Mass Shootings and Men

Embed from Getty Images

—
Most mass shootings are mostly about men. The worst mass shootings are called wars. Wars used to be waged and then were over with for awhile. Now they just keep going.

Mass shoots are caused by violence. Men are definitely more violent than women. Women are often the victims of violence. Men are usually the victims of violence.

If a person desires or needs aren’t being met they can compete or cooperate. Competition leads to violence. To the more violent go the resources. To the cooperative come peace, love, and understanding. These things aren’t often considered to be resources. Women are more known for their cooperation then are men. Cooperation is often considered what you do if you lose out in competition.

A hand reached out in cooperation is no match for a clenched fist ready to strike.

Scissors cut paper. The rock of brute force can break refined technology. Paper does not cover rock. At least not for long. Rock quickly rips paper. We like these games due to the restriction of options.

Cooperation is like a warm blanket composed of many inner woven fibers. It is women who typically do the weaving. It is typically men who find comfort under blankets before they return to battle.

Women now cry, “#MeToo.” Ask a man if he has ever been hit by another man for no good reason. He will respond, “of course.”

If it is a lone gunman, it is a man. If you believe it wasn’t just a lone man, you are a conspiracy nut. You probably believe in CNN Crisis Actors.

You may think it is the fault of Congress, Donald Trump, the NRA, the AK-47, Republicans, lack of mental health services, men. Think again. Think some more. How will you ever know? How will you know it isn’t your fault?

Find this hard to follow? Wondering when I’ll get to the point? Can I work on the flat earth, the Mandela Effect, reptilian shapeshifters, mud fossils, CERN, the original location of the Statue of Liberty and what it really stands for?

It is like we have been searching for answers and have discovered we have been listening to liars and ignoramuses. When we take our own counsel the truth comes in torrents, followed by more torrents, with no relief in sight.

If you conclude there is little you can do other than be a witness, from your limited perspective, you are probably right. If you believe if the time comes, you will know what to do, you may be right about that too.

I am putting this out there to The Good Men Project as my part of the “Conversation.” There are no more sure rules to follow on how to be a man. If you are one, just be one. If not, then don’t. Remember if you decide to be a man, there are rules. If you don’t follow them, you may not like the consequences. Remember the rules are eternal and ever-changing.

These are times when it is easier to write in poetry than in prose. It is easier to commingle fiction with reality and conclude that it is all real. Expressions of paradox ring truer than expressions of blind faith.

It is helpful to know that power directs and powerlessness triumphs. It is helpful to believe that death is not a big deal or at least not as big as you once thought.

Don’t destroy just because you can. Don’t destroy, thinking you can make it better.

Know that there is a Creator who made you, whether you believe it or not. Don’t go thinking that you always were. Don’t go thinking that the Creator doesn’t care what you think about this you that has been and constantly undergoing re-creation.

Don’t take anything that I’ve written here seriously because I don’t. The serious stuff I keep to myself. The serious stuff is all about love. The rest is mainly just there to laugh about and to be a test of our righteousness. Am I right about this, or what? Your turn. What do you think? Don’t worry, there is no right answer.

—

What’s your take on what you just read? Comment below or write a response and submit to us your own point of view or reaction here at the red box, below, which links to our submissions portal.

◊♦◊

Sign up for our Writing Prompts email to receive writing inspiration in your inbox twice per week.

If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member, today.

All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.

A $50 annual membership gives you an all-access pass. You can be a part of every call, group, class, and community.
A $25 annual membership gives you access to one class, one Social Interest group, and our online communities.
A $12 annual membership gives you access to our Friday calls with the publisher, our online community.