Tears filled my eyes as I watched the news accounts of the Charleston shootings.  I  was just sick.  I wondered how one person can be so evil and full of hate that they can go out and start killing people, just because that sounds like fun.  Now this tragedy has become a media circus, you have people peppering the media with their opinions, some call for gun control, others think more people need guns “to prevent these type of attacks”.  I don’t know if either side knows how completely ludicrous they sound, but this has nothing to do with guns and everything to do with hate.

Our country is falling apart at the seams and it is because of one simple reason…a lack of morals.  I was lucky, I was born into the 60’s when family was still an integral part of our culture.  Now kids grow up to parents in multiple relationships, abuse, drugs in the household, they barely have a chance.  Kids need strong role models and I fail to see where they even look to find them now.  When I was a kid I grew up to shows with good guys that fought for what was right, Superman, Batman.  Who can kids count on now?  Sports heroes, who should be children’s idols, are videotaped beating the crap out of their girlfriend.  Government officials get caught sexting. How can our children grow up to be great, when the role models we present to them are so messed up?

I used to think it was silly that experts thought that video games caused people to become violent but I am starting to see where this reasoning is coming from.  Video games for many people have become more than just a passing hobby.  With people spending countless hours, often times their lives are completely consumed by these games that can mean hours and hours of killing.  Maybe at one point, their brain just snaps.  I have never really been into video games even though I was there for the first few that came along: Pong, Pac man, Frogger.  I always had better things to do than to spend all my time in front of a TV or computer, but I can imagine if you allowed it consume your life, the real world would start to grow dimmer and dimmer as the days went on.  Before long, you are living in a reality that is not real.

Okay, now we have a person that spends unimaginable hours staring at a computer screen playing games, I’m guessing games where you kill again and again.  Add to that the images that our media portrays about racial relations in this country.  Think Ferguson riots, NY cop killer, Hollywood celebrities adding to the fray by adding their own opinions to situations they know absolutely nothing about.

Let’s be honest, the Ferguson riots did absolutely nothing to improve racial relations between police and citizens.  Why? Because everyone was talking and no one was listening.  In the very beginning the cops were talking nonsense to cover their asses, just in case it was an unjustified shooting, while the citizens immediately went into “crazy mode” rioting and burning down the city because they thought police had shot an innocent “black” man.  It was a freaking fiasco from the very start.

Imagine being a really screwed up teen and watching those images on TV.  People were looting, vandalizing, shouting “kill the cops”.  Not a very flattering moment for Ferguson, Missouri.  The images were scary at best, and there were plenty of people out there that were trying to help bring a bit of peace to the community, but of course, the media chose to go with the most sensational video, for ratings of course.

I would hate to be inside this kid’s head, but I think he was looking for a bit of glory.  When I saw the videos of him in police custody he didn’t look upset or scared, like any normal person would.  He seemed confident and at peace, like a person who had just accomplished their mission.  It didn’t matter if he had a gun or not, this man had a mission and it was to kill a group of black people.  I don’t think it mattered to him how it was done, the gun only made his mission easier.

I think we need to take a look at what our children are learning from us, from their modern culture.  They need to be learning love and respect for all of God’s creatures, humans, animals, the environment.  How can you hate a person of a certain race when God created all of us in his image?  Hate is infectious and it needs to be eliminated.  When I think about hate, I think about ISIS.  There is absolutely nothing to that group but unbridled hate, they simply want to kill people who’s beliefs differ from theirs.  Think about that next time you say something hateful in front of your kids.  Children absorb everything you say, whether you mean it or not.  I realize people have their biases, but keep them to yourself.  Let your kids grow up to be a bigger person, they hear every detrimental thing you say about blacks, cops, gays, whatever.  Do not fight with your significant other in front of your children, be the adult for once in your life.  Wake up and be a parent, if your teenage or young adult child seems troubled, get them help!  Don’t wait until they go off the deep end and do something horrible.

The blame lays not with guns, but with our society and our lack of responsibility for our children.  I don’t care what your situation, rich poor, married, divorced, do not involve your children in your problems.  Teach them to be respectful and courteous to everyone, be a role model to your children.  If they learn to hate, make sure that they didn’t learn that terrible trait from you.  If you bring children into this world, you are responsible for them becoming responsible, productive adults.  Do not take that responsiblitly lightly.

Jean Marie Stanberry-Author of Laying Low In Hollywood, One World United, The Illusion of Order, Blood, Sweat and Fears and Heartless-A Star is Dead.

jeanstanberry.com