A Simmering and Smouldering

When you play with matches, a fire starts.

When you laugh and watch someone play Russian roulette and tragedy occurs, you share the guilt.

When a fading comedienne pretends to hold aloft the severed head of an elected politician, someone is playing with matches.

When a theater presentation in a public arena is given accolades despite depicting the assassination of a politician, everyone who applauds is accountable.

The corporate sponsors of an elaborate production featuring violence to a character strongly resembling our recently elected President bear the burden of responsibility when the sparks of violence explode into flame.

Today the fire started and to some degree we all share in the remorse for not being aware the sparks had ignited or pretending we didn't smell any smoke.

Why did we condone a TV personality using the N word despite warning our children it is not acceptable. A tacit apology several days later from the renowned celebrity didn't erase the damage.

Why didn't we react when an attractive Congressional representative, who should be a role model for young America, chose to use not merely vulgarity, but an extremely offensive word, in the context of a prepared speech, and then laughingly shrugged it off?

We appear to be preaching one set of values, while tolerating or possibly condoning another from celebrities and citizens in the public arena.

Violence is highly contagious, and like evil, difficult to contain, once it spreads.

When the perks of celebrity are abused and utilized in defense of allegedly humorous violence, there is guilt.

When a beloved comedian laughs off a blatant display of horror as simply comedic privilege, he gives approval. When violence occurs after an endorsement, there is guilt.

Our beloved land crossed a line of demarcation today. We cannot return to innocence, but we can draw a line in the sand right now.

We are the only ones that can do so. I wonder if we will.