When Animals Attack

“When Animals Attack”

Yet another multiple homicide that “ended” with the suicide of the deranged gunman. And as usual – you – the news media – inquire as to “why” it happened. I suppose that you can report such a despicable incident using as much sanguine film footage of the carnage as is “socially acceptable”. But invariably – words of some sort must coincide. But aren’t these words and questions – merely rhetorical hyperbole? Is the intended goal to seek a solution? If so – just how do we contend with “sick” – “mentally ill” people – merged with the freedom we “enjoy” – to possess firearms – to hunt, to “recreate” – yes to protect ourselves? The question that this uncommon but catastrophic incident raises – is – is there a panacea that will put an end to such incomprehensible violence ? Sure there is. Simply take away all “weaponry” – from guns and knives – to tools, scissors and safety pins. Simply stop mass-producing mentally-ill very angry people; Change the nature of the human “animal” and install metal detectors and airport- style security precautions at shopping malls, schools, churches and all public venues. Include armed police or security guards – subsidize the sale of military protective hardware for the most vulnerable among us and “create a kinder gentler” society. Easy enough – right?

The questions raised – when essentially “normal people” engage in “abnormal behavior” is:

Have we, as individuals, set and attained achievable goals? (Do most of us even have any goals?) Do we – as individuals LOVE and are we LOVED? Are we sexually, emotionally and intellectually satiated? Are we able to provide ourselves with desiderata? Do we as a species – adequately sublimate our intrinsic anger and our innate need to kill? Why are so many people using drugs and alcohol to escape from a life that is amazing beyond comprehension? Are we – as a people even taking the time to even delve into life – to appreciate it’s aesthetic nature – intricacy, complexity and diversity? And where is – dare I inquire – is our loving, forgiving, compassionate GOD in this daedalian thing we call “life”?

What separates us from the animal kingdom is our capacity for reason – our ability to experience remorse – to intellectually and emotionally maintain our desire to survive. We – as a species – possess a conscience. (Most of us.) Perhaps the primary difference between someone whose “fantasies” transmogrify into a homicidal rampage and those who appear to be blessed with a staid, stable mentality – is rudimentary restraint, maturity – and for some of us – the presence of an equitable and just – GOD. We do – as a species – use physical activity – sports – martial arts; We blow-away herbivores and we write controversial essays. We engage in infanticide – casually – in the name of women’s reproductive rights. We periodically kill apolitical bakers, carpenters and electricians on a battlefield – and those who kill our adversary are are heroic, brave and stalwart. We possess the obscene capacity to enter internecine nuclear warfare – which would unavoidably kill innocent civilians by the millions. Yet we are indeed imbued with a superior intellect and a strong sense of ethics and morality – but we are hamstrung or hampered by our instinct to kill and our inherent propensity for recrimination or reprisal.

When we perceive ourselves as a victim – when we see ourselves as a failure – when we are sexually frustrated and/or repressed – when we have no adequate release for our pent-up anger and resentment (that can built-up over decades) – we can and do things that appear to be out of character. Determinalistic or naturalistic realities or fallacies aside – whether violence and avarice is genetic or learned – each of us (under the right circumstance) has the capacity to kill.

No, the devil didn’t make “them” do it – it was the coalescence of the vicissitudes of life; The excrescences of poverty – of living in a “civilized” society; of failure, of loneliness, of deprivation, of drug addiction and of mental illness and the obscene expression of our potentially destructive (intrinsic) human nature.

For me – in the absence of a just and equitable – GOD – I, personally, may have self-destructed long ago. No – God rarely intervenes in the affairs of men – both good and bad – and, yes – this is perplexing to many of us; But whether you’re an atheist, an agnostic or a “person of God” – it is my fervent belief that “he” – can and will literally transform this world – if those of us who are experiencing “difficulties” will simply reach out to him. But we must first stop using our theological disparities to divide us.

Most people, many people – need – God – in their lives and yes, (psychiatric) chemotherapy in their systems. God can help us to reach our human potential. God – can offer us an inner peace – a sanctum. God – can and does reach out those of us who live less than perfect lives. He can even use the “sinner” – to reach those who perceive themselves as “sinless”. He can – one person at a time – literally transform this world. Atheist, agnostic or “person of God” – we must recognize the fact that the “true, devout believer” – is an advocate of peace and of reconciliation and not a proponent and/or instrument of cold-blooded murder.

The victims are with, God. They are happy and contented. We must focus upon healing the survivors and on mollifying the rancor and malevolence of those who are in need of psychiatric support, and we must aid “them” in the process of healing through the love and sanctification of GOD.

Jessy J.T.