I wish the right people could read this or listen to your voice, and by that I mean the people who are holding us back from fixing this incredible problem with guns and violence. Your words are haunting and perfect in how they capture that reasonable fear of not knowing if we will be the next victim. The joy that was taken from your day, your experience... that matters. This fear takes up so much space in our lives.
But also, thank you for writing this. However much time you spent thinking, editing, kicking it around, it was time well spent.
I've spent most of my adult life working in aviation, where we learned the hard way that there is no limit to hate, or nihilism- especially if it's in the name of jihad. I don't mean to oversell it, but the in a lot of ways the culture wars feel the same way radical Islamic fundamentalism (ISIS, etc.) does.
Damn. This is harrowing. But oh-so-true. I'm always clocking exits when I'm out in public now, and sizing up people for craziness. Hard to have a good time when you can't let your guard down.
I wish the right people could read this or listen to your voice, and by that I mean the people who are holding us back from fixing this incredible problem with guns and violence. Your words are haunting and perfect in how they capture that reasonable fear of not knowing if we will be the next victim. The joy that was taken from your day, your experience... that matters. This fear takes up so much space in our lives.
But also, thank you for writing this. However much time you spent thinking, editing, kicking it around, it was time well spent.
I've spent most of my adult life working in aviation, where we learned the hard way that there is no limit to hate, or nihilism- especially if it's in the name of jihad. I don't mean to oversell it, but the in a lot of ways the culture wars feel the same way radical Islamic fundamentalism (ISIS, etc.) does.
I know it sounds kinda crazy, but those kinds of thoughts never cross my mind.
Damn. This is harrowing. But oh-so-true. I'm always clocking exits when I'm out in public now, and sizing up people for craziness. Hard to have a good time when you can't let your guard down.
Another piece that hits home. Love your style of writing.