What is truth? The dictionary defines it as sincerity in action, character and utterance... How do we, as people, separate fact and fiction with limited information? How can we spread truth, when we don't have the whole truth? How do we justify our reactions, to situations we are presented with, armed with only part of a story? It is difficult to take a stand, when you don't fully understand what it is you are standing for. The only recourse, is to lay in wait for new developments, yet your emotion fuels the fire to take action. Others turn their heads, allowing fear or selfish motives to govern their defense mechanisms. They are not seeking answers. They are not concerned. They are willfully unaware of the world around them.
They choose not face that which happens, in an effort to not be disturbed or to be affected. As long as they are not forced to take action, they will continue on their own course of action. Some lack the will to make clear decisions. Seeds of self doubt plague their souls. They desire to take part, yet they can not find the courage to do so. They feel it is safer to not act, rather than take a chance. Still others, jump in head first, reacting before thinking, not contemplating the outcome of their decisions. They are fearless, bold and courageous in their efforts. They possess the confidence that only requires a spark to ignite. They live, attentive and ready to act, waiting for the moment to spring....
Most of us, are somewhere in the middle of the extremes, choosing to react when we feel the need. We are not afraid to react, yet choose to live with caution as our guides. People in this category are not looking for the fight, but will engage in a fight, if the fight comes to them. They are aware of the world around them, but pick and choose which battles they will ensue. They take calculated risks and consider the outcomes of their decisions. Depending on the situation, we can all exhibit these traits at one time or another. There are times when we are quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry, yet there also times when we do quit the opposite, or assume the posture of a deer in the headlights. Most are aware, that there are consequences to our decisions, even when we choose to do nothing at all, for nothing is something after all. We have all experienced cause and effect for sure, whether we wanted to or not. This is a universal truth, and it applies to us all. For every effect, there was a cause...
For the most part, we all seek the same things and consider them our basic rights- life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We often take our freedoms for granted, but are not ignorant of how we got them. The memories of those that came before us, are embedded in our hearts and minds, and history reminds us of the sacrifices made to form the foundation of today. We enjoy these freedoms, at the expense of other people's lives. We are moved when we hear their stories and we honor their lives in song and dance. We proudly wave our flags and celebrate moments of our histories, reflect on our past, all the while looking to our futures. We pledge allegiance, holding our hands to our hearts, and support those that continue to defend and protect our way of life. Freedom is something we can all come together and agree on, wholeheartedly, without conflict...
However, there are other things, which when we allow, can divide us. These are the issues, which surround, define and threaten our lives, liberties and disrupt our pursuit of happiness. We are a diverse species, with different goals, perspectives, wants, needs, desires, faiths, religions, likes, dislikes, opinions, ways of living, ways of educating, ways of raising our children etc.. Our cultures are different. Our languages and how we communicate are different. We pursue different dreams, different ways to spend our time, possess different personalities and different ways of thinking. We act and treat people differently, handle our experiences in different ways, are on different paths and journeys and have drastically different ways of interpreting our lives and the lives of others. All in all, we are quite the motley crew, and there is no denying it. We are all unique individuals living in the same world.
At times, there are moments that can bring us together, such as tragedy. Events such as 9/11 and the recent shooting at Sandy Hook, should in theory, unite everyone on a fundamental basis. The loss of people's lives is an emotional experience for everyone, and it multiplies when children or close ones are involved. Upon first hearing of a mass school shooting, most people experience a hit right to their heart. It moves them in one way or another, and it instantly makes national headlines. People become glued to their tv's, computers and personal hand held devices and begin spreading the tragic news everywhere. News of this magnitude spreads fast and immediately becomes the topic of discussion. It especially affects those with children, causing concern and extreme emotional responses with parents. Needless to say, everyone is affected to one degree or another, and subsequently, a heightened sense of awareness spreads through people. For a moment, everyone is temporarily on the same page, eager to give their attention, focus on the needs of everyone involved and offer support in one way or another.
The death of innocent children really hits home. It strikes to the core of one's being and hurts our very souls. After the initial shock of such a horrible act, several things start to happen. The best and worst of people start to show. There is a push for swift action, and people are eager for justice. Constant updates are expected and everyone is talking. Emotions run high as a search for the truth begins. People want to know what's being done and demand up to date information and responses to that new information. The world is in a fury. Sorrow and sadness quickly turn to anger and rage. The madness begins and we are off, ready for resolve.....
As a first responder, certified at both a local and national level, I have to say, what you see in the media and what happens in real time, is dramatically different. Even though we practice exercises with multiple agencies on a regular basis, when an event of this magnitude happens, mistakes take place and people drop the ball. I have been involved with an incident gaining worldwide attention dealing with the death of a child, and to date, the incident is still being analyzed. Information is always withheld from the public, in the name of justice for good reason. Over time, more information will be released to fill in the blanks. Patience from the public is needed in order to bring justice to the table. It takes time and devotion from many many people for a case of this scale to come to full light. I can see this in relation to this recent tragedy. However, this is not your typical case.
The more people scrutinize, the more lost we all become. Facts don't seem to be facts at all. Information contradicts itself. The more research we do, the more doubt we acquire. Anyone keeping up with this would have to agree. Too many questions have been and remain unanswered. Upon reviewing footage, all sorts of interesting theories evolve. Suddenly people start to question the events surrounding this tragedy and are looking for answers. An already intense situation reaches critical mass. Nothing is making sense and people are starting to see that. There's a fly in the ointment they say. The facts just don't add up and no one knows what to believe. In situations like this, people become outraged. They don't know how to feel or what to do with those feelings. Now we see our differences come out. Instead of being united through tragedy, we are separating and drawing lines in the sand while in the midst of it.
One group says it's an attack on the 2nd Amendment and other's are horrified the subject even came up. Some still haven't got over the initial shock, and others are full speed on the attack. Videos and commentary flood the internet and even the major networks are reporting on the controversy, fueling people's emotions. The truth seeking movement is saying conspiracy. There's not just a fly in the ointment, there's microorganisms on the backs of the mosquitos in the hand sanitizer! Everyday citizens are contemplating their ideas, theories, and notions, but are hesitant to make hasty decisions. Surely no one would plan or play with people's hearts and emotions like this they want to believe. It just can't be true. We need to focus on the safety of the one's alive and implement better controls and regulations. This simply should not be happening. Perhaps there's more to the story... And I can assure you there is. There's a whole lot more that we most probably will never know.
This is an extremely sensitive situation requiring extreme measures. No one wants to offend anyone who's child was shot or dishonor their death without undeniably proof. A child's death should never be played on or played with. It's a shame we have even got to this place. So again I ask you... How do we discover the truth with limited information? The real truth, is that it is unlikely that we ever will. Sure, America won't let it die, and information will have to be released to appease the masses. But that doesn't mean we got the big picture. The big picture shows us that we are divided as a nation and all around the world. It shows us that tragedy can be the catalyst for confusion and dissension. It shows us that we can lose sight of what's really important in the midst of the smoke. It shows us that we can make black and white issues appear out of grey. It shows us what we as a human race, really are...
The real truth in this tragedy, is that we can use tragedy to come together. We can put our differences aside and focus on what matters. No matter what is behind this event, or events in the past, there has never been more of a time to stand together united. The shooting of innocent children is unacceptable, both here in the United States and all over the world. Individuals, groups, organizations, nations, militia, governments or anything else that plans or uses the death of children should in no way, shape, fashion or form be tolerated. If we stand together as not only a community, not only as a nation, but together as a unified race, there is no person, no group, no organization, no nation, no government that can overcome us. Our agenda should be one and the same- To fight for, preserve and protect everyone's right for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If we are divided, we will be conquered. There has never been a more important time for us to realize this. Our world has reached critical mass. The time has come for us to face all the tragedies that befall us. This is an Age of Accountability.
We as humans have the power of choice. We can choose to change the future as we are the one's writing history. We can choose to make the future a more positive place. We can choose to stand up to the injustices that plaque our world, and fight for what we both know and feel is right. We will make mistakes. We will make poor decisions. We will always have to deal with our faults and the faults of others. But that in no way should hinder us from progressing to a common goal- A better world, forged by people that chose a better way. We cannot control all the events, situations or circumstances in our lives, but we can control how we react to them. The mass murder of innocent children is a tragedy... to plan or use the mass murder of children or even the idea of mass murder of children as the catalyst for an agenda, is a tragedy as well. Either way, it should unite us rather than divide us. We need to resist the temptation to swallow the bait, Sandy Hook, line and sinker, or imminent death will bestow us all......
*A nation divided against itself, cannot stand. -Abraham Lincoln
*And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.- Matthew 25:12
*The supreme art of war, is to subdue the enemy without a fight. Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness... Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate... All men can see these tactic's whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved. For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting, is the acme of skill... All war is deception... The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -Sun Tzu
*When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies, by conquest or by treaty, and there is nothing to fear from them, then he is always stirring up some war or other, in order that the people may require a leader.- Plato
*Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results... Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex. It takes a genius, and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction...The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who won't do anything about it... Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to never stop questioning.- Albert Einstein
*The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it... It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see that matters... Things do not change, we change... If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours. As he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness... A truly good book teaches better than to read it. One must soon lay it down and begin living on it's hint. What one began by reading, one must finish by acting.- Henry David Thoreau
Sources:
*Common sense
excellent!
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