Mixed feelings...

This morning I learned about the shooting last night in CO. Some guy went into a movie theater and detonated a bomb while shooting a ton of people. So far, reports have confirmed 12 dead and 59 injured.

When I logged onto Facebook today, I noticed that there was a myriad of mixed sentiments amongst my friends on the issue. Most people expressed feelings of sadness and disbelief. However, there is a surprising number of my friends who have said that the news networks are over analyzing and making too big a deal of it. One friend said that we, as Americans, thrive on violence incited by fear and that the extensive coverage would only lead to more fear and thus, more violence.

Although I fully understand the feeling of being overwhelmed with information in this tech savvy era, I disagree with the urge to suppress the need of the public to understand such a tragedy. I think that these kinds of tragedies are unexplainable and incomprehensible. However, I think people have a sincere need to search for meaning. I believe that the ultimate root of this tragedy lies in human sin. But I don't think that belief makes it any more bearable. If God is real, why does he allow free will? That guy had free will and he exercised it by killing innocent people. How does that make sense? It doesn't. But I think as humans we have a need to explore these questions. And I think that when we stop asking and seeking we become numb. I don't want to become numb.


I also believe the media coverage is necessary for the families. This tragedy was senseless, but that doesn't make their pain any less severe. How awful would it be to be a parent to one of those kids and be told, "Yeah, that sucks. Your child died. But we can't tell the world about it because some people feel too burdened by having to see the reports. Even if it honors your loved one." I think that would outrage people, but I believe it would also create an alienated group of people. I don't think that weeping side by side, even if spread across the country, with those families gives the killer glory, I think it draws us closer together as humanity.


My heart goes out to the families who lost loved ones last night. It breaks for our world as a whole where this kind of thing happens. My prayer is that those in pain would run to our great Savior for comfort and not be blinded by anger.