The world is nuts.
Recently, someone told me that their friend was shot on the southside of Milwaukee last night. In the driveway of where he used to live. In his old neighborhood. He knew his mother and his brothers, he told me.
He finished by turning to me, his eyes never wavering from my face. “The world is nuts.”
I wish I could look back into his eyes and disagree. Pull out the evidence, point to change that is occurring, good people who are striving to ensure no more children are shot in classrooms. No more dead bodies on snowy driveways in Milwaukee.
When will be the final wake up call? Who has to die before that fear and hopelessness seeps into the eyes of every person, enough fear to catalyze change and wake up the world to the destruction occurring right before our eyes?
I think one of the scariest aspect of this continuous stream of these monumental and distressing acts is they happen in places of safety. In the pews of the church, where God is supposed to be present - to be all-encompassing and safe and welcoming.
In schools, where education is said to be the key to success. My sister is a 5th grade teacher in my hometown. She consistently comes home bursting with stories of her kids, their hilarious remarks and their misbehavior, but ultimately their curiosity about the world.
She told me that after the Florida shooting, a 5th grade student asked her, “Would you protect me if there was a school shooter?” A fifth grader, now curious about her wellbeing in a place of education and growth. It seems that today, answering that question is a part of my sister’s job description.
I am angry. I need to learn how to harness that anger and make productive change. It is important to believe that there is hope.
At the end of my conversation with the man whose friend had been shot, he told me that “only God can save us now.”
As I left the room, I couldn’t help but think that it is our responsibility as citizens, and as humans in general, to prove this man wrong. Let’s work to ensure that school, church, and seeing a movie on a Friday night conjures happy thoughts and memories, as well as thoughts of safety.
I don’t think we need another wake-up call.
