How Long

How Long

How many times must a cannonball fly

before they're forever banned?

The answer my friend is blowing in the wind

The answer is blowing in the wind.

Bob Dylan-1962

The news Sunday is of the death of Seal team sniper Chris Kyle who has been credited with 150 kills. Also killed was a friend, Chad Littlefield. Reportedly the killer was a fellow marine and a person who provided security for Kyle while he was planning his shots. His name is Eddie Ray Routh. Speculation is that Routh suffered from PTSD symptoms as a result of his time in the field. From all accounts Kyle was a generous person who tried to help veterans who were having problems. At this time it is unknown what triggered the murder at a firing range the three men were at. Kyle was the author of a book about his exploits called “American Sniper.”

We can go on interminably arguing about gun control or the culture of violence in which we live. We can argue about how we can deal with the gun violence that is omnipresent in our daily lives now. It seems like it used to be the bad guys that got shot but now the gun is taking more and more of us who are peaceful.

My first thought when I heard the first sketchy details was the quote from Jesus when accosted by the soldiers who wished to arrest him. Peter drew his sword and sliced off one of the men's ear but Jesus said:

"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword

Matthew 26:52

I mean nothing as for interpretation of this passage, it was just simply the first thought that came to my mind. When we look for reasons for the violence and gun deaths in our society I think we need look no further than the mirror. Since the last “Good War”, WWII, we have been constantly embroiled in one conflict or the other. We have lost thousands upon thousands of our finest men and women and enough treasure to abolish hunger and want many times over. That is just the ones of our own who have been killed. Millions more have died for the inability of people to reach peaceful resolution of differences.

We are in danger of becoming a society engaged in permanent war. Some say we are already there. Already our economy is so entwined with the machinery of war and death that any drawback from it sends shockwaves through our economy. Now we have the reason of economic prosperity to continue the killing. I know it's not just us but we do our share.

Last year we experienced 22 deaths per day by suicide in our military. That exceeded the number lost in combat. Even when we count fatalities we often miss the great number of our military that are returned to us maimed. Battlefield medicine has become so good that many who would have died are now saved to live a life without one or more limbs or to suffer from traumatic brain injury. That is still only the tip of the iceberg. I have said before that when one goes off to war he or she never returns without some sort of damage. No one returns unscarred. Now we have thousands of wonderful men and women suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The medical science surrounding this disorder is becoming plentiful and we can see what creates it. Constant stress, exposure to danger, alert readiness, all these things that are part and parcel of a good soldier are influences on the physical structure of the brain. Most surely, many do not return to a life of violence when they become civilians again but so many do. The better we train our military to be excellent killers and proficient soldiers, the more we expose them to changes in their brain structure.

 The symptoms of PTSD are well known. Flashbacks, or reliving the traumatic event for minutes or even days at a time, upsetting dreams about the traumatic event, trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event, feeling emotionally numb, avoiding activities you once enjoyed, hopelessness about the future, memory problems, trouble concentrating, difficulty maintaining close relationships, irritability or anger, overwhelming guilt or shame, self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much, trouble sleeping,being easily startled or frightened, hearing or seeing things that aren't there. (Mayo Clinic Web Site).

In spite of what we know we still have the War Hawks who shout about loosing the dogs of war at every perceived slight or setback. We still have those who want to protect defense industry from normal market forces for the economy's sake and for the sake of the ability to launch war at a second's notice.

It's not just the fault of our military or the War Hawks. The fault really lies with the face in the mirror. This is the United States of America. We are not just powerful but we are also at the mercy of the will of the people and thank almighty God for that. None of this happens but for the will of the people and that includes the murder in our streets and schools. We have the power to, very nearly, end it if we choose to do so.

How many times, how many times before we answer?

My take on the slaughter.