®*'* sportiani) (Observer Diversity Special Edition
Page 8
August 22, 2012
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Daring to Discuss Gun Control
Our destiny is
ours to co-create
by
B entley
de
B ardelaben
The other evening I was
watching a national nightly
news program at home and the
top five stories involved the
shooting of guns and the slaugh­
tering of innocents, students,
seniors, armed forces mem­
bers, religious groups and political figures.
Further, some of those horrific reports
were complicated by the alleged mental
health issue of the shooter. Separately, any
of these controversial topics could fill vol­
umes in the public library, could absorb days
at a conference and hours on a newscast.
They would be hotly and rigorously debated
and discussed.
But combining them together... wow!
That conversation seems akin to stepping
onto the third rail of the subway train.
Nevertheless, we must!
So — when and where and how do we, as
citizens of this great republic, begin to have
honest, open, difficult and fact based con­
versations about what appears to be a mental illness? Unfortunately, mental ill­
growing trend within North America about ness still carries a stigma in our society.
guns?
Some people associate feelings of shame,
This is not something we should relegate blame, guilt, and fear to this disease despite
to politicians to handle. Let us not it’s being a genetic condition in most cases.
forget that politicians represent us and That being the circumstance, why is it that
our needs. If we wholeheartedly enter some of us don’t process it in the same way
this seemingly “sacred” and “fragile” as we do cancer, hypertension, sickle cell,
space, and remain until we reach agreed multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease or
upon outcomes, we will get the job other treatable illnesses?
done. Perhaps not overnight. But com­
Regardless of which topic we start off
plete the task, we can.
with, the bottom line is that we arrange to
And no, I’m not being a “Pollyanna.” No have it.
superhero will deliver us from this fate. I
I have no doubt that there are schools,
am being pragmatic: as the time has come religious buildings, libraries, civic buildings,
for us to act, here and now.
homes where these grass roots efforts can
So, can we initiate our discussion under begin. It’s my, your, our responsibility to get
the header of gun control and dare to debate a handle on this problem. Otherwise, what
separately the second amendment, semi­ happens to be five reports on the evening
automatic weapons, gun registry, local law news tonight may become 15 reports or 50
enforcement capacity and illegal gun pur­ reports in the not too distant future.
chases to name just a few? How about we
Our destiny is ours to co-create. So at a
debate violence in the media and how it minimum, let’s do it for the children who will
permeates American culture in music, mov­ yet inherit this great country. They are
ies, video games, magazines, advertise­ depending on us.
ments, and how ihedia violence desensi­
Bentley de Bardelaben is executive
tizes us?
fo r administration and communications
Perhaps we begin the conversation with fo r the United Church o f Christ.