Stephen Paddock is a
victim. I don’t believe in evil. I don’t believe in some cosmic force of
corruption. If we accept that the devil exists, then we are deluded into
innocence. We can write off our complicity in harm by saying that it is caused
by a force outside of us. We can defend ourselves, but ultimately suffering is
the only noble response to harm. The shooter did not commit an act of pure
evil. There is no such thing. Pure evil would be an unstoppable force. Instead,
what he committed was preventable. That is why it is a tragedy. I consider
Stephen Paddock a victim. No human should be given access to instruments of
mass destruction. Humans will use them. We are broken and sick at times. We
live in a culture of consumption and isolation. We are weak. We reach for
power. We want to act with the clarity of decision instead of suffering the
world’s cold shoulder. Stephen Paddock is a victim. We are all victims of a gun
culture.
No comments:
Post a Comment