This is going to be an unpopular entry with many.
I spend a lot of time trying to consider a middle position–trying to understand various points of view on the topics that interest me. It seems unlikely that my own view might be the only one, or even the right one, so I have great respect for people who feel and think differently than I do. My interest lies in the elements of universal inspiration, not in what might simply be important to me.
Yet once in a while an issue or event comes along that truly mystifies me, and I need to offer a point of view about it. Such is the tragedy in Arizona this week and our national response to it; in particular the response of our elected governmental officials.
The attack on the Arizona Congress-woman and others in the shopping center was horrendous. The fact that she is a public official, of course, made it even riper for media to pounce on it as a story, and made it grist for everyone in Washington to express their outrage.
I share that outrage. I pray for the recovery of the wounded, and I am dedicated to do what I can to prevent violent political expressions and/or ignoring the tragic signs of mental illness.
However, there comes a time for perspective. How does this event stack up in terms of what is actually going on in the United States for ordinary people? Is the response of our government at all elitist? Does the fervor, reaction and commitment to ceremony of our elected representatives give testimony to their complete isolation from the ordinary people of the United States?
I think so.
These tragic murders have been followed by a joint resolution of Congress, the half-staff flying of the flag, and most telling, suggestions that the members of Congress get briefings on security, that they arrange for greater security at public events, and even to a proposal that we, the tax-payers, pay for personal security for them as we do the President and Vice-President.
I live in Northern California. Just a few miles east of my home is an area known as “The Iron Triangle,” a place where the murder rate is the highest in California—where they celebrate if there are fewer than 100 homicides a year…that is roughly one every three days. Most of these crimes are committed by young black men; many of the killings are gang related, but not all. Most of the victims are also black and young, although not all. Oh….and most murders in this area are unsolved.
The reports of these murders read like this:
“Brian Broughton, 18, and his brother Ron Broughton, 19, were gunned down as they left their home at ……. or ” Joseph Martinez, 20, was shot to death as he exited his car in a shopping center parking lot.” In most cases, as with these two, there is the inevitable tag line, “No arrests have been made.”
I’m sure Ms. Broughton and Ms. Martinez did not get a visit from the President, nor was there a resolution in Congress declaring the depth of this tragedy, nor were any flags flown at half-staff…anywhere. In fact, these boys were mourned by their friends, carefully and selectively, to avoid tempting the same fate.
I’m equally sure that the City of Richmond, CA. would love to have its security forces beefed up, would like to provide a police officer to do extra patrols in the Broughton and Martinez neighborhood, and would welcome the funds to do extra neighborhood briefings on security.
That’s not likely to happen anytime soon.
You see, there is no money for that kind of recognition, ceremony, or security to be provided for ordinary citizens, and there is certainly no interest in any elected body, save the City of Richmond, to provide it. Ms. Broughton and Ms. Martinez have no power, and the city cannot print money.
Yet the elitists whom we elect seem to think that their security is more important than ours. The urgency around protecting themselves is palpable, and yet they are elected and paid to serve us.
They refer to the Arizona tragedy as an “act of terrorism.” I agree. How is the murder rate in cities, largely exacerbated by gang warfare, escaping that same label? More important, how is it escaping the same interest from these elected officials?
Someone, somewhere, has to mention this gross oversight, less we miss the irony, less we fail to realize that Congress seems to exist and act solely for its own enrichment and survival.
We should, of course, mourn this loss and the circumstances that allowed the Tucson tragedy to happen. But let’s not pretend that it is exceptional, and let’s not avoid challenging an elite group of “officials” because they don’t have the consciousness to take care of the people they supposedly serve, rather than just focusing on themselves. Just because it doesn’t happen in your neighborhood very often doesn’t mean it is rare.
Wake up!
