A must-watch:
If YouTube pulls the video, watch it on CNN here.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Monday, June 13, 2016
At the Intersection of Hate and Murder
I am still trying to take in what happened in Orlando, but although I've read numerous accounts of the massacre, I still feel strangely numb - I think it's just too big and too horrible to comprehend. And too much of the same old hate, hate, hate we have all endured for a lifetime, a nightmare fear now brought to a terrible reality.
But I offer a couple things to my readers today, for consideration. First, I am irritated with the media-manufactured controversy on whether it was terrorism or a hate crime, or whether it was directed at gays or at Americans, and yada yada yada. Of course it was ALL those things at the same time, and more. I couldn't find an image to convey what I mean, so I made up this simple graphic of what seem to me to be the four main causes of this crime:
It's important, very important I think, to see ALL these factors as valid causes of this tragedy; human beings are complex, and people rarely do anything just for one simple reason.
If you don't believe me, just ask yourself why you ate what you ate for breakfast this morning, or for dinner last night - whatever you put in your mouth, was it because you were on a diet, or falling off one, because the cupboard was bare or overflowing, because you were sick or well, tired or inspired, or because you ate alone at home or out with friends, or, or, or - what?
And perhaps a few more causes could be added to my graphic; for example, I just read this brief but highly significant report in the Orlando Sentinel:
Gunman Omar Mateen visited gay nightclub a dozen times before shooting, witness says
Was he casing the joint, or was he locked in a closet of self-loathing and trying to break out?
And I am quite touched by this interview with the murderer's father - despite my anger and grief, I see a man struggling to come to terms with his own enormous pain and loss, and not yet quite understanding the part he played, at second hand as a parent, in this massacre:
Father of Orlando Mass Murderer Apologizes, Clarifies
(Video not embeddable by me)
The Orlando victims have been remembered around the nation and the world: in New York, the Empire State Building spire went dark in mourning, while the World Trade Center spire was lit in rainbow colors last night:
In Sydney, Australia, the harbor bridge was lit in rainbow colors too:
Crowds gathered at the Eiffel Tower in Paris:
One man held a sign saying, "We are a 'certain idea of the world,' never targeted 'by chance'" - a riff on a famous quote by Charles de Gaulle:
The Eiffel Tower was lit in the colors of the rainbow:
While an illuminated balloon bore the colors of Old Glory:
Amsterdam also remembered at the Royal Palace:
Crowds gathered in Seoul:
And on a beach in India:
And in London, a vigil was held in Soho:
Will it ever end? A chilling report from the Guardian: 1,000 mass shootings in 1,260 days.
But I offer a couple things to my readers today, for consideration. First, I am irritated with the media-manufactured controversy on whether it was terrorism or a hate crime, or whether it was directed at gays or at Americans, and yada yada yada. Of course it was ALL those things at the same time, and more. I couldn't find an image to convey what I mean, so I made up this simple graphic of what seem to me to be the four main causes of this crime:
It's important, very important I think, to see ALL these factors as valid causes of this tragedy; human beings are complex, and people rarely do anything just for one simple reason.
If you don't believe me, just ask yourself why you ate what you ate for breakfast this morning, or for dinner last night - whatever you put in your mouth, was it because you were on a diet, or falling off one, because the cupboard was bare or overflowing, because you were sick or well, tired or inspired, or because you ate alone at home or out with friends, or, or, or - what?
And perhaps a few more causes could be added to my graphic; for example, I just read this brief but highly significant report in the Orlando Sentinel:
Gunman Omar Mateen visited gay nightclub a dozen times before shooting, witness says
Was he casing the joint, or was he locked in a closet of self-loathing and trying to break out?
And I am quite touched by this interview with the murderer's father - despite my anger and grief, I see a man struggling to come to terms with his own enormous pain and loss, and not yet quite understanding the part he played, at second hand as a parent, in this massacre:
Father of Orlando Mass Murderer Apologizes, Clarifies
(Video not embeddable by me)
The Orlando victims have been remembered around the nation and the world: in New York, the Empire State Building spire went dark in mourning, while the World Trade Center spire was lit in rainbow colors last night:
In Sydney, Australia, the harbor bridge was lit in rainbow colors too:
Crowds gathered at the Eiffel Tower in Paris:
One man held a sign saying, "We are a 'certain idea of the world,' never targeted 'by chance'" - a riff on a famous quote by Charles de Gaulle:
The Eiffel Tower was lit in the colors of the rainbow:
While an illuminated balloon bore the colors of Old Glory:
Amsterdam also remembered at the Royal Palace:
Crowds gathered in Seoul:
And on a beach in India:
And in London, a vigil was held in Soho:
Will it ever end? A chilling report from the Guardian: 1,000 mass shootings in 1,260 days.
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Horror in Orlando
Your Head Trucker slept late this afternoon and is just now taking in the grievous news of what is the deadliest shooting in American history, according to President Obama:
Full text of the President's remarks here.
The President has also ordered U. S. flags to be flown at half-staff for the next three days.
I have no words, only thoughts of sympathy and condolence for the wounded and the families of the dead.
New York Times account of the massacre.
Washington Post account.
Los Angeles Times account.
Orlando Sentinel account.
Queen Elizabeth II issued a statement of sympathy:
Prince Philip and I have been shocked by the events in Orlando. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected.
Pope Francis condemned the massacre:
The terrible massacre that has taken place in Orlando, with its dreadfully high number of innocent victims, has caused in Pope Francis, and in all of us, the deepest feelings of horror and condemnation, of pain and turmoil before this new manifestation of homicidal folly and senseless hatred. Pope Francis joins the families of the victims and all of the injured in prayer and in compassion. Sharing in their indescribable suffering he entrusts them to the Lord so they may find comfort. We all hope that ways may be found, as soon as possible, to effectively identify and contrast the causes of such terrible and absurd violence which so deeply upsets the desire for peace of the American people and of the whole of humanity.
Time magazine reports reactions from other world leaders and notables here.
From Reuters:
Via Reluctant Rebel:
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Trooping the Colour, 2016
The official celebrations of Her Majesty the Queen's 90th birthday began yesterday in London with a service of thanksgiving at St. Paul's cathedral; and as it happens, yesterday was also the 95th birthday of her consort, HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Today, the annual Queen's Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, took place, with the Queen taking the salute of the Coldstream Guards on Horse Guards Parade, followed by a balcony appearance with the rest of the Royal Family and a splendid fly-past put on by the Royal Air Force. The precision flying of the Red Arrows, seen at the end of the third video below, was surely a breathtaking sight to see.
Friday, June 10, 2016
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Friday, June 3, 2016
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Today's Quote
Not a republican, but I thought that Paul Ryan was at least a decent, principled human being. And today he sold his soul to support someone who's an utter buffoon.
Yup, that nails it.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Friday, May 27, 2016
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
