I am not an American, and I admit, I truly do not understand the passionate appeal of the gun culture. I am not completely anti-gun. I have worked for a provincial Fish & Wildlife department and I have lived in the country. I know that hunting is necessary, for subsistence for some people, and for conservation when a particular species becomes too plentiful. I know that there are times on a farm when it is necessary to humanely put an animal out of its misery. But personally, I do not need a gun. I do not own a gun. I do not want a gun. And I would definitely not fight to the death for my right to own a gun. “From my cold, dead hands”? There are many things you would have to pry out of my cold, dead hands, but a gun is not one of them. I am happy that guns are licensed in Canada, and I am very happy that weapons that are meant for military purposes are restricted. The sole purpose of the existence of guns is to kill people (or animals). There is no secondary use. Why is that worth fighting for?
That’s just half of the equation, though, isn’t it? The other half is the prejudice and hatred that seem to be so prevalent in our society. I also do not understand that. Why does it matter if a person is black or white? Or gay or straight? Or female or male? Or Jewish or Christian or Muslim? Why can't we just all be humans?
Don't get me wrong. Not for a minute am I suggesting that black people or gay people or women or indigenous peoples or poor people or others have not been marginalized or mistreated or suffered from other prejudices. And I definitely am not suggesting that we forget or deny history, and that the injustices of the past do not matter. I am not saying that a person’s race or gender or religion are not important. Of course they are important. They are part of what makes each of us unique, and part of our individual identities.
And yes, I am approaching this as a white, middle-class woman, supposedly from a perspective of great advantage. And my race and social status automatically cause anything I have to say to become irrelevant and insignificant. And as hard as I try, I will never be able to truly comprehend the reality of people who are other than white and middle class.
But I want to understand. I want to understand why it is that our politicians, in the 21st century, are so completely crippled when it comes to enacting legislation to create a justice system that is fair and just for everyone, equally. I want to understand why it is that some people working in law enforcement and the justice system believe that they are above the law, and that black men, or mentally ill teenagers, or vulnerable women, can be treated differently than others. I want to understand what makes it okay for citizens to arm themselves with lethal weapons and purposefully and intentionally kill the people that are supposed to protect them. I want to understand what makes people strap bombs onto their bodies (or the bodies of someone else) with the intent and knowledge that those bombs will kill other people whose ideologies or nationalities or religions are different from theirs. I want someone to explain to me how we got to the point where our right to defend ourselves against perceived threats, no matter how insignificant they are, or whether they are real or imaginary, trumps another person’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
I want to understand why we can’t see each other as fellow humans first, before we see the colour and the religion and the sexual orientation and the gender and the disability. I want to be able to comprehend why some lives matter more than others. I want to know why all these things divide us, and why we are so afraid of the “other-ness” of others. I want to know why it seems that my empathy with people who are different from me is seen as not sincere because I am white and middle class. I want to know how we can move from “cultural appropriation” to being able to celebrate other cultures with respect and honour.
I am filled with fear when I contemplate what level of tragedy it will ultimately take for us to seek peace and justice instead of fear and hatred. Our society has survived Columbine, Oklahoma City, 9/11, Newton, Orlando, École Polytechnique, Moncton, La Loche, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and so many other tragedies that it is impossible to list them all. And each time, the politicians shed a tear or two, and talk about how terrible it all is. And we wring our hands and wonder what can be done, but then our lives move on, basically unaffected.
And now we are faced with Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and Dallas. There are more tears, more hand-wringing, and ultimately, nothing will change. I don’t even want to consider what it will take for us to collectively truly seek change.
Gordon Lightfoot wrote “Black Day in July” following the Detroit riots in 1967. Nothing much seems to have changed for the better in the almost 50 years since.
Black day in July
Motor city madness has touched the countryside
And through the smoke and cinders
You can hear it far and wide
The doors are quickly bolted
And the children locked inside
Black day in July
Black day in July
And the soul of Motor City is bared across the land
As the book of law and order is taken in the hands
Of the sons of the fathers who were carried to this land
Black day in July
Black day in July
In the streets of Motor City is a deadly silent sound
And the body of a dead youth lies stretched upon the ground
Upon the filthy pavement
No reason can be found
Black day in July
Black day in July
Motor City madness has touched the countryside
And the people rise in anger
And the streets begin to fill
And there's gunfire from the rooftops
And the blood begins to spill
Black day in July
In the mansion of the governor
There's nothing that is known for sure
The telephone is ringing
And the pendulum is swinging
And they wonder how it happened
And they really know the reason
And it wasn't just the temperature
And it wasn't just the season
Black day in July
Black day in July
Motor City's burning and the flames are running wild
They reflect upon the waters of the river and the lake
And everyone is listening
And everyone's awake
Black day in July
Black day in July
The printing press is turning
And the news is quickly flashed
And you read your morning paper
And you sip your cup of tea
And you wonder just in passing
Is it him or is it me
Black day in July
In the office of the President
The deed is done the troops are sent
There's really not much choice you see
It looks to us like anarchy
And then the tanks go rolling in
To patch things up as best they can
There is no time to hesitate
The speech is made the dues can wait
Black day in July
Black day in July
The streets of Motor City now are quiet and serene
But the shapes of gutted buildings
Strike terror to the heart
And you say how did it happen
And you say how did it start
Why can't we all be brothers
Why can't we live in peace
But the hands of the have-nots
Keep falling out of reach
Black day in July
Black day in July
Motor city madness has touched the countryside
And through the smoke and cinders
You can hear it far and wide
The doors are quickly bolted
And the children locked inside
Songwriter: Gordon Lightfoot
Black Day In July lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
No, I do not understand why we cannot look at our differences as things worthy of respect and celebration. At some point, we need to move beyond the bewilderment of the disparities of our society. My life as a white, heterosexual, married, female, mother, daughter, aunt, cousin, stay-at-home mom matters. And your life matters just as much as mine, whether you are black, Hispanic, Chinese, gay, bisexual, Muslim, Christian, male, female, big or little. Why indeed can’t we just all live as brothers and sisters, and live in peace?
I do not know what the answer is on the larger scale. But as I contemplated all of this today, I needed this reminder that showed up on Facebook:
Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief.
Do justly, now.
Love mercy, now.
Walk humbly, now.
You are not obligated to complete the work.
But neither are you free to abandon it.
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