Gun Crazy and So It Goes

I’ve been away too long working on books and other assorted projects. Now there’s nothing like more homegrown gun lunacy to bring one back to writing a blog. It’s funny how things seem not to really change at all. Another mass shooting and here we go again. Presidential visits, media blather, and a new cottage industry built around some sick psycho (who will not be named here) but little serious discussion of real issues. Instead of discussing the problem, gun sales spike. I don't care to read all about the perpetrator. I don't give a shit about his motives, why he "snapped," went postal or whatever one wants to call it. But if you want to know, just take a long hard look into the mirror, America. See the deranged nut staring back? That's it. Why do we have concealed carry laws? Why can an average shmo like me own an AK-47 complete with thirty round clips? Why do we have such a thing as the NRA? It is not to protect our Second Amendment right to own arms. No, it is because we are taught to be absolutely scared shitless of each other. Fear is the most powerful tool in the state's tool box. Keep 'em afraid and more importantly, keep 'em dumb. Let's do anything but ask real questions about why these things continue to happen time and time again. After all who can stop watching DWS long enough to ponder things like Structural Violence, a gutted mental health system or a nation hopelessly addicted to violence? Our so called Representatives are too busy doing the biddings of their real masters to address issues that affect everyday people. They got banks to enrich and more invasions pending. Meanwhile, things are only getting worse.  Let's keep income disparity growing and finish shredding the social safety net. Things may soon get very ugly and the sad thing is they don’t have to.

Do the elites and their bought and paid for politicians ever crack a history book? I’d say no based on their actions. If they did, we may get real health care (including mental health), a serious jobs program and the NRA could to return to its roots of gun safety education, outdoorsman activities and informed reasonable input on gun control. But why crack a history book now? The top earners are doing so well and what could possibly go wrong? Allow me to answer. Large numbers of young desperate people plus more guns than people plus utterly clueless leaders equals a gathering bloodbath that will make the rapture seem like a sunny day at the beach. (I personally don’t but into the rapture mythology but it helps get the point across). Conflict arises from inequality, period. It’s simple, the greater the inequality, the deeper the conflict. Ever ask a suicide bomber what’s he got to lose? We are facing massive inequality mixed with a heavily armed populace? Do you really think a few cops and blackwater types can stop well armed mobs at the gate of your little community? Remember at least a few people in the mob will have training and combat experience from illegal wars they were forced to do repeated tours in. It has all happened before but it can be avoided.       

There are people aplenty who can point out problems but very few to offer solutions. I’ll try. Those of us who have read history need to share what we know. Knowledge in the antidote to state sponsored fear. We need to start with knowledge of each other. This will dissolve the notion of “the other” and replace it with “we”. And “we” make elites tremble. Note the violent crackdown on Occupy protests by heavily armed paramilitary forces pretending to be police. Despite their efforts, the national dialogue changed from one of deficit hysteria to a discussion of having the rich pay a fair share of taxes. Somebody noticed. But that is obviously not enough to halt our national (perhaps global) meltdown. What Occupy offers is something long forgotten yet desperately needed community. Think about it, how many of you know more about your neighbors than their names and occupations? TV and AC have conspired to kill off any sense of community we once had. It is drilled into us almost from day one we live in a hypercompetitive individualistic society. It is everyone for themselves and fuck everyone else. Look at the result, a bunch of fear driven hoarders who could care less about the well being of those in the house next door. In fact, they too are to be feared. It’s a pretty damn sad state, I’d say. However, Occupy is just beginning to break through the isolation, the fear and the ignorance of each other fostered so long by popular culture. We are not alone in our homes (fortress?). There are others who know politics is nothing but infotainment at its height. There are others who know our government serves only the interests large corporations and multi-national conglomerations. There are others who know we are fighting wars for anything but real security. Together, we can retake control of our world. Those who are blissfully blind to this are so at their own peril. How many more mass shootings, ruined families and repressive measures will it take to wake up the “we” in all of us?