[quote]Alpha F wrote:
[quote]DBCooper wrote:
It’s equally intellectually lazy to think that the availability of such tools is not part of the problem.
In fact, it is probably the easiest aspect of this entire phenomenon to change. I don’t know what was going on in Lanza’s head, nor do I really care. [/quote]
Let’s talk about real laziness here:
You say we got to do something as long as it is something that does not require for you to be personally involved.
You clearly stated above that you personally DO NOT CARE about what was really going on in the boy’s head, which Cwill1973 rightly pointed out is the cause of the problem not the tool he used.
Then you advocate addressing the tool the boy used as “part of the problem”.
Is the gun “part of the problem” or is it a lazy “solution” that solves the problem of your conscience for being lazy spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and physically in taking a personal, hands on interest in those people in your community?
Lanza had neighbors. Had he been your neighbor, would you have had taken the time to stop playing with your pet and given this strange child some attention?
How lazy are we when it comes to getting to know one another and bothering to engage with those who seem “strange and aloof”?
How lazy is it to pay taxes so they have drugs, abortions, birth control, gun control provided by the state and we don’t have to get involved with the real problems in your community?
What do you think is your responsibility as a mature male in your community?
Surrender your guns or surrender yourself and some of your time to love your neighbors?
[/quote]
You’re barking up the wrong fucking tree when it comes to people who don’t do enough to help those in need, pal. I work on a very regular basis with people who are probably just like Lanza. I’m a school teacher, first of all. I spend a lot of time working with kids who come from broken homes and that sort of thing. If I had different degrees I would also be working as a counselor at the school. Since I am not qualified to work as one in the eyes of the state, I do what I can with those students on my own.
Although I haven’t done so recently, I have been a volunteer coach for literally dozens of sports teams for boys and girls ranging from the age of 5 up to 18.
I work at the Boys and Girls Club at least once a week and I spend a LOT of time working with recovering alcholics and drug addicts. I do volunteer work with the children my mother, who is a social worker, works with every time I visit her. I volunteer at the local soup kitchen about once a week, and during the holiday season I do so much more often. When I go to Santa Cruz next week for Christmas I’ll be working all day on the 24th and the 26th and the St. Francis Soup Kitchen there as well.
So don’t you fucking dare insinuate that I am doing nothing to alleviate this problem. I’m on the front lines of this kind of shit every single day. Are YOU?
When I said I don’t care what was going on in that kid’s head I meant that it didn’t matter to me because the damage was done. It’s too late for that murderer, who might be just as much a victim as anyone else involved in this. I was angry at the time but believe me, no one understands better than I do the power that paying attention to a kid like him can have. So get off your high fucking horse.
edit: in other words, when some kid comes into MY school armed to the teeth looking to take as many motherfuckers as he can, I’m the teacher he ISN’T going to come after, hopefully.