THE ARIZONA SHOOTINGS

Nobody knows yet what lit this fire.

Possibly it was more about insanity than motive. Still, it calls to question some important things. Permit me the use of point form to keep this brief.

1/ This is a tragedy. It would be whoever was/were the victim/s, whoever was the perpetrator, and whatever the "reasoning" behind it.

2/ Politicians are going to make a lot of speeches and try and get mileage out of this. There's a risk that we'll ask God to bless America a thousand times and forget to really address the issues as so often happens. Yes, I am really that cynical about our "leaders." They've earned it!

3/ Let's care about/pray for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords without canonizing her. That's the fast track to missing the point. A part of the point is that six other people are already in the morgue leaving behind grieving loved ones.

4/ The venom that has been spouted in this country in recent times has the citizenry roiling. The hateful rhetoric and public callousness (Palin, Angle, Limbaugh, Beck, O'Reilly -- dear God how I despise even writing their names -- and many others) has us reaching for extremist answers. America is a country that often turns to emotions to solve problems of logic.

5/ This latest horror may have nothing to do with point 4. Understood. But if we don't like what we saw in Arizona, we'd better address point 4 or there is going to be a lot more violence. You only have to be a casual reader of history to know that. (It is worth noting that Arizona is a state that has been very much a scene of extremism in recent times, led, as it is, by racist governor Jan Brewer. No doubt Brewer will find her sensitive side for the media on this one.)

6/ It is far too easy to get guns in America. Period.

7/ We ALL have a personal responsibility to look for compassionate solutions to the things that divide us. To be dogged in our beliefs but kind in our actions. To avoid jumping to quick conclusions. To be willing to listen to and consider opposing views. To filter out the rhetorical and political nonsense that everyone from Obama to your local school board will fall back on time and time again to get their way. We are blessed with intelligence and reason. If we are too lazy to exercise them properly then we deserve the fate that befalls us.

But judging by the reactions to the shooting in Arizona, nobody in their right mind really wants that.

Take care,
Adrian

IF YOU FOUND THIS BLOG POST INTERESTING you might also like to take a look at SHARRON ANGLE & ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION -- GETTING OUT THE FEAR VOTE and GAY SUICIDES -- IS ANYONE GETTING THIS?

NEWS FLASH: MCDONALD'S IS PROUD TO LET GAYS EAT ITS CRAPPY FOOD

There's a media/Internet swirl going on about the new McDonald's commercial in France that has a gay theme.

I'm for complete and unequivocal acceptance of all nationalities, creeds, faiths, genders, sexual orientations etc. But I am very leery when corporations start making a buck off of it.

First it was green washing, now it is "gay washing."

If the ads help promote acceptance then I am happy for that as an unintended outcome. But it wasn't McDonald's goal. The company where I work, Harrah's Entertainment, is on the same bandwagon. There's something unashamedly cynical about it all, if you ask me.

Of course, a certain Fox talking head (I hate using his name) couldn't wait to jump all over this. More ratings for him. Better chance of getting a fatter contract next time for spewing his bilious nonsense.

He wondered on air, to millions or people who have nothing better to do than watch his personality disorders on the tube every evening, whether McDonald's might go one step further and air an Al Qaeda commercial. I posted the following response on a Care2 message board (see URL below). It sums up my thoughts on the TV "commentator" in question and the McDonald's ad.

By the way, although I am more than happy to denigrate the right wing hatemongers who clog the airwaves, we should always regard them as dangerous. Until our society is more broadly skeptical and analytical, we cannot dismiss these jerks lightly. These snakes know how to slither into any cracks.

Here's what I wrote:

"O'Reilly is such a spotlight pig he is usually best ignored. An undercurrent here that worries me is that corporations are 'gay washing.' They care about money, not people. Everybody should feel comfortable everywhere. But if McDonald's ran a cost-benefit analysis and found that homophobic commercials brought in more cash, they'd be looking for a 'tasteful' way to do that. I want acceptance of everyone. But we shouldn't take it on any terms."

We're all in this world together. The things we have in common are what matter. Our differences just make things more interesting.

Take care,
Adrian Zupp

*Care2 URL for McDonald's advert:
http://www.care2.com/causes/civil-rights/blog/bill-oreilly-gay-mcdonalds-ads-whats-next-ads-for-al-qaeda/