February 16, 2008

“The Shooting Gallery Called America”

Another campus shooting. More young people gunned down. Once again we are shocked and grief-stricken to think that this could happen in America. There will be more cries for campus security, more worries about access to weapons (both legal and illegal weapons), and more discussion about why a good student would “go bad” and do such a terrible thing.

Perhaps it is time to confess that under all of these issues is a more basic problem: America is a violent society. Our murder rate is many times higher than any other industrial country, and certainly much higher than any other democracy. American citizens own guns, rifles, shotguns, assault rifles, and all manner of weaponry. Our young people watch hours of violent TV and movies filled with violence (how many Rambo movies do we need?), play hours of violent video games, listen to music which extols violence, and make heroes out of sports figures with violent tendencies. Even the news is filled with stories of violence and destruction, moving beyond reporting to glorifying such violence.

America is a violent society. We turn quickly to language about violence even when discussing sports or business deals. Even in theological discussions and the mailings of various caucus groups leading up to our General Conference, notice how quickly “battle” imagery is used and how often we demonize those with whom we disagree. For most Americans, violence and violent language are a way of life.

Little wonder that a young student with a history of mental illness goes off his medication after losing his girlfriend and immediately turns to terrible violence as an expression of his anger. There is no excuse for such a terrible deed, but there also must be confession that we have created a violent society which produces such evil.

The season of Lent is a season of confession, repentance, and turning to God. Perhaps the awful events at Northern Illinois University will remind us that it is time to reform this shooting gallery called America into a more Christ-like society.

from Bishop Michael J. Coyner

Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church
"Making a Difference ... in Indiana
and around the world"

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