https://mystudentapt.com/2015/10/06/theres-a-way-to-stop-mass-shootings-and-you-wont-like-it/

The link above is to a blog offering some ideas, that I believe are a good start to addressing the problem of angry, isolated, disenfranchised young men.

Underneath most anger is the loneliness the blog’s author is talking about…I don’t mean the anger we feel against injustice, at least not the sense of injustice we feel when we see someone kick a dog, or hurt a child, or steal from the elderly… but the anger that’s at its source the loneliness that comes from wanting to be loved; wanting to belong, wanting to be part of something bigger than ourselves. (That’s one reason religion works for some people; they feel part of something larger than their every day lives.)

And anger… and loneliness, and the need to be loved, and the need to belong… these are at the root of the shootings.  Unfortunately, the media with its incessant coverage of horrific acts, contributes to the belief of these angry young men that by creating nightmare scenarios, they will be part of something bigger than themselves.  They will have their 15 minutes of fame, and everyone will remember their name.

Anyway, take a look on Facebook. How often have I screamed on there about the “us” vs “them” or “R” vs “D” or racist, bigoted, sexist mentalities we see multiple times every single day? Those are the behaviors that are contributing to the hatred, the sense of isolation, the loneliness that leads to horrific acts. And when people teach their children – whether by actual words or by example – that it’s okay to hate others for having a different opinion, or a different point of view, and to call them names and dismiss them as less valuable as oneself, children internalize that stuff.

Am I blaming the shooters’ parents? No. While there may be cause in some cases, I won’t generalize in that fashion.

But I will say that when our population is angry without boundaries, and marginalizes people – too fat, not stunningly beautiful, wrong race, wrong sex, wrong religion, whatever – well, we get what we pay for.

So I challenge you.

Step up to the plate.

Be as kind as you can.

The gods know I’m not always the easiest person to get along with, but I recognize this and do what I can to be a better person, and to understand others, and to stop hatred, every day of my life.

Each and every one of us can do a part.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4fWN6VvgKQ

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In memory of my beloved husband John Kelly Snyder… 20 Sept 1956 – 21 Oct 2016.

My Johnny was a true warrior, fighting demons no one else could see.  I thought he was the strongest man in the world, and perhaps he was, but tragically, the demons got the better of him.

The name of this project is in no way intended to be reflective of, or piggy back off, Wounded Warriors which serves those military personnel wounded after September 11, 20o1.  Like too many others, John was a warrior long before then.

Fair winds and following seas, Husband.

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We now have a group on Facebook to help find resources, support and ideas for getting The Warrior Project off the ground.  You can find us there at https://www.facebook.com/groups/thewarriorproject/

Follow us on Twitter!  @WarriorProjME.

We’re also on MeetUp; search Lewiston Grief Support MeetUp.