Re: The Intrusion of Reality into Paradise

Ah, yes, I remember many scenarios in my past, living in or spending time in a few dicey neighborhoods in Denver, when I was either a direct victim of crime, or a witness of a crime. Won't go into vivid descriptions. I've dealt with people with loaded guns who seemed to be quite willing to use the guns. On me. Even talked one escaped mental patient out of using one on me, but that was not in Colorado. This was all many years ago.

I associated these experiences with the locales where they happened, and have for the most part considered these particular locations unsafe.

I feel relatively safe where I live now, but am aware that crimes do happen around here. Often senselessly and apparently randomly.

As I get older, it seems that more and more places I had treasured memories of as safe and serene have been scenes of unspeakable violence.

The state of our world, and our society, seems currently to be precarious and unpredictable.

Though it probably sounds simplistic to many, I still believe that beginning with learning to love oneself, then one's closest friends and family members, and then other people and all beings in the world, therein lies the answer.

We can reclaim the sense of safety in our treasured places, and preserve our memories, with love. Love is amazing powerful.

We can send prayers and love to those who have died in this recent tragedy and to their families and friends. We cannot bring them back from the dead; and we may never fully understand why the killings happened or what was going on in the mind of the shooter.

Senseless violence is difficult if not impossible for me to comprehend.

I thank you, redlepton, for what you've written. I know this is supposed to be a debate forum, and hope it's ok to write and agree...