What Do You Really Know?

    Words have gravity. Words can influence for the good. Words can incite or encourage the worst in anyone. I just saw a news reporter suggest the shooter in the most recent mass shooting incident in Boulder, Colorado “may have been radicalized” even though there has been no proof of that nor have the law enforcement authorities-local, state and federal-said so. This reporter was passing along Unfounded information for what looked to me like merely a ratings grab.

     When you pass along erroneous information to increase your ratings or to make yourself sound like you have inside information when you really don’t have all the facts is IRRESPONSIBLE! To imply someone is a terrorist without verified facts diminishes every person who is of a certain religion or ethic background. It puts a target on the back of anyone who worships a certain way or who has come to this country in search of a better life.

     I have a dog in this fight. My husband and his parents came to this country when he was an infant, almost 67 years ago. His father was a college professor at Colorado State University in the Veterinary School. If your vet graduated from CSU between 1959 and 1975, they probably had Dr. Ab for anatomy. He was highly respected by his peers and admired by his students. He loved this country and wanted his children to be raised here. I never got a chance to know him because he succumbed to cancer before my husband and I met. I know my life is diminished because I didn’t get the chance know him. I think his son is a lot like his father; kind, thoughtful, generous, intelligent, funny and someone who loves this country. Someone who never takes for granted the joys and beauty of his adopted country. The freedom he, his brothers and sister have been privileged to appreciate is a large part of who he and they are.

     Their story is not unique. There are thousands of people who came to this country for the self-same reasons. Unified by a desire to live a better life. To have their families live with opportunities they might not otherwise be fortunate enough to have.

     There is a saying and while I’m not a fan of it, it is appropriate for this situation. Don’t ASSUME because it makes an ASS of yoU and ME. When you hear or read “details” of any story, specifically initially, think before you repeat the story, check the facts. My husband has had to change his telephone number because of death threats during the Iran hostage crisis. He has been spit on, cursed at and called a rag head, sand N-word and other names I refuse to repeat. After 9-11, his son, before boarding a plane, (19 years old at the time) was searched and told it was because of his surname. He didn’t look Arab, he looked like a high school kid. If you retell “facts” before they are verified, you might be putting a target on the back of someone you don’t intend to. For every unverified fact there is a nut job who may feel justified “eliminating” the problem. Or there may be someone who has been waiting for their chance to act on an old grievance or perceived slight. Or someone who may just want their 15 minutes of fame.

     The shooter in Boulder is from Syria. He is 20 years old and has mental problems. He is not radicalized, at least there is no proof so far that he is, nor is he a jihadist or terrorist. He’s a loner who was bullied and ostracized because of where he is from. Instead of figuring out a label so to further reject him, maybe we should remember and pray for the victims. Pray for their families and friends, neighbors and co-workers, the entire Boulder community. Pray that crime investigators find the truth to build a comprehensive case and that law enforcement personnel stay safe. Criminals don’t deserve your energy. Mental illness must be brought out of the closet and into the light so that mentally ill persons can be treated. Not be ignored and allowed to get their hands on a weapon to act out their murderous delusions. Think.