Understand that we cannot understand

Angry rhetoric. Vitriolic hate speech. A broken mental health system. A culture of violence. Video games. Rip roarin’ rap music. The Second Amendment. All have been culprits blamed by the media for the tragic events that occurred in Tucson, Ariz.

I would like to submit another: randomness.

We, as an intellectually developed species, feel insecure when we cannot attribute shocking events to a specific influence or cultural trend. The feeling of helplessness that comes from not being able to identify the root causes of, and thus prevent, acts of violence is overwhelming. So we will accuse almost anyone or anything of spurring these acts merely so we can retain some semblance of security by believing that we have some influence over our society.

But it just isn’t so. Random events happen. Mentally deranged and violent people exist. We as a society cannot prevent all threats to our security.

Yet, in the aftermath of nearly every major news story, calls for structural reform resound on cable news networks, vocalized by policymakers and political pundits alike.

After the attempted “underwear bombing,” airports implemented screening procedures in which TSA employees were instructed to pat down the pelvic regions of travelers.

After nearly every school shooting — which have become all too common — parent groups and teacher unions vociferously insist upon metal detectors at the doors of our school facilities and stricter gun control laws.

And do you recall the fatal bridge collapse in Minnesota several years ago? In the immediate aftermath of that horrific accident, politicians crisscrossed the nation calling for massive spending packages to revitalize our aging, decrepit system of infrastructure. Now, more than three years later, how many more bridges have collapsed? None, to my knowledge.

It comforts us when we are able to attribute events that disturb us to an endemic, yet curable, societal issue.

We like to believe that hate crimes could be reduced if children were educated more about the dangers of prejudice and bigotry.

We placate our fears by assuming that violence against police officers would be eliminated if only children didn’t play Grand Theft Auto video games. And it is reassuring to think that we could reduce violent crimes against women if only the media did not engage in their objectification.

But, we must wake up to the reality that very few direct causal links exist in these circumstances.

Violence exists. Our society is rife with hate, racism, bigotry and prejudice. Mentally unstable people, acting under these auspices, have the potential to take drastic, unspeakable actions, as did one deranged individual in Tucson.

By flailing around after tragic events shake the foundations of our self-assurance, we worsen the damage done by these acts.

By failing to wholeheartedly and simply blame a sadistic individual for his morally incomprehensible deeds, we place some of the blame upon our own backs — implicating all of us for actions we would never commit — blaming the media, the degradation of the classic family unit, the deprivation of civil discourse, or our own culture of violence.

I didn’t cause the acts in Tucson. Neither did Sarah Palin. Nor Barack Obama. Nor 50 Cent. Nor Rush Limbaugh. And you didn’t either. There is only one person to blame, and that is the man behind bars, whose name is not worthy of appearing in my article.

Let’s restore the belief in personal responsibility that lies at the core of our national fiber. Reject the notion that heavy metal music, talk radio, the Tea Party or political vitriol caused these events.

The court of public opinion is now in session. Defense attorneys for the shooter will attempt to convince you that he was acting out of some unhinged directive that outside influences placed upon him and that he’s merely a martyr, a victim of a broken system. Don’t buy it.

Just as there are random acts of kindness (and good, decent people behind them), there are random acts of violence and hatred.

We can’t control everything. And the sooner we accept that, the happier our lives will be.

Accept and embrace the inability to understand — it’s the only way you ever truly will.


E-mail: jkingsol@indiana.edu