Dallas Memorial
All I have are questions. I am left wondering...whence does violence arise? Is it within us? Have we always carried it?
Every week I look down at my phone and see a new notification, another killing, attack, shooting. I turn on the radio and am not surprised to hear an attack unfolding. Is there anything different about our time? Are we paying closer attention and notice the violence more? Information has changed. Have we changed with it?
Or has this violence always been here?
I know the answer to that question. Yes. Yes, this violence has always been here with us. Within us. Not a force outside ourselves, but a piece of who we are.
On my way to the Dallas Police Headquarters I turned on the radio. A man drove a truck into a Bastille day crowd.
The month before was Orlando. These are the new marks on our calendar year.
Nothing has changed. Perhaps we're simply paying closer attention.
The President gave a beautiful and difficult speech in Dallas the other day, but my favorite quote of that day goes to ex-President George W. Bush. He said "Too often we judge others by their worst examples and ourselves by our best intentions." Too true.
What can we learn from this that we didn't already know and deny?
Violence is a part of humanity. The real question is - Will there be a day when we can resist it?