America needs to have an important conversation about violent culture.
Yesterday, I decided not to write about the shooting in Wisconsin, where a man attacked peaceful worshipers at a Sikh Temple. I didn’t do this because it wasn’t newsworthy, but because I just have a hard time writing about news like this. I can’t give these victims justice or peace, and neither can any other writer. All I can do is wish the families peace and let them know that my family is keeping them in our hearts.
What I can comment on, however, is the shameful irony that a man our own military trained is the neo-Nazi who attacked this peaceful community. Growing up, I learned in my religion courses that Sikhism is one of the most peaceful religions on earth, if not the most peaceful; my history teacher gave us visuals of men sweeping the earth before their feet so as to not unintentionally kill anything, even an insect. I do not know if this is true of all Sikhs, but I do know that the faith is one of great peace and great tolerance, full of followers who strive to protect and ensure respect of all beings regardless of faith, color, or any other difference—you know, something that our military should be doing; indeed, something that our military is supposed to do.
