2012 may not have been the end of the world, but 2013
already looks to be a year of challenges, both for me on a microcosmic level
and for the world at the macro. My homeland is no exception. In fact, from
afar, it seems rather in disarray, but, as we may learn from the past, things
always seem in disarray. It is only later analysis that makes sense of the
Chaos.
In sports, the tarnished career of Lance Armstrong, once the
world champion and icon of a sport, leaves little question that cycling is a
very, very dirty sport with no winners and mostly hampered by scandal and
hypocrisy. The obsession now instead of Tebow (which I predicted would end as it did), it is the “catfishing” hoax of Te’o. As the NFL playoffs near closure
today, Michael Crabtree, the star receiver of the San Francisco giant, the 49er's, is
embroiled in yet another sexual assault case by a star athlete.
However, as big as sports is in America, that is not what
has my country divided, despite the media attention. It is the obsession with
guns that once again has come to the theatre of the absurd. Following the
shooting massacre of 20 kids and 6 adults in Connecticut, there have been
measures suggested for gun control. This is gun control, not abolition of guns,
as the far-right sees it. The second amendment is always invoked and
misinterpreted by such people, for it is in the time of militia that every one
has the right to bear arms, not just to go into movie theatres and
kindergartens with assault rifles.
Extreme conspiracy theory monger Alex Jones went nuts on
Piers Morgan’s own show, whom Jones petitioned to have deported, because Morgan
had voiced his opinion about guns. What Jones forgot is that before the number
Two comes One, meaning, the 1st Amendment gives one the right to
free speech unless it does harm.
Yesterday, at “high noon,” there was a “guns across America”
rally. High Noon? Seriously people? Last evening I went to see Gangster Squad,
a movie riddled with gunfire. During the movie, I found myself thinking, “wow,
America has changed so much since the 50’s.” But, then, walking towards my bus stop, having time to think, I realized, “no, they just dressed differently.” It
is still all about guns. Who has them, who doesn’t. How they are used, for
“good” or for “evil.” Nothing has changed, The gun has remained the same,
however.
Whenever there is a shooting in America, and they happen
with shocking regularity, many gun-toting wannabe vigilantes will say, “if I
had been there, I would have shot the bad guy down, but I can’t carry my .357
Magnum because of the goddamned pinko, liberal faggots in power.” Ok, Mr.
Harry, and when the “good guy” cops come and everyone is waving a 45 or
brandishing a Belgian SCAR assault rifle, whom are they to shoot???? It would
be high noon at the OK Corral, and the result would be the ending of Reservoir Dogs. Everyone is dead. No
good guys, no bad guys. Everyone is dead.
While recently driving from New Mexico, back to Texas with
my young daughter when we were visiting the States again, we stopped at the
border, at a gas station just inside the New Mexican State line. As I was in the
bathroom two men were complaining that the government would not stop at guns,
but would soon ban silverware and steering wheels (I kid you not, that’s how
absurd it got), because “steering wheels could be used as lethal weapons.” The
second, a burly Texan responded, “I just wish I could kill the half of the
population that voted the son-of-a-bitch back into office.” And they left. Yep,
back at “High Noon” at the Corral.
I personally have never owned a gun, something that has
shocked many people here in Europe. In college, a friend of mine and I took a
road trip up to Canada. At the border, the man asked if we had anything to
declare. Nope. He saw our Texas license plate and asked quite sternly, “are you
carrying any guns?” Nope. Somewhat surprised, “do you own any guns?” Nope. Now,
very surprised, and with a friendly wave, he said, “Welcome to Canada!”
My father loved guns, though a special kind, mainly black
powder rifles and pistols that he made himself. I went shooting a couple of
times with him, and trust me, I know the kick of shooting a gun, at a target… I
get it, and I like to shoot a bow and arrow as well, at a target, not at a
human being. Would I use lethal force against someone harming my daughter, yes,
if it came down to it. So, it is a paradox. I get it. The NRA suggesting that
President Obama was a hypocrite for having armed guards for his daughters was
nothing short of ridiculous. It is precisely because there are lunatics out
there with AK 47’s and so forth.
There has been conspiracy that the Newtown shooting was
staged so that Obama’s administration could ban guns. The Obama administration
has not even put this on high priority until now. It was not a driven agenda
for the past term. In addition, I
repeat, it is not an abolition of guns, it is a control of a specific type of a
massive killing machine that is not even used for target practice. The hysteria
that can be whipped up at moment’s is nothing short of mind-boggling.
I don’t see an endgame on either side. It’s a draw, and that’s what I’m afraid of.
