Current Affairs The " another shooting in America " thread

[Seanjd]

Wow, this has hit me today. How depressing is the evil in this world? What's even more depressing is this act will not change a damn thing, apart from give the right-wing (Trump) in the US more votes.

As a gay atheist/ humanist in Britain, I'm baffled by religious reasoning in killing others, as well as the desire to kill groups for not living their lives in the same way as others. I hate the racist, bigoted individuals we have in the UK- it doesn't make me want to go out and gun them down. I don't think the gun laws would have necessarily prevented what happened. It may have made it more tough to carry out- but given religion drove someone to this, they would have found a way regardless.

The problem being is what will change? Very little. The Trump support will be bolstered by those more centre of right who will perhaps be swayed by the 'patriotic' insular approach, and the gay community will also be somewhat influenced too.

Apart from that, the right wing will use this as a sickening tool to say how they were right about Islam, before next week going back to wanting gay people as second citizens. Christianity played a big role in the Troubles in Northern Ireland, it's been twisted by evil organisations such as Westboro Baptist Church, the killings of gay people in Uganda (Evangelists) and the case of Anders Brevik in Norway (I think?) Islam has also been the justification in many atrocities. In essence, all religions are based on ancient readings which have less and less relevance and credit in today's world. There is not a single religion that should be banned, but the indoctrination of others in accordance with extreme beliefs (ie. radicalised Islam.) However, that is a tiny proportion of the practising Muslims throughout the world.

And that is what has annoyed me, yet again. Another publicised attack will cause millions of people to blame a whole religion, whereas the real focus should be on the small groups that radicalise any form of religion in order to cause harm to other human beings.

As an aside, it's also quite disturbing how little coverage there has been on TV. I only found out about this on Twitter at about 4pm. There hasn't been any breaking news to my knowledge- obviously over shadowed by the Euros coverage. Yet seem to remember there being a whitewash throughout TV, radio and the press when the Brussels attack occurred (less people killed.) I would have expected the biggest mass-shooting in modern US history to garner a little more coverage than that. Similarly to the lack of coverage afforded to the countless killings and bombings throughout the middle east, I'm fairly certain it's down to news value.

Why though? Because of the subjects of the shooting maybe? I'm not sure. That's been one hell of a rant but I'm just really down at yet more senseless killings in the name of religion, and the manipulation of the events by the right who sit idly by while the gay community get kicked day in day out across the world. Meanwhile, no real action will be taken, and a month or two down the line, more will die, pointlessly.

Well said!

 

[neil999]

In what world does any member of the public want/need that

 

[1966efc]

while the gay community get kicked day in day out across the world.

Yeah. It's an American problem in terms of the guns; a religious problem in terms of the fundamentalism and, very much a world - wide issue still.

Talked to my partner about this and we remembered being attacked on the Strand and on the tube. Fear of the 'other' is a strange beast which lives on people's insecurities. Quite what anyone can do about it is the problem we're facing increasingly often.

 

[Gladystweet]

In what world does any member of the public want/need that

Unfortunately, this one....

 

[Durham Toffee]

Wow, this has hit me today. How depressing is the evil in this world? What's even more depressing is this act will not change a damn thing, apart from give the right-wing (Trump) in the US more votes.

As a gay atheist/ humanist in Britain, I'm baffled by religious reasoning in killing others, as well as the desire to kill groups for not living their lives in the same way as others. I hate the racist, bigoted individuals we have in the UK- it doesn't make me want to go out and gun them down. I don't think the gun laws would have necessarily prevented what happened. It may have made it more tough to carry out- but given religion drove someone to this, they would have found a way regardless.

The problem being is what will change? Very little. The Trump support will be bolstered by those more centre of right who will perhaps be swayed by the 'patriotic' insular approach, and the gay community will also be somewhat influenced too.

Apart from that, the right wing will use this as a sickening tool to say how they were right about Islam, before next week going back to wanting gay people as second citizens. Christianity played a big role in the Troubles in Northern Ireland, it's been twisted by evil organisations such as Westboro Baptist Church, the killings of gay people in Uganda (Evangelists) and the case of Anders Brevik in Norway (I think?) Islam has also been the justification in many atrocities. In essence, all religions are based on ancient readings which have less and less relevance and credit in today's world. There is not a single religion that should be banned, but the indoctrination of others in accordance with extreme beliefs (ie. radicalised Islam.) However, that is a tiny proportion of the practising Muslims throughout the world.

And that is what has annoyed me, yet again. Another publicised attack will cause millions of people to blame a whole religion, whereas the real focus should be on the small groups that radicalise any form of religion in order to cause harm to other human beings.

As an aside, it's also quite disturbing how little coverage there has been on TV. I only found out about this on Twitter at about 4pm. There hasn't been any breaking news to my knowledge- obviously over shadowed by the Euros coverage. Yet seem to remember there being a whitewash throughout TV, radio and the press when the Brussels attack occurred (less people killed.) I would have expected the biggest mass-shooting in modern US history to garner a little more coverage than that. Similarly to the lack of coverage afforded to the countless killings and bombings throughout the middle east, I'm fairly certain it's down to news value.

Why though? Because of the subjects of the shooting maybe? I'm not sure. That's been one hell of a rant but I'm just really down at yet more senseless killings in the name of religion, and the manipulation of the events by the right who sit idly by while the gay community get kicked day in day out across the world. Meanwhile, no real action will be taken, and a month or two down the line, more will die, pointlessly.

I used to be a Catholic, mate. Never particularly subscribed to the vast majority of doctrine, but I tried my best to be the best Catholic I could be. As years chugged by, I became increasingly disenfranchised. Such hatred and anger; resentment of others for little to no logical reason. Idiotic fundamentalist opposition to any form of progress. I began to become more and more isolated, but working in a Catholic school meant that I had to keep this under wraps.

I was becoming very cynical and frustrated with the whole system and felt internally opposed and increasingly angry with what the faith was. Much of my belief had waned and I questioned various elements of Christianity for various reasons.

Then - obviously - after the separation from my wife last year and my divorce being finalised, I was unceremonially told that 'the diocese did not believe that my conduct in my personal life matched Catholic teaching' and therefor I would no longer be able to 'progress in the Catholic teaching system should I want a senior position.'

They never considered that my wife was the one who left me; that I'd been thrown out of my own house; that I'd given years of selfless and spotless service to the system, or that none of this was of my choosing. They simply saw me as a 'divorced man.'

If I was to ever remarry, I'd be prevented from taking communion. If I actually wanted to attend another Church ever again...

I became the Assistant Head of a state school a few weeks back and I haven't looked back.

Religion might be okay - it's no longer to my liking - but those who follow religion with a fundamental idiocy and a total banal failure to look outside of their narrow tunnel vision are absolute imbeciles and are condemned to judge others without remorse or understanding that life isn't a lovely, perfect utopia.

 

[pornpimol2]

Its been all over CNN allday

 

[Durham Toffee]

More and more news agencies are reporting an ISIS link, so you can throw in a religious motivation too.

See my post just now for what I think of 'religious' people lately...

 

[dandydan]

In what world does any member of the public want/need that

Much prefer older rifles myself, the metal and plastic jobs lack character.

 

[EvertonRhys]

Realise the original topic was more to the point about guns, so sorry for deviating from that point.

But @1966efc, couldn't agree more- was trying to get at that myself. How to tackle it is the golden question. As in every respect of life, nothing is cut and dry, and that couldn't be more applicable to religion. It is all based on interpretation- and that in itself is so fluid.

And @Durham Toffee, so heartwarming to hear that you came through that. Having come from a totally secular family, I can't get my head around it. I have heard of similar instances, from Catholics incidentally, who have been estranged from the people they grew up with.

Just feel the debate can't be put down to the tools of harming others (ie. guns.) For as long as there is ideology in the world, there will always be harming others. It's important that we've got to highlight to those 'indoctrinated' with such hate, the errors of those ways. Not one definitive answer though!

 

[DanEFC92]

Not muslim.

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

Find it terrifying that people can go out to a club and not come home due to the radical ideas and actions of an absolute maniac. I just wish everyone could get along, regardless of faith, sexuality or skin colour. Nobody can be truly content peddling hate and holding grudges against a set of people, and if you really have to hold the hate, just keep it to yourself ffs and don't impact on anyone else's life.

 

[dandydan]

Also reports of an arrest of someone heading towards LA gay pride event with a carful of guns and explosives. Nothing linking the two but I personally don't believe in coincidences.

 

[Seanjd]

As long as there is social injustice, there will be grounds to brainwash the vulnerable. As long as there are means to brainwash, there will be people who will cause absolute terror for no apparent reason.

 

[dandydan]

Not muslim.

Two attacks on one community in 24 hours? That's still unusual even for America.

 

[JAYTALITY]

In what world does any member of the public want/need that

It looks bad-ass.