I know that all of us have been horrified by the destruction that has wreaked havoc on much of the South and some of the Midwest recently and have been glad to see FEMA at work with many volunteers to try to fix the problems. First responders from all over the country have taken their skills and time to help with the situation, and their heroism and commitment to their neighbor has been gratifying. The existential threat of climate destruction is taking its toll everywhere around the world, and hurricanes don’t care if you deny them or not – they are equal-opportunity destroyers.
Now, though, we have another threat: armed militias threatening workers and volunteers based on lies spouted by people who should know better. FEMA is pulling people out of parts of North Carolina due to the danger these paranoid terrorists are posing. Our Constitution gives us the right to bear arms in the form of militias, but our addiction to violence has pushed us over the edge for decades. People without reason are carrying guns to get their way. People without morals have always used weapons to incite terror. We are addicts, and our drug of choice is violence. Guns are the needles.
The evidence is clear that, at least among developed nations, we are the most violent. Our military budget is more than the next 7 countries combined. Our murder rate is in the top 4 of all countries and 3 times higher than Canada. In many parts of the country, guns are easier to get than Sudafed. We also have an unacceptably high rate of domestic violence, and too many organizations fighting that scourge are struggling more every year to maintain funding just so they can keep up with the problem. Many of our most popular public figures make their living from violent personas, and we have yet to come up with a solution for the rampant level of bullying we see in schools, online, and in the workplace.
Too often, we resort to violence before reason, and it has become part of our national identity. Go to another country and listen to the things people say about us; and it isn’t that they don’t have a problem either, it’s just that ours seems bigger and more out of control. Now we have people who probably think they are being patriots forcing aid workers to leave them helpless. They are doing the exact opposite of what is needed – violence over reason. I’m curious if any of them thought of helping instead of threatening. For those who are suffering from this, we feel terrible for you. Before we can get help, though, we have to admit we have a problem. We have a problem.
Prayer – Holy God, cure our warring madness, both at home and around the world. Help us to find healing for our addiction to violence. Amen.
Today’s art is “Turning Point” by Terri Thompson.