I have recently been watching Mankind: The Story of All of Us on the History
channel. Through the first four episodes the story of climate change, empires, holy wars, and plague have been presented. In 2012 there have been
a high number of violent incidents reported in our community. These incidents have ranged from child abductions
to mass random shootings targeting movie goers, shoppers, school children and
worshipers.
In the past 30 years, I have also seen new infectious
diseases in the form of AIDS and various Ebola virus. Famine has presented itself in Ethiopia and
other parts of sub-Saharan Africa. War
has gripped the planet from Vietnam and Korea, to Afghanistan, and the Middle
East. Genocide has taken place in Darfur. Death is all around us despite advances in medicine. Communication has mobilized uprisings to
overthrow dictatorships and acts of terror to challenge a people’s way of life.
From the times of Pompeii and earlier, any good fortune or
disaster has been a gift or curse from a higher power. Residents of Pompeii felt the rumblings of
Mount Vesuvius prior to its eruption yet did not leave the city. Similarly residents of the United States see
violence, economic disaster, unsustainable ecology, undereducated children,
social inequalities, and a gamut of health care challenges from Medicare fraud
to lack of access to healthcare. All of
these issues are hard to address. We
have seen the results of hasty poorly written laws such as the Defense of
Marriage Act. We have also seen the
ineffectiveness of laws such as the 10 year ban on assault rifles which expired
in 2004.
Tragedy is unfortunately the best motivator for change. In India, one cannot acquire a cell phone
without a permanent residence. This is
to prevent coordinated attacks such as 26/11.
The Department of Homeland Security has instituted a number of measures
regarding airline travel based on 9/11. While one can question the effectiveness of
these tactics, people did come together and worked towards change. Yes, airport fees went up.
Just as there are tools for international relations –
diplomacy, information, military, and economic, society’s ills must be
addressed with the full tool box. The
majority needs to reach out to religious and political minorities. There need to be more public service
presentations on a modern interpretation of free speech, unreasonable search
and seizure, and a well regulated militia.
I am most aware of security forces in the casinos and airports; they
need to protect those economies. I
rarely see security forces in schools and religious institutions; there is no
money to be protected there. Idle hands
are the devil’s playground. Unemployment
is on the rise and without a purpose or reason to get up in the morning people
may be more likely to seek out infamy. Among males 20-24 years of age, unemployment is
at 12.8%, the national average is 7.7%.
This group is becomingly increasingly disenfranchised as the economy is
changing and people are getting left behind.
The signs of the apocalypse are all around us. I think it is time to get to know your
neighbors, volunteer in the community and practice religion or spirituality if
you choose. Strong communities are
required for safe communities.
No comments:
Post a Comment