echo of what would motivate a madman
To kill and injure and maim and create terror.
Heal me, dear Lord so that I can bring peace within ME to be more peace on earth,
And help me to be a healing presence to others as I heal myself.
Please send angels to comfort and heal all those in the world who are affected
In some way by what has happened,
Please send angels to help heal those who are on their way to being capable
Of such acts, so that more acts like this are averted.
I don’t claim to understand why…but I ask that you cleanse and purify and heal me…
Heal everyone who allows it—and heal our world…. Please.
Through all that is sacred and holy and within you, I give thanks. Amen. 

~ ESA