Red's Wrap
Happiness. It's relative.
Five Reasons I am Fed Up Tonight
I don’t like being angry but it’s impossible to watch current events in the U.S. and not be angry. Here are five reasons I am fed up tonight.
- I want President Obama to take a major bite out of anti-gun control Senators by calling them out from the Oval Office about how much money they take from the NRA and NRA-affiliated PACs. If they don’t feel shame about their irresponsible votes, they should feel shame for being grown-ups in somebody else’s permanent pocket.
- I want a cessation of all polite behavior related to elected officials and commentators who are equivocal about gun safety or who outright resist sensible gun laws. I want support for unimpeded sale of lethal weapons to any and all to become the most outrageous and unpopular position ever in recorded American political discourse. There are no longer two reasonable sides to every issue. This issue only has common sense vs. death.
- I shouldn’t have to wonder if some maniac with an assault rifle is going to shoot up the Milwaukee airport, Ma Fischer’s, Lake Park, the Milwaukee Public Library or any other place I’m going to be tomorrow. This night could be my last on earth. How should I spend it?
- I don’t want to have to read that one co-worker saved another in San Bernardino or read the words he said to her as he wrapped his arm around her, “I got you.” I don’t want him to be a hero. I don’t want him to have to be a hero. I would rather he be alive, watching football with his friends, going Christmas shopping with his family.
- I still can’t believe that we as Americans are basically being left out here to fend for ourselves while people are allowed to buy handguns, assault rifles, enormous quantities of ammunition unrestrained by any meaningful regulation. It’s like new flocks of bubonic-carrying rats are being born everyday, scurrying out into the world to infect more and more people. My job is to stay clear of the rats, you know, make sure I’m not in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It’s not a happy night. An eternal optimist, I always believe things will get better. I’d like to see just a little hint of that right now, just the smallest hint. But I believe I hope in vain. Things will get much worse before they get better.
7 Comments on “Five Reasons I am Fed Up Tonight”
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Snow Door | wisconsinacademy.org
Listen to Jan read her essay “Billy” presented on WUWM’s Lake Effect
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“Fury Cannot Touch Me,” Modern Love, NYT, 9/29/11
I keep thinking about how this crazy period we’re in will be written up in the historical analyses decades from now. I’m certain it will be looked on as among the most dysfunctional in our history, from the deadlocked legislatures (federal and state) to the anti-immigrant frenzy, to the gun excesses. I just hope it isn’t too long before sane people prevail.
I am completely with you and your anger! Enough with the nonsense and the NRA and gun worship!
I haven’t even been able to bring myself to read the news articles. The only one I read was regarding President Obama and his frustration. We have our tragedies in Canada too, but life is a lot less scary when you know your neighbor and that odd guy who sits on a bench muttering to himself, probably don’t have a handgun.
Over here in Australia I am baffled by the number of mass shootings and how resistant US society has been to change gun control. Thanks for your post. At least I know one sane person still lives there.
I totally agree!
At this point only army, and police should be allowed to carry arms of any kind.
I’m in semi-hiding since my lunatic husband wasn’t happy with the results of our court case and decided to purchase a weapon. Luckily he was arrested because he wasn’t supposed to be in possession of any weapon due to the order of protection against him but that only gives me temporary solace. In 5 yrs he’ll free. What laws will I have to protect me then? An order of protection is just a piece of paper. Guns can’t read!
You are so right. People keep saying we’re at a tipping point and things will change for the better. I hope they’re right.
I hope so too!