Monday, October 2, 2017

Enough.

Today is Monday, October 2, 2017.  In the wee hours of this morning, news broke that a massacre took place in Las Vegas. It happened during Jason Aldean's set on a country music festival happening on the Strip.  It's being touted as the deadliest mass shooting in US history.  That's as of today, of course.  Sadly, we've heard this statement all too many times in recent years.

Read more about that here:


Today is also the day that Tom Petty went into complete cardiac arrest.  His brain function ceased this afternoon and he has since been pulled from life support.  As of now, there has been no official word on his condition - despite numerous premature reports that he had, in fact, died.  

Read more here:


Today also feels like a pretty damn good day to start blogging again.


"Some days it's tough just gettin' up
Throwin' on these boots and makin' that climb
Some days I'd rather be a no-show lay-low 'fore I go outta my mind."

--"When She Says Baby" by Jason Aldean

Reportedly, this was the song that Jason Aldean was performing when the first rounds were fired.

As with most sane people, I'm horrified that there's been yet another mass shooting.  At first, I didn't even think about the gun debate.  I didn't think about mental illness or terrorist ties.  My first thought was,

"Jesus Christ - AGAIN??  Why is there so much HATE?"

So many fears - both rational and absurd - have flown around my head today.  I'm terrified that these tragedies have become so normalized.  The reactions are always the same...

"Pray for <Insert City/Country Name Here>"
"Is NOW a good time to talk about gun control/mental illness?"
"Why won't they just call it domestic terrorism?"
"If this had been a brown/black/gay/Muslim, a radical change would be made!"
"Oh, he's WHITE, so it's not terrorism?"
"Look what Trump said (or didn't say)!" 
"BUT HER EMAILS!"  (Sorry, just had to...)

We've become so conditioned.  It's all bullshit.  Nothing is ever done to prevent these things from happening again. Where's the CHANGE that just may prevent this type of thing from happening? It never changes.  Never. The political climate that we live in is toxic.  It's the black mold that slithers through our lungs and forces us to spew over and over again.

Why can't our supposed leaders at the local, state and country levels break free of these obnoxious party lines and help protect their fellow citizens? Is it that hard to be a decent human being?  I cannot wrap my head around it.  

In the last six weeks alone, we've seen everyday people, first responders, celebrities, etc. come together to donate their time, money and resources to help those in need.  They didn't need to be asked, they just did it.  Why? 

BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT FUCKING THING TO DO.

I believe that most people are inherently good.  I really do.  I feel strongly that wholeheartedly believe in the power of prayer.  Compassion and empathy DO help; however, taking real, palpable action helps more.  

Pray your asses off.  The world needs some saving.  Perhaps engage in one of the following suggestions, too, though:

  • Give blood
  • Donate time/money/resources
  • Email/call your elected officials
  • MAKE. SOME. NOISE.  (Non-violently.  Violence negates any potential good intentions.)

It's FAR past the time to stop being complacent.  It's not someone else's problem or mess to clean up.  Perhaps it's blood on all of our hands.

I beg of you to love each other.  Be kind.  Let's make that change together.

I leave you with this gem from the ailing Tom Petty...

"Well, I won't back down
No, I won't back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down
No, I'll stand my ground
Won't be turned around
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
Gonna stand my ground"

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