A Word of Sorrow and Smpathy to Orlando

And here we are on yet another Monday morning, and I should be rambling on about something dealing with Autism or Special Needs; but I think there's something a bit more important to talk about this morning, namely the shooting in Orlando this weekend.

The news when I heard it, left me sick to my stomach.  That someone could have that much hate inside of them is heart wrenching in a way very few other things could be, and the all too predictable responses are in some ways almost worse.  The quite majority among us went and did things like donate blood, pray in special vigils at churches, schools, synagogues, and even mosques, or check for places we could make donations to help the families of the victims.  All good and decent things that help to show what we as Americans are and where we come from.  But then there's the politicians and the fanatics on both sides of the gun control issue, they couldn't wait to haul out their favorite soap boxes.  And as is all too often the truth, both sides manage to makes themselves look like morons!  Gun control advocates shoot off their mouths and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they have little or no knowledge of what they're talking about with comments about "assault weapons" (no such thing dude, though there is a legal definition of an "assault rifle"), "militarized rifles" (again, no legal definition of that term) and talk of "killing 50 people in 10 seconds" (sorry, but it took a lot longer than 10 seconds to kill and injure that many people);  while fanatic second amendment rights advocates fire back with comments just as insulting and many times just as stupid.  The fact is that we still don't know enough to say why this man did what he did, and until we do making statements about how to keep it from happening again is just so much hot air.  So please.  Keep things civil and let the investigators do their jobs.  When they finish, then we can start looking for solutions.  Until then, let us just help support the victims as best we can and show that we as Americans are stronger than the terriorist, the haters, and the mentally disturbed.  And with (or without) your permission, I think I'll close with my daughter's post on Facebook last night for I don't think I could have said it better.

Another day, and another tragedy. Still mourning Christina Grimmie, whom I looked up to and adored, I wake this morning to find news of a grave shooting at a gay club in Florida. 50 dead and 53 injured, in, I am forced to assume, what was a terrible terrible hate crime. I wonder what led this man to hate the lgtb community so much, that he would commit such a massacre. I rarely touch religion on my Facebook, but today I find it necessary. In the bible, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 states "Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away." In the aftermath of this tragedy, I pray. For the victims that the dead will find life in God's kingdom eternal. That the injured may be healed through the Lord's love. For the families that they find hope and peace in the Lord. And for the perpetrator, that he might let the Holy Spirit change his heart, and learn to love. And that we might change and better our world, through this tragedy. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.