I refrain from writing about news-of-the-day on this blog, especially when there are political overtones, because inevitably others who disagree get angry and do things from attempting to hijack this blog’s comments section, to initiating cyber-attacks on my server. (Yep, that has actually happened.)<\/p>\n
But I cannot let an awful, evil situation that happened at an LGBT nightclub in Florida go by without comment. However, I will contrast my comment with another about someone stepping up and doing the right thing, admitting fault in causing my recent motorcycle crash.
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\nThe world heard the screaming on Sunday when news broke about a deranged, angry, and mentally unstable person purchasing an assault weapon and taking it to a nightclub in Florida that caters to the LGBT community with the intent to do harm. (I refrain from the label “gay nightclub” because that term is considered by some, including my spouse, as pejorative to the LGBT community.)<\/p>\n
This sorry, sad, deranged nutcase shot and killed a reported 49 people and injured as many or more sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, friends. All news media and blogs are conjecturing “why?” I will not get into second-guessing this evil person’s motives.<\/p>\n
Instead, like millions of others around the world, I paused, held my spouse’s hands, looked him deeply in the eyes, and wondered, “what’s happening in this world? Why are people so angry? Why are there more and more people acting with extreme violence?” <\/p>\n
We both thought about what happened and the grave sadness that has befallen so many others who loved those who were killed or injured. I did not know anyone who was involved, but it still brings deep sadness to my heart that someone can be so evil, pledging allegiance to various other evil-doers of religious extremism. I would feel as badly regardless if this incident happened at an airport, such as in Belgium, or in a county services center, such as in San Bernardino, or in a school filled with children, such as in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Doesn’t matter, gay or straight — the extreme situation of gun violence just has to stop. <\/p>\n
Like others, I really wonder if the FBI had that fruitcake on their radar, why couldn’t they have put him on a list that would have prevented him from purchasing any weapon, especially an assault rifle. There must be ways that our country can stem this violence. Second Amendment gun-nuts notwithstanding, most reasonable people will agree that there really is no need for someone not in the military to be able to purchase a weapon like that.<\/p>\n
Now, for the contrast and good news.<\/p>\n
Yesterday a representative from the company that insures my motorcycle called to tell me that the person who “closed my gap” (cut me off) and caused me to crash my Harley on May 31 owned up to causing the crash. Her insurance company will reimburse my insurance companies (motorcycle and health) for expenses incurred for the injuries that I sustained and repairs to my Harley for its damages.<\/p>\n
That person even called me on the phone to apologize, despite her insurance company advising against it. So yes, there ARE good, honest people in this world. While I don’t want any more crashes from people who made bad decisions while driving, I do want more people like the person who owned up to her mistake, stayed around after the crash, and admitted that it was her fault.<\/p>\n
I tend to be on the naive side and generally believe that most people are honest, decent human beings. We really can all get along if we treat each other with respect. My marriage to my man is not destroying your marriage as my love for humanity (over a secular God) is not destroying your ability to practice your faith as you see fit. We all can live with each other if we just give it a try. <\/p>\n
Life is short: live and let live.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I refrain from writing about news-of-the-day on this blog, especially when there are political overtones, because inevitably others who disagree get angry and do things from attempting to hijack this blog’s comments section, to initiating cyber-attacks on my server. (Yep, … Continue reading