Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 15:05:55 0600
From: Frank Grose
To: Rob Weinberg
Subject: Re: Here It Comes!
Rob,
“I suppose you heard the news of the shooting of the students participating in a prayer group. Time for the broad brush. The anti-prayer in schools crowd are to blame for this. They bear the same responsibility as do the pro lifers for the abortion doctor shooting. I wonder how the liberal, anti-Christian media will play this one. ; ) ”
Very sad. If it IS related, I admit I expected the first violence to come from the "right." Too many unanswered questions at this point to point to one crowd or the other or to make a political statement out of that atrocity. The papers did say this a.m. that the boy was somehow associated with the "atheist" crowd. Last night, some friend of the boy indicated he'd been planning something for at least a week, just didn't know what, although the friend of the boy said the boy didn't want the friend at school that day.
It is sad. Have you seriously examined WHY you expected the "first violence" (You expect it too, I see.) to come from the right? Careful of personal bias coloring your reasoning. ; )
The kid snapped. Why? The guns were stolen from a neighbor on thanksgiving (reason #2 I don't want guns in my house), and he'd been planning it. Looking for explanations, not excuses.
We don't even have time to discuss the Second Amendment issues, but I do respect your position on personal firearms at home. Thank God we have the freedom to have it either way, right?
Was he taunted or victimized in some way by the "prayer crowd" that killing was the only way of dealing with it? Was it something as simple as a broken heart, a lost girlfriend who got "saved," and he blamed "them" for losing his love? Was he making a political statement? Did he want to die too? What troubles at home? At school? Were the kids in prayer an intended target? Or just a convenient one?
At the outset, I agree with the need to consider the questions you've raised. Absolutely!
Now let me hold up a mirror to you to peer into. Substitute "pro-lifer" for "atheist" and "abortionist" for "praying student." Would you honestly be as ready with possible reasons/excuses? Response comments are not required. Selah. While I agree with your logic, it is just that kind of logic NEVER comes from the left when one of theirs has been victimized by someone from the right. I was just somewhat surprised when it came from you, when the "right-wing Christian whackos" are guilty before the fact in (what seems to be) your frame of reference.
Frank, the questions I posed only scratch the surface. It is too early to judge whether the prayer group was an intended target, let alone what the underlying motivation was, assuming the group was his intended victim because they were Christians. Clearly, the kid is psychologically damaged. The questions are: why and what did he think he was doing? He's an aberration, not a spokesman for the "anti-God movement."
Why he did it is not an overriding point, important, but not overriding. A characteristic of the left is trying to somehow justify the action because of the criminal's environment, relationships, upbringing, economic status, race, etc., etc. Example: Menendez brothers who blew away their parents.
It could have been as simple as one sick kid shooting at the people he thought stole his girlfriend. It could have been totally unrelated, and he just snapped at abuse at home. Yes, they were victims, but if you turn them into religious martyrs and the kid into a political representative of the "left" you'll see a real war and bloodshed upon bloodshed, totally divorced
from the original facts and underlying cause.
From the initial information "martyr" may be the applicable term. Yes, there is potential for repercussions from the right, but I hope not. Actually, I don't expect it. I do believe there will be other incidents in the future with a common thread. It is a natural outgrowth of the direction our courts and our country are going. Do I want to see "holy war?" Absolutely not! But as a Christian, I fully expect further restriction of my religious liberties, more open rejection and vilification by the public sector (We already have it in the entertainment and news media.), and eventually open persecution. Personally, I feel that my chances of dying at the hands of a government goon while defending my rights to be high enough to give me real concern. Yes, I have contemplated several scenarios that begin with, "What would I do if.... " There are things worth dying for! (Relax, I'm not planning anything stupid; just letting my heart speak... to a trusted friend.) But then, S. 10 is working its way through Congress. (Your old boss is a co-sponsor.) Some provisions may be intolerable to freedom loving Americans.
As tempting as it is not to, we should withhold the political conclusions for a little while yet, and counsel restraint and responsibility. At least, that's what I would say if I were a representative of the "liberal, anti-Christian media." ; ) Do you think the right-wing Christian whackos will use this as an opportunity, before the facts are in, to start a holy war? ; )
Sure there will be some knee jerk reactions. We are all (left, right, and middle of the road) just people. Such is the reactions of "people" when they perceive a threat (even though it may not be real). The South Koreans almost attacked North Korea immediately upon hearing that KAL 007 had been shot down. They "knew" that North Korea was responsible and wanted to kick some behinds. One American 4 star had his work cut out for him to keep them on a short leash. I was there at the time. Such reactions are never justified. But just for kicks, think of how differently such events are played in the media, and from members of the left (and right too, I guess).
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