I took down my post of last week expressing my frustration with the insurance industry and the powers that be that support it. In the post, I called on either a posse of angry citizens or non-violent protesters. Given the insanity of politics, manifested in the recent shootings in Arkansas, I feel terrible to even suggest such a thing in jest. While the likes of Sarah Palin and her posse scrub their websites of references to "fighting the good fight, etc." -- I'll pull the ridiculous photo of the Wild West fighters that I put up.
The history of violence in our country -- the bullshit imperative of the right to bear arms -- wars in two countries that have claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in the name of liberty and freedom -- well, I want no part of it.
I understand this decision Elizabeth. You spoke in frustration and to some extent with tongue in cheek, but as you say, this can all too easily add to the collective violence in a nation's mind set.
ReplyDeleteBut don't be too hard on yourself. Words are not actions. Most of us know this.
Most of us use our words to help us cope with our feelings, including feelings of rage.
It's those who can't use words but act on their impulses instead, for whom we must fear.
Is it too late to growth attenuate the insurance company employees?
ReplyDeleteI am so with ya - please nix my comment about wanting a rifle and one of those cool cowboy hats. O.K., maybe the hat, but no way the rifle.
ReplyDeleteBut I will be honest, I live in Arizona and right now I am more upset about our incredibly lax gun laws - an obviously psychotic young man had no difficulty purchasing a Glock semiautomatic handgun - than I am about political rhetoric. The kid in custody had behavior that was so erratic that he was not allowed to enroll at the local community college until he got a mental health clearance but he had absolutely no difficulty purchasing a semiautomatic handgun. And a law enacted in Arizona last year allowed him to conceal and carry the pistol without a permit.
Honestly, it all just breaks my heart.
i too live in arizona.
ReplyDeleteheartsick.
i am...
Me neither.
ReplyDeleteWow. Thank you for taking a thoughtful, responsible stance. While I think of the likes of Palin as being vitriolic and violent, maybe, really, she was just being snarky and sarcastic. You, however, have proven your character by redacting your words, understanding that perhaps some deranged nut might take your words seriously. Thank you for proving your intelligent and thoughtful nature.
ReplyDeleteI think it's sad that well-written posts like yours are sacrificed for the bile spat out by the likes of Palin and Beck. I totally understand your decision, though, but it is a sad day for your country and for freedom of speech as such.
ReplyDeleteI hope you and your family are well.
Greetings from London.
The gun control laws in the US terrify me. And if you take into consideration the lack of proper care for the mentally unstable... lots of time bombs among us ready to go off
ReplyDeleteMy hope is for gun laws to change .... But that may be about as futile as hoping for true health care reform.
ReplyDeleteAmazing, isn't it Elizabeth, how quickly the cleaning began. All the while the high-pitched "It's not me" coming from them. I listened to a montage of violent language from the usual suspects yesterday. It left me sad.
ReplyDeleteThere had been a ban on automatic weapons, or perhaps it was on the ammo, but it was passed with an expiration date and the Bush admin and the Republican congress let it expire in 2004. There is no chance for sanity in America where guns are concerned.
I've been having a hard time this week in light of the shootings in Arizona. It has brought almost too much clarity to how skewed things are in this country. I know that the grass is not always greener on the other side, but I have begun to wonder where the other side is.
ReplyDelete