On Trauma, School Shootings, Policy, and Security: This World is Absolutely Insane

It’s been a long month! We have all been completely shaken regarding the recent tragedy in Texas where a young teen violently and aggressively killed 19 children and three teachers. I know you all are asking why I mentioned trauma in the title. It’s because I have been following the news and observing everyone’s reactions to this tragedy. Outside of the typical condolences, tears for change and rants, I saw a post that made me ill. A lady stated that the shooter killed 21 people because he was bullied and if we want to stop these incidents from occurring, we should put a stop to bullying. What bothers me is that a lot of people use a system that functions from one truth. Can we acknowledge that several things can be true at once and none of the ideas need to be disproved or overshadowed for us to acknowledge or validate a theory? I will say bullying is bad. I will say that it can cause trauma. However, to relate it to this issue is nonsense. Mental Health is important; however, I think that the way most of us comprehends it is incorrect. Mental Health is a guide. It allows for us to be able to identify our decisions and thought patterns and be able to get comfortable and sit with them. It informs us of the way that we think and process information. It allows us to come to terms with the information we need to change courses or engage in a different perspective; transform our minds. Mental Health does not relieve us of accountability. While bullying may have been a catalyst for an array of emotions in this young man which then caused him to behave egregiously, it is by far a scapegoat. There is a legal term called the Reasonable Person. It suggests that the reasonable person is not an average person or a typical person but a composite of the community’s judgement as to how the typical community member should behave in situations that might pose a threat of harm to the public. Most of us have been bullied at some point or another in our lives and the vast majority have not chosen to go to a school and kill 19 kids and three teachers. A reasonable person understands that there is a standard of conduct, and this young man violated that standard at the highest and most aggressive level. While we can empathize, we cannot relieve. Specifically, to this case, what we should be able to refer to that will protect our children is policy. There should be laws and practices in place so that the working class doesn’t have to drop their child off to school and be tormented with thoughts of their safety. It’s emotional distress at best. But I think we can infer that the law is not here to protect us. We live in a raggedy fiefdom where the rich continue to collect their checks, play golf and drive sport cars and see the stat of the world as righteous. Willfully oblivious. Forget about all of us, the Americans whose backs they continue to build this nation on. They rest on us while mandating that we do more and overlook their foolishness while denying a simple right such as safety. Safety? It is more than apparent, even perpetuated, that Americans don’t need to feel safe. Before I can get into the building at work, I scan my badge at least 3 times, but any person in their own unjustifiable right can walk up to a school and manage to kill 21 people. Security is non-existent, but what I find interesting is the lack of security when this nation leans into technology. Or is this something that the government just refuses to allocate funds towards. We need reform. When I say security, I mean all controls. I’m not referring to any individual that can pass a background, put on a uniform and stand at a door. That is what we call Top-flight Security. We do not need that. I think we can all agree that most of them are pointless and unarmed. We need trained professionals, deterrents, systems, and devices that are in place to limit vulnerabilities. An unsecured place is a gateway for destruction, and we have witnessed this countless times. What is it going to take? I don’t think any of us know the answer or have the fortitude to push for the answer at this time. We are tired and unseen. Undeniably automatons, yet after every tragedy there’s a group of government officials calling for change when only they have the power to induce change, they just lack the care and concern. To that I say this world is bad, mad, raggedy and trifling. I send my condolences to all the families who lost loved ones from a senseless act. Lastly, I urge our community to stop making mental health a scapegoat for bad behavior. These people need to be held accountable.

Y'all be safe, literally.

Cici