What is going on in America over the last few decades? What have we turned into?
We have become a society that is saturated in violence, and Americans are killing other Americans, day after day. This is not a pessimistic viewpoint, these are straight facts. Murders continue to rise every year with no end in sight, and quite frankly, it is becoming very distressing, scary and discouraging. Not the example that needs to be sent to our younger generations.
I know some folks have a multitude of theories of why murders and violence in general are on the rise. Violent movies? Violent video games? Wars happening all over the globe? Violent extremists committing senseless acts of violence seemingly everyday? I think these points all have a certain level of validity to them, but people in general know, and have for a very long time, that killing another human being is wrong.
With all that said, where do we go now as a country? That is the million-dollar question. I don’t think anyone has an answer for that, because the answer isn’t out there. Nothing is working, and the instances of mass violence or single murders just continue to rise and rise in numbers.
When I think of the name of our country, it sure doesn’t seem to ring true. We are not the United States of America, we are the divided states of America. That is not a pessimistic view of things, it is a realistic viewpoint. We have to admit that to each other before any positive differences are made. But I don’t see people admitting that, and I just don’t understand that because it is clear as day.
The question is, how many of these violent acts and senseless murders are we going to tolerate before things change for the better? How many lives are we going to lose? How many, America? What is going on in this nation is deplorable, and is embarrassing and sad at the same time. We are better than this, but we can’t be better than this or defeat this epidemic without having dialogue.
Far too many individuals have become accustomed to this way, and that needs to change. If we all unite in some way, shape or form then I finally see changes occurring. I’m still waiting on that like many others. But I have serious hope deep down. I have to. Without hope for that, without optimism and without positivity for this, all is lost.
Jeff Swanson is a resident of Everett.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
