Skip to main content

Guns

So, I'm not anti-gun. I understand that people enjoy many different activities that involve guns, and I'm cool with people owning them and using them. I've written about this before... I don't understand the need for a hand gun - unless you're hiking in bear country, or possibly in cougar country, you really don't need a hand gun. Ever. Police? Yes. Military? You bet. Personal defense? Not so much. Long rifles and shotguns I can understand a little better - sports, hunting, target shooting, whatever... Absolutely. Again, the focus is not on the silly idea that you're using the gun to defend your family, but to provide and entertain... Some people even earn a living target shooting, and more power to them...

So when I see things like this:

This Comic Sums Up the Double Standard Used to Excuse White Violence

It makes me wonder a little about the double standard, about the implications or race and gun ownership (shucks, this black kid can't even own a water gun without being labeled a "thug"...)

I'm reading James Michener's marvelous book "Chesapeake" (and highly recommend it, by the way). He talks at length about the mental attitude of white plantation owners in the early 19th century towards blacks. While it's cute sometimes in our post-modern world to point out how silly these folks really were, and note the damage they were doing to themselves and their society, I wonder how far removed we are from such an attitude today. The sad reality is - not really very far, despite all our advances. There's a long way to go.

We don't need a world where race is not an issue - it will always be an issue, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Differences between people (biologically, ethnically, and culturally) enhance our world and make it stronger, more vibrant and interesting, and lead to a kind of yeasty and delightful recipe in which new and exciting ideas can grow and flourish. Being a certain race changes how one views the world, and it's very important to acknowledge these changes. What we need is a world where these differences can be celebrated, rather than used as a tool to keep people down. We need a place where questions of sex, race, religion, culture, ethnicity, etc are not kept quiet, but are shown for what they really are - differences that enhance and augment our society.

For too long we've lived in a white male dominated society, and I believe that's detrimental to all of us. ALL. OF. US.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Other Art

I'm not sure we appreciate photography as much as we do other art forms. Part of this comes from the reality that surrounds and permeates a photograph - it's very, very real, and the photographer strives for clarity and crispness in the representations. Perhaps this is why black and white images continue to be relevant - they strip away extraneous information (color) and leave us with something that is at once familiar and also non-existent - for nothing exists in black and white. Nothing. I also think that pictures are becoming too common-place... Everyone has a camera in their pocket, and while that's a very democratic thing (everyone can express themselves in a picture easily and readily, and can find an audience for these images, which are casually taken and casually viewed, and perhaps just as casually forgotten) I think that we embrace that casual attitude, and it spills over to all aspects of the media, making it impotent. So I read this article this morning: h...
Post a Comment
Read more

Lucky!

So Tomorrow is Amie's birthday. The 12 th is Andy's. The 14 th is Alex's. And the 26 th is mom's. Happy birthday everyone. I recently found that a member of our ward has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer has a survivability rate of less than 5% and you never, ever kick it, even if you live. Once diagnosed, people are expected to live about six months. My wife and I were talking about this wonderful woman. There are very few (too few) people in this world who shine. Literally. This sister shines with a light that is perceptible and discernible . The world will literally be a darker place without her in it. Life is short, folks. Too short for hard feelings, too short for pain and misunderstanding. I love you all so much. Sorry this one is such a downer... I don't mean to be lugubrious on your birthdays... I consider myself lucky to be your brother. You have and continue to bless me and my family in many ways, for which I will be eternally gra...
4 comments
Read more

Excommunication

My heart is heavy this morning. I read that Kate Kelly and others are being brought up on Church disciplinary action. For those who are unfamiliar with the process/proceedings of LDS Church discipline, it can be a bit mystifying. There are several levels of censure that the Church may impose. These range from a simple removal of some privileges for a short period of time to the most severe action - excommunication. When one is excommunicated, the person's membership in the Church is terminated. It is a very extreme measure, and for the faithful it can be a very difficult thing to consider. What people don't understand - what is nearly impossible for someone outside the proceedings to understand - is the amount of love felt. It's discipline. It's intended to be harsh (at times). And it's intended to be unpleasant. But it is done with love and care for the person. Since excommunication is such an extreme measure, it is really only very rarely applied. There are ...
18 comments
Read more