Bugging

I'm frustrated with politics today. I'm frustrated with society in general, really. The politics are where we play out all of the other problems we face as a people. I'm anxious about how passionate the divide between parties, communities, ideologies and generations is becoming. I'm sad at the lack of civil discourse and seemingly common sense approach to solving our difficulties.

Each day the news seems to report a little more violence than the day before. More crime than the day before. More foreboding than the day before. Our reaction? Overreaction at the wrong causes for the effects we are witnessing. It is not a matter of more legislation or regulation that is needed in our country today - I should say world today, rather - but more personal responsibility. We need to accept responsibility for our actions, choices, opinions, voices, etc. We need to take at least a small amount of personal pride in how we conduct ourselves, what values we prize the most, and what principles are worth standing for. We need to forgo the superficial and refocus on the eternal.

For instance - there is the current gun control debate raging through our communities. Sparked up again by the horrible Newtown tragedy we find ourselves, as Americans, spewing at each other over what the solution is for such violent acts. Based on the noble cause of protecting our children and neighborhoods we have digressed to fighting like toddlers. Name calling, finger pointing, yelling without pausing to listen. Neither side is the enemy here - we all want what is best for our country and people. And like a true democracy we are privileged to work it out as a union; however, that is not what we are seeing.

In the midst of all this conflict I find myself exasperated by the arguments deployed. It is true - I fall more on the conservative right when it comes to gun control. I believe whole heartedly in the validity of the Constitution of these United States. I hold true that the founding fathers were inspired from God on High when it was written and ratified. The 2nd Amendment is not there to allow for crime and violence, but to protect us as citizens from the very government types we came to America to escape from. How does a revolution take place with unarmed citizens? I am not crying out for a modern revolution - I am just defending the need for that 2nd Amendment.

Those on the side of stricter gun control argue that we do not need more than simple rifles to go hunting or shoot for sport. The problem is they are reigning in the 2nd Amendment to cover only the right for such activities. I'm sorry - I just do not believe the founding fathers would have thought hunting such an important right that we needed a constitutional amendment to protect it. It goes far deeper than that. I am not a conspiracy theorist. I do not believe President Obama is going to try to take over our nation and make us bow down to the United Nations, or something of that sort. But, in all honesty, who really saw Hitler coming? Who saw Stalin's reach until it was almost too late? Back in the 1700's who foretold us laymen fighting a war against the entire British Army? We cannot know everything - we cannot predict the future or what enemies we may encounter, both of the human kind or others. The 2nd Amendment is there to protect and provide for us. I, for one, am not willing to disband it.

On the other hand, I realize that people are scrambling for answers to today's violence. I do not blame them. It is scary out there. I am frightened at how much worse it's going to get. The unfortunate part is that those members of our society who inflict this terror are not going to press pause due to more regulation. It has been illegal to kill since the start of time - yet, does that stop them? If someone truly wants to harm another being, cause havoc, wreak terror and ultimately break the law they are going  to do so with whatever means they can drudge up. Why then continue to regulate and infringe on the liberties of the rest of us? Law abiding citizens are already doing their duty when it comes to owning weapons. We are already being responsible. Why must we be handcuffed for the crimes another committed?

This debate, and the many others we face today, is a difficult one. I do not envy those on Capital Hill who are sent to make the final decisions. They do not have an easy job. That does not, however, give them permission to do so poorly at the tasks they have before them. Let us breathe, pause and try to work together. Let us demand better listening ears from our representatives. Let us require that common sense and decency prevail in our legislative and judicial halls. Let us call for civil, respectful discourse and action.

Personal responsibility, family responsibility, good parenting, forgiveness, kindness, respect - all those basic, fundamental principles that have long been widely accepted in our society are eroding. That is the CAUSE of the EFFECTS. We are creating our own problems through our irreverence for morality and values. This is paraded out in our political spheres. As Americans, we have created the closest thing to a perfect union in the history behind us. We can fix those tears we face. I have faith we can do it again. We just need to remember our history, learn from it, respect each other, and - most importantly - do not alienate that God who blessed us with this country in the first place.