Sorry for the interruption after such an extended absence -- I have little time these days. But I think all of you are missing a very important factor here.
That the perpetrators of such heinous crimes are off balance -- emotionally, spiritually, mentally -- is not in doubt. There are many such people in the world and the causes are as numerous. Most manage to make it through life on the edge without falling off through the help of friends, family and a small modicum of self-control -- be that self-control founded in fear of punishment, morality or some other obscure reason. The fact is that a certain number of unstable folk exist in our midst and a small few may even be among us on Mind's Eye. Nor is there any doubt we are living in those times embodied in that ancient curse -- great change. In my lifetime we have gone from a very narrowly defined nationalism to a very complex and irreversible globalism. Nations which once threatened each other with nuclear annihilation now trade and borrow amongst and between each other. The economy seems a shambles, crime is rampant, civil unrest and violence are exploding around the world, banks and businesses are failing, large number of homeless and dispossessed inhabit our cities, even larger numbers of people are out of work and the threat of more hangs like Damocles sword over our necks. Even sane and rational people are having difficulty dealing, but those on the fringe, those on the edge, the ones just a thread away from breaking -- those who in calmer and more stable times might make it through without incident -- are being pushed over the edge by fear run amok. What the hell, they think, everything is going to hell in a hand basket so why not. I'll just give in to my sickness and start shooting, knifing, blowing up, burning down and generally going crazy -- just live out my sickness. Archy, I'm surprised you didn't see this aspect. Most cops I know generally expect such behavior at certain times -- windy nights, full moons and such -- and are even more alert in today's insecure and fearful world. Cops know when people go over the edge and get a little edgy themselves. Perhaps an answer is to educate those in positions privy to people's mental state -- such as teachers, ministers, school counselors, parents, friends and peers -- to be a bit more watchful and mindful during such times and act before such tendencies are allowed to run amok. /e --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
