Then Paris Happened

I was going to write more on the abortion issue, to cover more questions and concerns raised by Mr. Chris Pippin, but then Paris happened. I started to hear disturbing reactions to the acts committed by those extremists: comments along the lines of "kill them," "bomb them back to rubble" (déjà vu from the 9-11 events), "close our borders to all refugees," even, God forbid, "a cleansing is needed."

Let's please not give in to knee jerk reactions. Let's not lump all Muslims into the same basket, nor be suspicious of everyone who wears a turban or headscarf. That, to me, would be as ludicrous as claiming all Baptists are "crazy" or obnoxious because the Westboro Baptists are too extreme in their behavior. Or to think all Catholic priests are pedophiles. Or that all Christians can be judged by the actions of a few.

Any group of people can have subgroups with aberrant behavior, but we shouldn't think everyone in the larger group thinks like, behaves like or approves of the subgroup.

Now, I'm not saying ISIS or ISIL isn't a problem. Clearly, they are. But the majority of Muslims abhor their behavior as much (or more) as we do. They are just as appalled as we are.

I don't know how these terrorists can be identified and brought to justice. I don't know how such acts can be prevented. How can people be kept from thinking that wanton destruction of lives and property is the way to express their anger or is a way to behave?

But I don't think that storming into the Middle East and bombing their countryside is the best solution. We should be smarter than that by now. This is also not the time for us, as Americans, to be so divided, each side sure that their way is the only way. We need to get back to being United again.

In another vein, I wonder why our media rushes to find an American among the victims before this becomes a tragedy to us? Can we not see the reality of how these are human lives that have been snuffed out and that it doesn't matter if they are American, French, British, German, or any other nationality? We are all diminished by this event. The horror is just as terrible, just as devastating. Human lives are gone with no warning. Innocence was taken. Security was shattered.

For now, I would hope that all of us who are just spectators to this would do our best to support our elected officials as they seek to find solutions for us. I know my voice isn't going to change things. I will simply try harder to live the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I will try harder to be kinder and more aware of how my actions affect others. I hope you will, too.