Since yesterday, I have been almost transfixed upon every last morsel of news coming from Knoxville, TN. I have looked at blogs, both good and bad. I've read as much as I could find trying to get my arms around this tragedy and the ever-broadening reaction to it. So many questions. Why? Why is there any bond set at all?
And, now, that we know that this was an attack quite literally on "liberals" we have much to consider as the FBI investigates "whether" this is a hate crime. It is amazing how right wing talk can hurdle angry (mostly) men upon the world, inflate their rage, almost urge it upon our nation. And then blame all problems, large and small, upon liberals. Ironic, isn't it? Ironic that a man out of work, whose food stamps were running out, singled out a church which helps people, well, just like him. But there was much more going on. His buttons were pushed. More on the implications of that another day. (But America has to face up to its hate radio problem.)
I consider all of this with a particularly heavy heart.
You see, not only do I live in Blacksburg, where we have had more than our share of tragedy at the hand of similar violence, but also I am a Unitarian Universalist. And because of this, I feel both tremendous solidarity and great sadness today.
I can write nothing profound at this moment. Only my profound sadness and condolences to those brave congregants in Knoxville, at the West Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. But there is something I think you may wish to read. Whether you agree with it or not, I think you will find it inspiring as I do. And I think it's the best thing not just about this tragedy, but also
about Unitarian-Universalism, which I have read today. Whether you agree with this article or not, I think you will agree that it's inspiring. We are far from alone, we UUs, there are members of virtually every faith (or lack of it) doing these same things. And it serves to remidn that principle comes in ddiffer