WARNING! I’m ornery this morning!
But first I’m EXTREMELY relieved that my friend Colleen and her family were not at that concert. I nearly choked when we heard the news as it was happening. They were safely ensconced at home glued to the TV. Her daughter-in-law is in town visiting from Hawaii and has been staying on the strip. But it just so happened she had decided to stay with Colleen and Chuck that night. Thank God!
The other thing has just made me half crazy. That’s all the crap that was going around on social media, what people were saying about who did this. Let me say it in a few words.
Had this been a black person, he would have been labeled a thug (or worse).
Had this been a Muslim, he would have been labeled a terrorist.
These SM people even went so far as to name names with absolutely no basis!
But because it turned out to be a white guy from Mesquite, all of a sudden the neighbors are saying what a wonderful, quiet man he was, and that he loved country music!
Do you know what white privilege is? Have you ever seen it in action? Well take a good look.
There! I feel better!
`
`
Picture Source: Odyssey
Impromptu Promptlings 
Calen, the best I can remember almost every time there has been one of these outrageous incidents, the neighbors comment on how quite and un-noticeable the culprits have been. I don’t want to research it, but I do know I have often noted that there was not much negative feed back by neighbors. It does seem that there should be some signs to bring attention to such evil that is exhibited by people who would do this kind of thing. In one Muslim situation, neighbors said they noticed people going in and out and were somewhat suspicious but didn’t want to report anything for fear of being accused of hating Muslims. Actually it would be good to have “psychopath warning” or something to label these evil doers. I don’t agree that skin color is a very good mark of good or evil.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sometimes wonder if people who say that about their neighbors do so out of sticking their heads in the sand. It sure became obvious after 9/11 that suddenly we HAD to start being aware of our surrounds. We’re so complacent here. We don’t think twice about being in a crowd, be it a football game, a mob, a concert, etc. It’s unfortunate for us, but we can no longer afford to be innocent the way we were before 9/11. At least that’s how I feel…
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re right about us needing to be aware of our surroundings. But I still don’t know my neighbors as a general rule. If one were to go berserk I’m sure I would describe him/her as quiet and reliable even though I have no idea what might have gone on That is not always true. I might do a blog about some who were not really what we saw when we met on the driveway.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Over here in Oz we are saying the same thing as you, Calen. My Facebook feed is full of comments like yours. Meanwhile, a lot of us are mystified about your so called ‘gun culture’. John Howard, one of our Prime Ministers, ‘bought back’ and destroyed thousands of firearms after our worst mass killing (apart from those we inflicted on our Indigenous people over a hundred years ago), in 1996. We have had no mass murders since. We’re not stupid enough to think there are criminals here who don’t have an arsenal like Paddock’s but our laws make it so much harder to do so. This morning, my partner and I were trying to nut out why America maintains the status quo re gun laws – yes, we know about your Constitution and understand why, historically, it might have been necessary way back when, but while many of my compatriots feel a deep and abiding grief and heartfelt sympathy for your loss we also, with respect, shake our heads and ask ‘Why?’ I am sure you do the same and I hope this doesn’t sound like we blame America for its troubles but we do hope you can all find a way to change what must be changed and find the peace and safety that every American deserves. In the meantime, what about us and our concentration camps where legitimate refugees are incarcerated indefinitely? Yes, we Australians are also culpable
and really need to close these horrible camps immediately, but our protests fall on the ears of deaf, heartless politicians … what is happening to our world??
LikeLiked by 1 person
What is happening to our world… How many of us are wondering that… I thought when we started to move in a global direction we were becoming more civilized. Now I’m beginning to wonder if we’re on the verge of taking a big step backwards. There’s been some discussion here about how Australia handled that gun problem. Personally I’m totally on board with that. Every gun enthusiast here in the “wild west” seems to think if they have a gun they can protect themselves and their families. Nevada is an open carry state. Probably half the cowboys in that crowd were packin’ guns. How much did they help? Not at all. “White American terrorists” practice a who new kind of barbarianism when they murder people. We have guns in the house. They are locked in a safe in a closet so the grandkids can’t get at them. The ammunition is stored separately. But I can tell you one thing… If someone actually came in here, Arn would never get that sucker open and those guns loaded in time to be of any help. That argument just doesn’t make sense.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s despicable and the only thing to do is to keep saying the truth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re right, Jay. We gotta yell till we become hoarse! Then there’s my son who is very proactive. He’s already been on the phone to our state representatives. In fact, there’s a few calls I’m going to make, too.
LikeLike
Thank you for checking on us! I hadn’t really given in to my emotions until today. I cried some this morning.
It’s been surreal for us since Sunday night. The Strip was dark last night. It’s never gone dark for a whole night. Not even on 9/11. I saw images from inside of Mandalay Bay this morning, It was deserted.The casino floor was empty. Traffic on the Strip was sparse as of this morning.
When something like this has happened in the past, to other places, we offer up our thoughts and prayers to those affected. And we truly mean that. But until it happens to you, to your town or city, you really can’t know how much it hurts.
#VegasStrong
LikeLiked by 1 person
And when you’re NOT a part of the community, it’s so easy to space it off after a couple weeks. I’d give my eye teeth to know how many people in this country have been touched by some kind of violence. We have, twice. Arn’s cousin Sherrie was kidnapped and (presumably murdered). Her body was never found. And my daughter-in-law’s aunt was stabbed to death on her porch in Florida while having a cigarette. We think we are immune to violence here. We’re not.
LikeLike
What a terrible thing. So many things cause these people to do things like this. Surely now something has to be done about the gun laws?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t hold your breath, Opher. The Republicans have already come out an said they’re not going to deal with it. I can only imagine how this made all those parents in Sandy Hook feel about having lost 20 kindergarteners and three teachers a few years ago. Their pleas fell on deaf ears. Don’t we have a right as citizens to not have to worry about losing our lives to something like this? Banning assault rifles and requiring background checks is NOT a violation of a gun-lovers rights. But getting shot is certainly a violation of rights to the rest of us.
LikeLike
Lady Calen. I wrote something very similar on my Facebook page. There are so many thoughts going on in my head about this TERRORIST Attack that I can’t think straight! First of all, that Nazi MFing POS in the White House would have been all over that TERRORIST had he been, Muslim, Jewish, Black, Latino or an Immigrant. But given the fact it was a WHITE MALE, the White Supremacist president cannot bring himself to say the words WHITE HOMEGROWN TERRORIST!
Yes. We had a terrorist attack and the Republican Congress who sleeps with the NRA and gun lobbyists (as well as sleeping with the pharmaceutical companies. White collar whores they are), will do nothing about this. Why? Because those nancy-boy, no spine, no balls Republican politicians are not concerned about “we the people” they are concerned with their wallets. GUNS KILL. GUNS KILL!! And I don’t give a $hit about anyone’s right to bear arms. We have a right to live and as long as the gun laws are lacking, our right to life is lost—speaking of “right to life”. Just sayin’!
I need to cut this off because I am getting ready to write a blog post and this entire Vegas thing is a sore spot for me.
We are a country divided and unless the Republican Congress is defeated come the Mid-Term election and unless Trump is impeached, America will never be great again.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well said, Cath! Don’t EVER change! Your voice is so important.
LikeLike
I agree with you wholeheartedly — an older (white male) colleague said to me rhetorically, “why would a regular retiree do something like this?” and I responded, “why would ANYONE do something like this?” We have to stop accepting any narrative that violence comes normally to some demographic groups and is extraordinary among a privileged group. As far as I know, the only line that can be clearly drawn about the demographics of mass shooters in the US since 1987 is that about 98% of them have been male. Regardless, this is yet another horrible tragedy, and it makes no difference to the victims or their families who shot them. It should, however, be a matter of concern for everyone else, if we’re willing to take steps to prevent more of these. Countering toxic cultural messages should be one of those steps, imo.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Totally agree. That man’s comment is so typical, isn’t it? Who are the first people we look for when something like his happens? I bet they’re not white… I’ve spent years reading about Germany and the Holocaust. I kept wondering what was different about that culture that the people could be so easily manipulated. I think I’ve finally found my answer. There’s NOTHING different between them and us. This administration we are living under now has make that stark reality very clear to me.
LikeLike
WAHOO! Preach, Lady Calen! My nieces are both event planners in Vegas; it is a near-miracle that neither one was there that night. Thank you for speaking up!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank God they weren’t there, Lori. So glad to hear that.
LikeLike
I’ve popped over here having seen your comments on The Frothy Filosopher, so hello. You make an interesting point here about our perceptions of who’s a terrorist and how stuff is reported. It’s all very sad, no matter what this man’s reasons for doing what he did. We can’t legislate for these random acts, but nor must we stay at home out of fear. Most days we get through unscathed, but sometimes, tragically, we don’t. Glad your friends are OK.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Julia. Thanks for stopping by. You’re right. We live in a country where we haven’t had to think twice about going into large crowds through our days. We’ve always felt secure here. The wonder is there’s not more of these incidents. There are just some things we can’t protect from. But nor can we hide in our houses quivering. I think we have to come to the point where we must decide if not regulating assault rifles is in line with the values of our country.
LikeLike
Girl, you ARE fired up today! 🙂 I must admit, I couldn’t figure out what you meant by “SM” when you said, “These SM people even went so far as to name names with absolutely no basis!” For a minute, I thought it was about bondage, until I realized it must be “Social Media!”
This article is on the same wavelength:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/10/02/lone-wolf-our-stunning-double-standard-when-it-comes-to-race-and-religion/?wpisrc=nl_faith&wpmm=1
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well you know what, Ruth? It IS a type of bondage, now that you mention it. Social media is an addiction of a different sort. So I think bondage is a great word for it! Thank you for the thought! And the article. I’ll go have a look!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Google and Facebook have been rapped on the knuckles for directing traffic to fake news about this
LikeLiked by 1 person