By Rev. Glenn Jones“Doing something is at least better than doing nothing at all!” Well … not necessarily. At least, not the first thing that comes to mind without due consideration.
I always enjoy the 1995 movie “Apollo 13”, and one of the wisest lines in the movie is: “Quiet down! Quiet down! Let’s stay cool, people… Let’s work the problem … Let’s not make things worse by guessing!” Certainly anyone who has worked in engineering (or plumbing!) knows the wisdom of THAT statement. Even with well-considered actions, we’re often victim to that nefarious “law of unintended consequences”.
We all experience the negative effects of knee-jerk emotional reactions—whether done by ourselves or by others. Indeed, the world has experienced far too much of thoughtless action. How many wars have begun … how many families divided and even shattered … simply because of wounded pride, or by perceived though unintentional affronts? World War I itself was sparked by such quick temper according to some historians—an overreaction to a lone assassin, which set the spark for the tragic and pointless deaths of millions, eventually leading to World War II and deaths and misery of tens if not hundreds of millions more. All possibly because of a knee-jerk over-emotional political response. One might be reminded of the old proverb: “For want of a nail the shoe was lost…” For want of a bit of calm, millions were lost.
People often complain about the violence, treachery, and all-around bad behavior present in the Bible’s Old Testament … not grasping that that in itself is one of attestations of the truth of scripture. The Bible is not a fable showcasing perfect moral example, but a historically-based book of real human behavior. As such, it shows us also the consequences of such behaviors … ameliorated by God’s grace ever “breaking through” human recalcitrance to at least try to lead Man to following the good … that “love God and thy neighbor” thing.
With such historicity the scriptures are inevitably filled with tragedies brought about by thoughtless emotional reaction, the starkest being Jesus’ unjust condemnation and execution. One might also remember Esau’s hunger-driven and weak surrender of his birthright for a single meal (Genesis 25), Jephthah’s hasty oath leading to the tragic sacrifice of his daughter (Judges 11), Moses’ hasty, angry words costing him entry into the Promised Land (Numbers 20), and many others … all testaments to the wisdom of calm and reasoned action in all things. As we read: “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” (Proverbs 16:32), and James reminds us: “Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20)
This quick emotional reaction has been starkly evident (and understandable) in recent exchanges concerning gun control following the Parkland high school shooting. But rather than consider calmly the concerns of each, opposing sides have often launched vilifying accusations against one another as they have done in the past—the deadlocked result resulting in the status quo, and then … yet another shooting.
As with so many problems in society, there are myriad possible “solutions”, and certainly everyone wants the best outcome. Thus, extreme accusations on either side only muddy the waters, create animosity and hamper good and realistic solutions from being implemented. No, “liberals” don’t want defenseless persons to be at the mercy of criminals and tyrannical government. And, no, “conservatives” and members of the NRA don’t want kids to die in schools. But the concerns of each are not insignificant, invalid or far-fetched, and we’d all do a lot better by listening to, rather than screeching at, one another.
There was a good article in the Wall Street Journal of February 17 by Amy Wax—a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School—entitled “The Closing of the Academic Mind”. She laments (as many have in recent times) the lack of civility and reasoned debate in the public forum, and the constant harangue launched by opposing sides of an issue, even in the heretofore bastions of free thought and debate—colleges and universities—stating “Hurling labels doesn’t enlighten, inform, edify or educate.” Rather than lead to solutions, such “exchanges” simply waste time—an extremely costly loss when seeking to stem violence, especially knowing that the clock is doubtless already ticking inexorably to the next such event.
Tragically, it is evident that some unscrupulous media—social, news or other—and self-interested agitators— possibly with money and partisanship as their primary goals—may not be so much interested in truth as in advertisement sales and internet-linked clickbait. Knowing that controversy “sells” news and sparks often violent emotional response, they often seem to fan the flames and to “Cry ‘Havoc,’ and let slip the dogs of war…” (Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 1) … “letting slip” the never-ending sniping of opposing sides at one another and thus even exacerbating various problems. We are wise to be discerning and wary of such.
Solutions can only be achieved by addressing the reasonable concerns of all, and peace comes only “peace-ably” through respect and respectful dialogue. Every sane person ought be given the benefit of the doubt and be at least initially assumed to desire the common good, so it only works toward that good to be considerate of the opinions/concerns of one another. If we work together to solve problems—especially in such as urgent as school shootings—blessed indeed will be the peacemakers.
