root of the problem

I guess I’d like to take this time and briefly discuss the disturbing events that took place in Newtown, Connecticut yesterday.

I realize that I don’t often write about anything of pressing social relevance on this blog, but yesterday’s events elicited so much global response I felt like it would be appropriate to talk about it a little more…even though it’s probably all you’ve been hearing about for the past 45-odd hours.

Anyway.

Let me start off by saying that I’m a pretty emotional person. I’ll cry when puppies are really cute or if someone tells a really funny joke, or if a really good rerun of the OC comes on, (save for the one where Marissa passes…because then that’s like, really intense sobbing) – but if we’re talking about IRL events that we see on the news, I’m pretty unresponsive. I realize this probably sounds foolish and ignorant, but I’ve come to interpret many recent events as the norm; and I’ve therefore been finding myself increasingly desensitized to them.

For my fellow Canadians and I, gun violence is a constant concern with unshakable stigmas. However, like many other crimes/contemporary life-dangers(?!?), gun violence isn’t something that I personally fear as soon as I gain consciousness every morning. Whether or not this has to do with Canada’s gun laws, the fact of the matter is that gun violence as a means of solving personal issues on behalf of an innocent public is becoming way too common.

I’m not going to be silly and idealistic and say “let’s promote peace and non-violent resolutions!!!”…because I truly don’t believe that will ever happen. I think the most important thing here is to be aware and actively work towards initiatives that will help your country develop a system that may prevent these heartless crimes from happening. Because although being sympathetic and empathizing with the sorrows your fellow citizens are going through right now is great, I don’t think anyone will truly be able to achieve a completely genuine response to the murder of 20 innocent children.

This is cliched, but I am with the many who believe the media’s rapt attention to matters like these is partially to blame for the level of extravagantness in which these unfortunate events occur. I’m not saying the media “glorifies” criminals in any way, but the attention in which these shooters get are no short of celebrity status. Obviously the way in which the media reports will never change, but that’s some *food for thought.*

To cut this short, I’ll leave you with this not-so-wise quip of deepness and thought-provokingness: Don’t falsify emotion just to go along with the rest of the world – do something to encourage a step towards gun control. You can start by clicking here.

I wouldn’t want my first thoughts upon waking up in the morning to be fear or helplessness, nor would I want to live in a country where even the most vulnerable must concern themselves with things even adults don’t understand. I hate the idea of children are killing other children and I hate that families must be hurt as a result of it. During this difficult time, my thoughts are with all of you, completely.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s have a discussion about my roots now, shall we? It’s the first time they have seen explicit public scrutiny in about a month.