yes, the Arizona maniac is a disturbed misfit

but giving Palin and Beck and all these right-wing agitators a pass

is flat wrong--

the maniac isn't crazy--he planned this with deliberation--

and frankly, he doesn't live in a vacuum--all the hatred currently on display

has to have had an influence on him--

but to say the right-wing's ravings didn't contribute to this debacle

is naive at best and downright irresponsible at worst (or is that vice versa?)

we are all responsible for the world we live in

and as long as no one owns up to their own personal responsibility--

as long as everyone walks around in their self-righteous bubbles

and thinks it's everyone else's fault--then you can kiss goodbye

to any notions of community--

there will never be peace on earth--that's not what the earth is for--

we are here to work on our souls--make amends and perfect our love--

(if spirituality or the idea of it turns you off--then think

the Golden Rule--think of reaping what you sow--)

and even the notion of a permanent Golden New Age is as wrong-headed

as some established religion's idea of heaven and hell--

there is no static perfection we'll fit into--the struggle will continue to

the end of time--and then nothing--no excuse you can come up with--will

save you--love your neighbor as yourself--or else

(and this is not someone's notion of salvation--though sadly it could be--)

as a friend of mine once put it in a song--"no one is exempt"-

Content (c) 2008-2011 Philip Milito.