A culture of violence

"I just know I will be murdered. Please do not make me go. "

These were the words of a sophisticated woman when she learned she was to be part of a delegation to the US.

This is a woman who is politically active in her country, daughter of a mayor and wife of a physician who teaches at the University and has an international reputation.

When she told me this story I was her houseguest. I tried to reassure her and encouraged her to come visit me in the US; she would be safe.

Could I tell her that today given the mass murders that have occurred in the US? I could not. Perhaps I should seek refuge in her country!

These past few days have more than saddened me with the loss of so many beautiful innocent lives. At times I have been sick to my stomach and not able to eat. I hurt so much for the parents, for the other children who survived and will live with this the rest of their lives, and so many others that the more hardened would call collateral damage.

I grew up with guns in the house. Several. For our family it was survival. It meant food on our table. My father did not need an assault weapon and massive rounds of ammunition to hunt for our food. In fact he prided himself on what he called a clean and single bullet kill.  I do not know if I could live in that environment today but then it truly was a matter of survival for us.

I could continue here with more commentary on guns but will leave it alone.

The other issue that troubles me a great deal and has since Reagan was governor of the state of California, is that his actions led to so many of the mentally ill becoming homeless and living on the streets.

Our current attitude toward mental illness needs to change! People need to not fear seeking treatment. Others need to be able to identify troubled individuals and guide them to appropriate services, not ignore them or think someone else will.  There have been too many mass murders perpetrated by individuals with similar profiles.

We need change!!! NOW