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| What Do Dog Attacks, School Shootings, and Election Theft Have in Common? by S.L. McKay Spring 2001 |
| We are a People submerged in a sea of irresponsible bliss. We are shocked and saddened from time to time by waves of violence and injustice yet we quickly dive back into forgetfulness. Our escapism does not change the fact that we are a nation that continues to lose its humanity one bullet and one ballot at a time. |
| Like many Americans, I am horrified that we now live in a kakistocracy. Our federal executive, legislative, and judicial branches are controlled by some of the worst foes of democracy in history. I am not able to quietly accept the first coup d’etat within the United States. I have nothing but contempt for the Usurpers who have taken up residence in the White House and the partisan injustices and Congressional GOPets and DIMocrats that helped make it possible. Further, as the unmandated stranglehold tightens around our necks, I both fear and hope we are at the nadir. Since November much of my time and energy has been spent reading, writing, and discussing the failed presidential election. However, two recent violent tragedies--seemingly unrelated to this issue--have served to reinforce my fear that America is losing its soul. The true recession our country faces is one of personal accountability. The lack of culpability, in both public and private life, is taking a horrendous toll. As a People, we pay more attention to the rise and fall in the NASDAQ than to the increasing violence and corruption that touches each of us to some degree. We fret daily about indicators that foretell the health of the stock market yet seem unaware of red lights that bode the loss of our humanity. Recent headlines are nightmarish deja vous. In San Diego, another teen took a gun to school and killed his classmates. In St. Louis, a fourth grader was slain by a pack of dogs. These incidents are disturbing yet no longer seem rare. Much has been written about the two most recent tragedies. An abundance of hindsight commentaries and accusations have been forthcoming. As in similar preceding incidents the same post-tragedy questions were asked: Were the parents at fault? Were authorities at fault? Did the youths come from troubled homes? Should people be allowed to own handguns? Should principals carry guns? (Presumably to shoot students who carry guns?!) Shouldn’t a mother be concerned when her young son does not come home at night? Should friends and family members intervene on behalf of a neglected child? Shouldn’t dog owners keep track of their dogs? Shouldn’t municipalities capture and dispose of unclaimed animals? Who is responsible? Some have undoubtedly answered these questions--quickly and assuredly--seeing stark distinctions between right and wrong, good and bad. Others may be pondering some of the questions and raising others, viewing life in grayscale. I fall into the latter category. In my contemplation, I find myself returning to one theme that ties the recent violence to similar acts that have come before and to many other societal woes, including the dishonorable state of our political system. High school students shooting classmates and packs of dogs killing people in urban areas have a common thread. Not so oddly, this thread ties violent misfortunes to the recent election fiasco in Florida and the Bush regime’s assault on the American majority. The common thread is responsibility. The pack of dogs that killed the little boy did not fall from the sky. Each dog at one time belonged to a human. Nor did the dogs escape from loving homes to form a violent gang intent on mauling little boys. The owners of the dogs are as much to blame for the tragedy as the animals. Further, city officials that were aware of the renegade pack (due to citizen reports, score one for responsibility) and did not intervene share some of the blame. The little boy came from a broken home. His mother could not take care of herself let alone a child. Still, as parent, she had a responsibility she did not uphold. This begs the question: what of friends, family, and neighbors? Did they know the boy was neglected? Did they do anything to intervene on his behalf? Did any adult supervise the basketball game in which the little boy participated prior to his death? Did any adult think to see him home safely? An unidentified man claims he saw the boy, sitting alone under a tree, at about 6:30 p.m. (which is after dark this time of the year in St. Louis). Too bad the man did not take a minute to ask the boy if he was lost or offer to take him home. Could anyone have predicted the little boy would be murdered by a pack of dogs? Probably not. Yet surely it was predictable that some harm could come to a fourth grader left on his own in St. Louis, or any town for that matter. Therefore, it is likely that adults could have prevented such a tragedy. Culpability starts with the dogs’ owners and ends with the adults that could have intervened at any point along the way to the unfathomable horror. Animal neglect should be no less a crime than child neglect. When one decides to bring a puppy, kitten or other pet into the home, that person becomes a guardian of a being that cannot care for itself. Further, when other citizens see an animal neglected or running wild, they have a civic duty to either become its caregiver or notify authorities. In turn, police and animal control must take action when reports are made. Obviously, no less is true for adult responsibility when it comes to children. I strongly disagree with George W. Bush’s attempt to wipe out 200-plus years of separation of church and state with his so-called faith base initiative. Yet I do agree with him that communities must be active in helping its members. Not because it is the religious thing to do, but because it is the civil thing to do. Further, although she is viciously maligned by the Right and misunderstood by ignorant millions who will not or cannot comprehend her book, Hillary Clinton drives home basic decency and common sense in It Takes A Village. Bush has drawn from her themes (adding his religious views). That is, as humans we are interconnected and therefore responsible for each other. If we are truly a civil society, or strive to be, then we must recognized that each member has value and has a role to play. We must respect ourselves and each other, and work together to build strong communities. It starts by being good neighbors where we live and work and grows from there. It starts with being accountable for our actions. It also means taking conscientious action when we see an uncivil situation. Does this mean we should spy on our friends and neighbors? Of course not. It does, however, require that we not bury our heads in the sand. |