UNCLE SACK

Makin' a killin'

In America, you don’t get rich. You make a killin’. That’s just the way it is. I’m not sayin’ Americans are bloodthirsty, I’m just sayin’ we like makin’ a killin’.

We like makin’ a killin’ on Wall Street. We like makin’ a killin’ at the track, or in the lottery, or at a hand of poker. We just generally think makin’ a killin’ is a good thing to do. Now I’m talkin’ about money here, not actual lives...

But, if you think about it, we’re pretty good at actual killin’ too. We raise lots of animals and kill ‘em and eat ‘em. It’s part of our heritage here in America. We used to feed ourselves and our families with our guns. It wasn’t that long ago that we were busy takin’ the countryside away from the folks that held it before us.

That took guns. I mean, we weren’t exactly defendin’ ourselves you know. We wanted this land for ourselves. If you think about it, we picked up a mighty fine piece of real estate by usin’ our guns. Of course, the natives wouldn’t cooperate so...we had to make a killin’.

It is also quite common for us to kill each other. We blow each other away on the highways and in bars and on the beach, but mostly, we kill each other right in our own homes. You get tired of the spouse, and...it’s time to make a killin’.

Now lots of God fearin’ Texans don’t think makin’ a killin’ is a good thing. They think a person who kills somebody ought to be locked up in prison...and put to death. That’s called an eye for an eye. Why, we are one of the few states in the union where you can still make a killin’.

Texans don’t mind a little violence if it’s for a good cause. We’re not alone. Many Americans like the feel of a good gun in the hand; the sense of security it brings, the smell of gun oil, the warmth of the stock in your arms as you set your sights on some varmint.

America is all about guns. After all, we won our War of Independence back in 1776 with guns. We’re free now, free to have as many guns as we want. That’s the American way. Back in WWII, we was faced with a hard decision, whether or not to drop them A-bombs on Japan...but if somebody had to do it, it might as well have been us Americans. We know how to pull the trigger. After all, it’s a dog eat dog world out there. Most of us would rather be the diner than the dinner.

I remember back in the old days when lotsa local boys ran around with pistols on their hips. We shot each other all to pieces back then too. We called it the “wild west” and it was wild too. You could get shot real easy, but not no easier than you can get shot in one o’ these modern schools...

In this country today, we have a big problem. Our children are killin’ each other in their schools. Many young folks are so upset and unhappy that they don’t care if they live or die. They’re so lost, so confused, that they don’t care if they kill others. They cain’t feel for those around ‘em. They live in a murderin’, make-believe world, stoked by shoot ‘em up movies, television and bloody video games, where life is cheap.

Parents are upset. They should be. Their children are not safe. But, it ain’t the video games or the rock music that is pullin’ the trigger. It’s the pain.

It ain’t what’s available to these children that makes ’em kill. It’s the things that ain’t available... love, compassion and understandin’.

Young folks who are not nurtured, don’t know how to nurture others. Children who are raised with violence speak the only way they know how. Children who are treated like they don’t matter, treat others the same. The root of the problem is the fact that parents often see children as some expression o’ themselves, like clothin’ or wealth. They’re often seen as part of the parents' estate instead o’ free, individual human bein’s.

In this world, kids matter not because they have any value o’ their own, but for the same reason that gold or BMW's matter...because adults say so. Down through history, almost any kind of bad treatment visited on children by adults has been a matter of parental privilege. Worldwide, no matter how bad the poverty, how cruel the conditions, how subject to social and political prejudice are the races of man, somebody small sits even further back in the bus.

For all the money we spend on education, most folks treat teachin’ like a second class occupation. Folks think teachin’ is like motherhood. It's a good job for men and women who can't make it in the business world. In the political and economic world, kids don’t matter that much. After all, they can't vote. They can't sue us. They can't even kick our butts in an argument. They are under our thumbs and most of us like it that way. You’ve heard it before, “Children should be seen and not heard.” From birth, they get the sometimes not too subtle message..."you'll be worth somethin’ when you grow up if you do what you're told, but stay out of the way in the meantime."

Then we cain't understand why teens are alienated and vast numbers of people grow up dysfunctional in our society. Criminals, drug and alcohol abusers and a large portion of the mentally ill are created. Crime is a result of our failin’ to give the young the love and support that livin’ things need to flourish and become whole.

Criminals are made by the age of six and we're turnin’ them out by the millions. We gripe about it being unsafe on the street, about the drug cartels, about the homeless, about the enormous welfare system, about risin’ health care costs but the fact is...we trained ‘em. You and me, Mr. and Mrs. America. We taught ‘em with our words and actions.Unlike adults, kids see what we do...not what we say. The U.S. Senate is all in a tizzy these days, tryin’ to decide what to do about the problem of violence in our schools. They’re clampin’ down on guns but they just turned away a bill to provide the money it would take to provide capable professional counselors at most of the schools in our nation. It called for a lot of money, but only a fraction of the increase they approved in the defense budget...more guns.

Even in the face of all the recent shootings; even at a time when we actually have the money...they still turn away and refuse to help our lost children. Every day, their numbers grow. They’re cryin’ out for help and all our leaders can do is throw more police and more restrictions at them...turnin’ our schools into prisons. These kids have deep problems, ones that professionals could help ‘em work out given a chance.

Guns don’t cure hate. Guns breed it. The only thing that cures hate is love. The only thing that eases emotional pain is emotional support. Let’s give our children warmth and understandin’. Let’s give ‘em a chance to heal. Let’s give ‘em life...not more guns.

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