America, We’ve Got a Serious Problem: San Bernardino, the New Normal

Last updated on: December 2, 2015 at 9:51 pm by Aaron Todd

America, We’ve Got a Serious Problem: San Bernardino, the New Normal 2015-12-02T21:51:03+00:00 Aaron Todd

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I’m crying right now as I trying to write this. It’s happening again. Not a week after the horror of Colorado Springs we have another mass shooting. I can’t even begin to process this. It’s just one after the other after another. As I write this there are reports coming out of San Bernardino of multiple fatalities and perhaps as many as three shooters.

Is this our new normal? Is this what we should come to expect as routine here in America?? What do we say? What do we do? How do we even grieve? Do we even find that we are shocked with the reports of “Active Shooter” scroll across our newsfeeds?

America, we have a serious problem and it is time that we finally fess up to it. We are a nation that kills. We kill our fellow citizens, we kill strangers in foreign lands, and we even kill ourselves (our suicide rate is climbing at an alarming rate). Soon, the commentary will start and the “experts” will begin to stake their tiresome positions and seek to demonize anyone who dares to disagree with them.

So, to the talking heads who will soon be spewing the same nonsense and to the politicians who will attempt to use this horror for their own gain I want to say this:

Don’t talk to me about “well, if those people would have been armed…” That is hogwash and you know it. Besides, there are PLENTY of guns in Southern California (trust me, I’ve lived there). Don’t spew the same “shootout at the OK Corral” fantasy. It’s not real. Spare us this time, please.

Don’t talk to me about how this is a “mental health issue.” We of course know that mental health in this country is something that is incredibly under supported and that there are still plenty of stigmas and misunderstandings about mental illness. This is something that we have to address but when you use “mental health issues” in this context you know and I know that this is a convenient way of not addressing the deeper, darker, and much more difficult concerns.

Don’t talk to me about “enough is enough.” It was enough after Columbine. It was more than enough after Sandy Hook and Oregon, and Colorado Springs, and Aurora, and every other time this has happened. Don’t give me sound bites.

Let’s get real. Let’s talk about each other. Better yet, let’s talk about ourselves. It’s time, God, Almighty, it is time. I wrote this after Oregon, but I’ll say it again, these shootings that continue to occur (some reports say that this is the 352 mass shooting THIS YEAR) are no longer on some unseen or unknown “enemy.” They are on US. Every single one of us is responsible.

Don’t believe me? Take a look around. The fear, hostility, and dehumanization of one another that has griped this country is as real as it is terrifying. We don’t talk to each other anymore but instead talk at or past one another. We have reduced our news to sound bites and we can pick and choose what information we want to get and from what perspective we want it to come from. We are looking at perhaps the most vitriolic election that this country has ever seen. And we refuse to acknowledge our own shortcomings and frailty.

We live in a society where the first response is ALWAYS violence. Bad guy? Bomb ’em (and their family, too, apparently). Girl who doesn’t worship the way I do? Follow them around town wearing a mask while carrying an assault rifle. Boy with a different skin color than me? Follow them around the neighborhood. How can we be surprised that events like what is going down in SoCal when we no longer are able to see the humanity of one another?

God, in your mercy, hear the prayers of your people. As our thoughts go out to the people of SoCal may you come in and break our hearts so that we may finally start to heal. May you give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hands to help instead of hurt.

I just can’t anymore. Oh, Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel.

Rev. Aaron Todd serves as the Minister for Education at First Christian Church-Midwest City, OK . Among other things, he focuses on youth, children, young adult, and family ministry. He is married to Debra, who is also a Disciples pastor, and together they have a 3 year old son named Zach and a precious baby boy named Josh. In addition to their human children, they have a 5 year old dog named Amos (named after the prophet). Check out his blog, revaarontodd.com

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

Previous Post

December 2, 2015

Reflections on Advent: Music, Mindfulness, and Movement

Next Post

December 3, 2015 National Public Radio for the Mind

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Author Interviews Battle Over the Body and Blood of Christ Bearing Beauty Book Reviews Christian Education christian spirituallity christianity Christmas Church Church Leadership Contemplation Creation Care Death and Dying Death Penalty Disruptive Change Disruptors Series Easter Education Evolution and Faith Future of Progressive Christianity Gun Violence Health & Wellness Holy Week Interfaith Israel-Palestine Leading Differently Lent LGBTQ Living with Cancer Meditations on the Cross Mental Illness millennials Mimetic Mondays Monday Meditations Movie Reviews New Monasticism Pando Populus Parenting Patheos 10+1 Q&A Series PC(USA) Politics Pop Culture Practical Theology Series Prayer progressive christian Race Relations Reformation religion Religion and Politics Religion in America Rethink Church Social Justice Spirituality Spirituality of the Body Stump a Scholar Technology and Faith Thanksgiving Theodicy Trust Me Church Uncategorized Why I'm Still Christian Youth Ministry

Select a Month December 2025 April 2025 January 2025 September 2023 September 2022 May 2022 February 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 May 2021 February 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 June 2020 May 2020 March 2020 June 2019 March 2019 January 2019 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

To whom did Jesus say, "Today you will be with me in paradise"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Peter The repentant thief Nicodemus Pilate