Reeling from the tragedy of this weekend in Las Vegas, Americans have quickly turned to that never ending question that runs through our minds, “What could we have done to stop this?” While some turn to politics to debate whether different measures should be put in place for gun control, others closer to home wonder if they should have risked being out in public, or maybe could they have helped a loved one if they themselves were there by their side. No matter the thoughts in each of our minds, the mood is the same and the need to find the answer universal. Whether we pose the question to legislators, our families, ourselves or even our gods, we are all looking for the same answer: “What could have been done to stop this horrific tragedy?”
the BLAME
As I write this we are still learning the toll on our neighbors as many still cling to life in hospital beds. Others did not even have the chance to fight for their lives as they never left a concert they arrived at with beating hearts. And while those lucky enough to recover still lay in beds, those who have feared the worst from a nation with armed citizens have created a battle cry for stricter gun laws. From their perspective we would not see mass shootings of this nature if only something was done to eliminate the access to guns in our country.
This is true. If there were no guns in citizens’ hands, we would not have mass shootings at concerts. We would not have to fear our children being shot down in what should be a safe place while they try to learn. Shopping in a mall, you would not have to fear that any random stranger could open fire on a crowd because they have had a bad day. Working at our desks or in factories, we would not have to ever think that a disgruntled employee may barge in with a personal vendetta as they open fire on whoever they see first. Without guns in the hands of our neighbors we would not have to fear them shooting us, or our loved ones.
Just imagine what that world could be like.
a new FEAR
Now as you sit in this new place, imagine what else could be true.
Without guns, would evil be gone forever? Without guns, what other mutations of evil could make their way into our once perfect world? Would not the evil still seek to do its bidding? Have we not seen evil take any form it has access to? Without guns would we have to fear explosives on public transportation like we have seen in countries around the world? Without guns could hijackers take over planes and fly them into buildings? Would we be watching for fast driving vehicles trying to plow into crowds in public squares? Could we even trust our own water supply that is pumped into our homes every day? Where would the evil stop?
I wish above anything that we could live in a world without weapons, in a world without evil, a world without fears. I dream that we can walk down the streets of any town or village in the world and every person could be safe. But I fear the reality is that we are in a world of billions of people and in that world there are some who have evil intentions. As long as there is evil in this world, the question of what weapon they use is really just an afterthought.
While I agree that we need to learn from our history to continue to make the world the safest place we can, I want to make sure that we do not fool ourselves into thinking that it will rid us of any terrors that may take new forms. When we seek to find blame for these inexcusable actions, we are actually working to keep control of the world around us in order to maintain our sense of safety and understanding. As we seek to find the lessons from this tragedy, my hope is that we do not lose sight of the root cause of the issue, that there is evil in the world and sometimes we cannot rationalize what could have stopped it. For if it was not a gun, it could have been anything else. Either way, we would be asking ourselves the same question: “What could we have done to stop it?”
The BATTLE
While some will accuse anyone arguing points for who to blame as taking advantage of the situation, I would argue that people on both sides are following their best human nature. No matter how you feel about gun control, I ask you to take a moment now to forget the weapon used and face the tragedy of the losses we have seen.
I stand to believe that while people seek to find blame for what has happened this week, it is out of their deepest desires to see good in humanity. You see we are as a whole a kind hearted race. Humans in their best and healthiest state are good, kind and empathetic. This is the reason why emotions are contagious. This is why we cry when we see others in pain and crying. This is why we pick up on others’ laughter when we are in a room together. It even explains why you yawn in response to your friend’s yawn. This is also why our hearts feel heavy when we see our fellow humans gunned down in cold blood. We see good in humans and when we see something bad happen, we come back to trying to make sense of the senseless. We want to answer that question of “What could we have done to stop it?”
In times like this week, people look for blame to make sense of how a person could be so heinous when we see good reflected in the rest of humanity. We look for something to blame to allow us to hold our values of humanity intact. We seek an answer that may have saved the one responsible from taking those unimaginable actions that are so inhumane, so against what we know humanity to be about. If we can find blame in something, then maybe it will make some sense.
We also want to be in control. To feel safe we need to feel that we can control the world around us. Unfortunately so much of life is out of our hands and we need to be able to accept that no matter what we do, no matter how many precautions, things happen that our out of our control. Parents who have children abducted or abused wrestle this very concept as they ask that same question we are all asking now: “What could we have done to stop it?”
Many times the answer is that you did everything that you could and this was just out of your control. We need something to blame to feel like we have the chance to gain control and keep evil at bay, but the sad reality is that bad will happen, evil exists and if we were not discussing a mass shooting this week, the same person would have found some other way to inflict sorrow on our community. It may not have been bullets piercing a crowd. It could have been a bomb, a vehicle, a fire, or a mass poisoning, but it would be something.
the GOOD
Where is the good, you may ask? Look around you in every argument and debate across stages around the country. No matter which side you stand on, everyone is seeking answers to why evil exists and why this tragedy had to happen. Each person struggling to understand is a good human who cannot comprehend why there must be evil in this world. The passion shining through in each word is a call to the good side of humanity to stand up against evil in any form. Neighbors crying for strangers and people from every walk of life reaching out a hand to carry anyone they can to safety are all aboutshowing the good side of humanity.
The very fact that this is not accepted as a way of life, that there is an outcry in any form, shows the good in all of us. The good to fight for a better world. The good to fight for a safer tomorrow. The good that struggles to see how another human could be anything but good. Our minds are stumped with the mystery of how evil could exist when we know in our hearts that people are good.
If you have any doubt that people are good, take a walk around your neighborhood. Go to the library or grocery store and say something nice to a stranger, hold a door open, share a smile. Sit in a coffee shop or a local café and watch as neighbor after neighbor walk in and spread kindness and good thoughts with the world around them. Good is in our community and that good is what creates the confusion, passion and even rage all about how to answer that one question “What could we have done to stop it?”
One person did something evil this weekend. One person took the lives of many and hurt so many more. One person did that. But billions of people are good. Billions of people are with us, mourning both loved ones and strangers. Billions of people are enraged over the evil of one. Billions of people are looking for the good. Billions of people are sitting with you now and asking themselves: “What can we do to stop evil?”
Thank you for taking a moment out of your day to reflect in this sorrowful part of our journey. What are you doing today to see the good in those around you? I look forward to any comments that you are willing to share about your own journey and very much appreciate any likes and shares that you are willing to give throughout your social media networks.
Andy Vargo is a motivational speaker, life coach and comedian who challenges you to ‘Own Your Awkward’. He is the author of the Awkward Journal series, host of the podcast, Own Your Awkward, and shares thoughts and ideas in his blog and video series available at awkwardcareer.com.
image courtesy of janwardenbach@pixabay
originally posted on LinkedIn, October 4, 2017