Tucson Tragedy

Snow fell silently as I awoke this morning. Beautiful white crystals like frozen tears falling from the sky. Wonder if angels in the heavens cry when tragic acts of senseless violence happen. I feel deeply saddened by the tragedy in Tucson over the weekend when a young man killed six innocents in attempt to kill Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford. Our hearts are broken. Can they be broken wide open?

‘Let the preachers preach in their pulpits’ and politicians say what they may, and though this week will be full of speeches, articles, stories and expert explanations stemming from this slaughter, I’m afraid next week it will be a fading echo like a train whistle gone past. I’m afraid so because we have become so inured to violence; Columbine, Moses Lake, Blacksburg, Ft. Hood, Lakewood, drug cartels and local gangs and common thugs. Was Pogo right? We have found the enemy and the enemy is us!

The President has called for healing and for us to listen with empathy. I agree, this we can do. Healing, not only of the immediate tragedies but also healing of the fears and pains of the past that contribute to the attitudes, opinions, beliefs, atmospheric undercurrents that contribute to the destructive ways of our society and our world. This is a time for compassion and empathy for all of us.

But is there something we can do about it? Can we unlearn the ways of the world that are considered human nature, such as violence, greed, hate, rage and victimizing innocents and learn better ways of living, thinking and being? Can we unlearn the belief that it is normal and natural to strike out at others who are in our way or representing ideals or powers that seem to oppose us? Those are aspects of human weakness, ignorance, fear and pain. Why continue to justify and perpetuate them? We can see things differently.

Are we capable of having and holding seeming contradictions while not loosing our place? Didn’t Master Jesus say, “Love your enemies”? And did he not say, by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned? Can we learn ways of communicating our thoughts and feelings that are not destructive or damaging to ourselves or others. When will we ever learn?

And can we learn better and healthier ways to treat mentally ill people? They are our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. They are part of us. Can we develop ways to include them in the compassionate circles of healing as well?

Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were two heroes of mine who brought about great change and advantages for people who were oppressed, misused and exploited while insisting on non-violence. They were both martyred for it. The powers that use violence as a means to their ends are very strong indeed; whether strictly business, religious, tribal or patriotic. Jesus was martyred for his life and teachings that threatened the powers that be.

But we don’t have to be. We can communicate our thoughts, feelings, needs, wants, beliefs, opinions and attitudes without hurting anyone else and without setting ourselves up to be hurt. One thing I have been working with for years is Nonviolent Communication, NVC developed by Marshall Rosenberg. Also A Season For Nonviolence is an international observance between January 30^th and April 4^th, the memorial anniversaries of Gandhi and King, to deepen nonviolence as a way of life.

What does this mean to us? Well, to me it means to not entertain thoughts or words, feelings or emotions that will hurt anyone, including myself. It means not saying or doing things that will hurt others. It means not adding energy to the insanity of the society in which we live or any culture, tribe, club or association which we identify with.

Now, when the sky seems to shut down and clouds are like curtains closing down with rain or snow, or depression or fear, anger or pain we can know there is a way through it. There are other choices and other ways we can choose than the old ways that we grew up with. Old attitudes of ‘well, that’s just the way it is’ can give way to new possibilities and better ways to say and listen to what is needed, what is wanted and what is important in our lives and our world.