Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

H2O Man

(73,323 posts)
Sun Dec 16, 2012, 07:39 PM Dec 2012

Blame & Responsibility

“The killer awoke before dawn.
He put his boots on,
And he walked on down the hall.”
-- Jim Morrison, The End


Adam Lanza decided to kill his mother, and as many human beings at an elementary school as possible. He dressed for the part in a manner that had meaning for him. He took the weapons and ammunition he thought necessary to commit the violence that would shock the nation. He loaded the guns, and he -- and he alone -- pulled the trigger.

It is normal, or at least as close to “normal” as is possible under such abnormal circumstances, for people to not only ask, “Why?” ….but to try to assign blame and responsibility to those who might have been able to prevent such a tragic events. Indeed, when these types of horrible mass-murders seem all too common, it is actually important that people, including you and I, engage in searches for answers.

Because such searches are important, it is essential that we do not lose track of the central fact that Adam is responsible for this outrageous example of man’s inhumanity to mankind. He killed those children and adults. And, without any question, he intended to do exactly that. The intense pain and suffering that he caused was the goal of his mission.

It is only after we recognize that Adam is fully responsible and can correctly be blamed for this brutal crime against humanity, that we can objectively evaluate any and all other factors that could have played a role in this. This search for answers includes a sequence of three important questions: What individual (psychological) and group (sociological) dynamics creates a person who fantasizes about, plans for, and then actually engages in this type of behavior? What can we, as individuals and as a society, do to prevent others from becoming such a person? And what can we do to prevent such individuals from having the capacity to maim and murder innocent victims?

It is obviously beyond debate that guns have played a significant role in the mass-shootings that so damage the social fabric of our culture. Thus, “gun control” is a valid topic for discussion. The balance between individual rights and group safety is clearly off kilter when a person like Adam can easily access the weapons of death as he did.

Likewise, it is fair to include topics such as mental illness, and public policies on “mental health care,” in our discussions. While we can all agree that mass-murderers are not “normal,” the truth is that ignorance about what mental illness is, and its relationship to violent crimes, helps to insure that there are gapping holes in the social safety net. In fact, people who suffer from a major mental illness are far, far more likely to be the victim of a violent crime, than to commit one.

The mass media plays a role in creating fear of the “insane mass-murderer,” of course; increased sales of their product depends upon this. Other factual errors in reporting enhances public misperceptions on everything from the “insanity defense” to where Mrs. Lanza was employed. It is fair to question if the media coverage of violent crimes serves to attract people like Adam, who want to make a public statement of hatred.

Issues including parenting, bullying, and school safety can also be very important. And hand-in-hand with these discussions goes the responsibility to educate one’s self, and to become an active participant in efforts to make society safer and less violent. We are at a point where nothing less than our best efforts, approached with an open mind, are required.

Thanks,
H2O Man

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Blame & Responsibility (Original Post) H2O Man Dec 2012 OP
As is usual, you make some very salient points, my dear H20 Man... CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2012 #1
Thank you. H2O Man Dec 2012 #7
You're an oasis of reason, H2O Man, ms liberty Dec 2012 #2
And thank you. H2O Man Dec 2012 #8
Thank you H20 Man coeur_de_lion Dec 2012 #3
Thanks. H2O Man Dec 2012 #6
Post removed Post removed Dec 2012 #4
I must have missed something. Saboburns Dec 2012 #5
This poster has been PPR'd. CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2012 #9
It wasn't clear H2O Man Dec 2012 #10
Beautifully said, thank you arthritisR_US Dec 2012 #11
Thanks. H2O Man Dec 2012 #13
Thank you letemrot Dec 2012 #12
Thank you. H2O Man Dec 2012 #14
kick H2O Man Dec 2012 #15
Well said but ... GeorgeGist Dec 2012 #16
As a retired H2O Man Dec 2012 #17

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,297 posts)
1. As is usual, you make some very salient points, my dear H20 Man...
Sun Dec 16, 2012, 07:43 PM
Dec 2012

I applaud your effort, and I wish rather fervently that there were some way to implement them.

K&R

H2O Man

(73,323 posts)
7. Thank you.
Sun Dec 16, 2012, 10:15 PM
Dec 2012

Did you see President Obama tonight? I have the feeling that, in the hours since Friday morning, he has reached the point where he is now preparing to confront the Unspeakable.

Response to H2O Man (Original post)

H2O Man

(73,323 posts)
10. It wasn't clear
Sun Dec 16, 2012, 10:22 PM
Dec 2012

to me if the person in question was attempting to make a comment on the mindset of a mass-murderer, or channeling them.

H2O Man

(73,323 posts)
17. As a retired
Mon Dec 17, 2012, 12:19 PM
Dec 2012

forensic psychiatric social worker, I think that I have at least an average grasp of the "genetics of mental disorders."

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Blame & Responsibilit...