[Vision2020] Wayne Krauss on Gun Violence and What is Wrong in America

Sat Jan 26 13:22:31 PST 2013

In addition to the remarks of Saundra, it should be added that the society
that Krauss think once existed, never, in fact did.

See:  *The Way We Never Were: American Families And The Nostalgia Trap*  by
Stephanie Coontz.
http://www.amazon.com/Way-We-Never-Were-Nostalgia/dp/0465090974

and the chapter entitled "The Family" in
Legends, Lies, and Cherished Myths of American
History<http://www.amazon.com/Legends-Cherished-Myths-American-History/dp/B000GG4Z2M/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359234895&sr=1-6&keywords=legends%2C+lies>
by
Richard Shenkman<http://www.amazon.com/Richard-Shenkman/e/B000APN31I/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_6?qid=1359234895&sr=1-6>
(Jun
19, 1992)

When anyone spouts the lack of religious beliefs and practices as the cause
of the current problems of society and the world, the facts go way out the
window -- they (the facts) are so inconvenient to an irrational discussion
of very complex problems.  Facts, not fantasy, are needed to solve
problems.  When the flood waters are rising, it is time to stop praying and
start repairing and sandbagging dikes else you are going to get your ass
very wet.

w.

On Fri, Jan 25, 2013 at 8:53 PM, Saundra Lund <v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm>wrote:

> I was going to keep my mouth shut about this, but I certainly hope folks
> realize that Krauss either is talking out of his rear or is utterly
> ignorant about the history of school shootings in the US.****
>
> ** **
>
> An inconvenient fact for Krauss & his ilk (ask Wayne Price for a
> definition) is that there have been school shootings for as long as there
> has been a United States of America.  Even more inconvenient for Krauss is
> the fact that the *vast majority* of those school shootings took place
> while Krauss’ “God” (whatever that means) was still in the schools and in
> the government (whatever he meant with that incoherent rambling).****
>
> ** **
>
> The most charitable spin I can put on Krauss’ ignorance is that he’s
> nothing more than a Johnny-Come-Lately to the issue of school shootings.
> More likely, it seems to me, is that he’s done drunk the Kool-Aid of those
> with a vested interest in smoke & mirrors.  Given that he’s significantly
> older than am I, perhaps his memory is just faulty and his “glory days-ing”
> of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s is a function of that faulty memory.****
>
> ** **
>
> I do, however, find it difficult to fathom that he sincerely doesn’t
> remember Charles Whitman.****
>
> ** **
>
> Here’s the thing:  the argument that reasonable people like me are making
> is that given the *fact* that school shootings have been happening in *
> America* for as long as there have been schools in America, the issue
> isn’t one of some theocracy-based imaginary moral decline of our society
> and its people, but rather it’s one of technological advances that have
> resulted in semi-automatic guns and high capacity magazines.  It’s the
> ability of miscreants and/or those who are mentally ill to kill and injure
> lots of people in minutes . . . in seconds.  Factually, *that’s* been the
> significant change, not that people are only recently wielding guns and
> targeting schools.****
>
> ** **
>
> And, that’s a fact that Krauss et al choose to ignore.****
>
> ** **
>
> I am beyond disappointed that people like Krauss choose to stick their
> heads in the sand and be blinded by rhetoric rather than educated by
> facts.  I attended a forum some years back when Krauss (as a citizen and
> not a council member) asked a thoughtful and intelligent question.
> Regrettably, any critical thinking skills he once possessed seem to have
> left the building.****
>
> ** **
>
> Further, if a council member chooses to lecture constituents,
> we-as-constituents have a right to expect that the lecture at *least* be
> factually accurate rather than flatly incorrect inflammatory rhetoric
> lifted straight from partisan echo chambers.****
>
> ** **
>
> And, I’m nearly as disappointed that not a single soul on the Moscow City
> Council bothered to correct Krauss’ ignorance.  Whether or not I voted for
> a particular Council member, I expect – no, I *demand -- *intelligent and
> educated discussion, both of which were absent from Krauss’ “lecture” in
> that Council meeting discussion.****
>
> ** **
>
> Krauss also preached about the way weapons and ammunition have been
> “flying off the shelves” following Sandy Hook and subjected us to his lame
> grasping for causes and explanations.  Conspicuously absent from his
> musings is the individualistic greed that’s infected American society and
> is used by some as justification for treating others as “less than.”  That
> same  greedy individualism that fails to recognize a huge component of this
> nation’s greatness is that we as a society are far, far greater than the
> sum of our individuals.  That same selfish greed that seems to have filled
> far too many with an unearned sense of entitlement such that they are
> willing to throw all others, particularly those they disagree with, by the
> side of the road in ruins.  That same greed than is killing America’s
> compassion for other Americans and for humanity as a whole.****
>
> ** **
>
> Notably absent from Krauss’ screed is another inconvenient fact:  the vast
> majority of those purchases he attributes to fear were by repeat buyers.  I
> personally know several people who were a part of that rush, and none of
> them were first time “buyers.”  The kind of standard response I received
> was something like, “<wink, wink, nudge, nudge> Yeah, I bought because
> maybe semi-autos & hi-cap mags are going to be banned.  But, you know me –
> any excuse for a new toy.”  It was sometimes accompanied by comment about
> the explanation being enough to satisfy a SO.****
>
> ** **
>
> To me, that’s kind of significant.  Does that explain all of the
> purchases?  Probably not.****
>
> ** **
>
> But, I *do* think that people like Krauss need to start looking at their
> own behavior and the role they play in completely irrational hysteria.  It
> is, IMHO, flatly irresponsible to fan the paranoid fear flames of the
> reactionary right the way Krauss and so many of his fellow GOPers & TPers
> have done *and* continue to do.  Personally, I think it
> counter-productive and inarguably immoral for elected officials to validate
> ignorance, bias, and bigotry as Krauss did.  But, it’s sooo much easier to
> look at others rather than at one’s self, isn’t it?****
>
> ** **
>
> Krauss also lamented “taking God out of the schools and God out of
> government.”  Does anyone have a clue as to what he meant?  As a person of
> faith, I certainly don’t.  And, as a person who went to public schools in
> the Bible belt in the 1960s and 1970s, I haven’t a clue.****
>
> ** **
>
> Perhaps it’s more of his inclination, facts be damned, to romanticize the
> past, something it seems a certain segment of the population has always
> been inclined to do as they age.****
>
> ** **
>
> I certainly hate to think that Krauss believes that people of faith –
> children or adults – check their God at *any* door.  But, perhaps that’s
> what he believes.  If so, it makes me very sad that he has *so little
> belief* in the faith of others.****
>
> ** **
>
> Or, perhaps he’s talking about himself . . . or people he knows.  I think
> we all know them – Sunday Christians.  You know, like those good Christian
> farmer men in Georgia who shot into the girls’ school in Gainesville when
> school was in session . . . while they were drunk.  Or, the good Christian
> old fool who shot into the populated playground of St. Mary’s in New York.
> Both of those instances, BTW, took place in the 1800s.  And on & on & on.*
> ***
>
> ** **
>
> Or maybe . . . just maybe . . .  the answer to Krauss’ question is people
> like himself who think the worst of educated and informed people with whom
> they disagree.  People who assume the faith of others is checked at the
> door.  People who refuse to accept that the faith of others is just as
> strong as is their own and is a valid basis for morality.****
>
> ** **
>
> People who mistakenly think that God requires public recognition in
> schools and in government.****
>
> ** **
>
> People who think that “different” is less than.****
>
> ** **
>
> Ignorant old fools who think it’s men who solve problems.****
>
> ** **
>
> In any case, I found his comments sad, misguided, and wholly
> inappropriate.  No matter how much he may wish otherwise, this *is* the
> United States of America.  In addition to the Second Amendment, I encourage
> him to read – actually read *and* understand – the Constitution of the
> United States of America (and not the pocket annotated version so popular
> in some circles) and pay particular attention the *First Amendment.*****
>
> ** **
>
> That said, if Krauss wants a theocracy, there are plenty of places in the
> world he can find that, but the USA *isn’t* one of them, nor should it be
> one of them because of our Constitution and Bill of Rights.****
>
> ** **
>
> Somehow, I don’t think Krauss would be any happier in a theocracy than he
> is here.****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> Saundra Lund****
>
> Moscow, ID****
>
> ** **
>
> If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be
> happy, practice compassion.****
>
> ~  The Dalai Lama****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [
> mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com <vision2020-bounces at moscow.com>] *On
> Behalf Of *Tom Hansen
> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 23, 2013 3:48 PM
>
> *To:* Moscow Vision 2020
> *Cc:* Jeanne McHale; Fritz Knorr; Lois
> *Subject:* [Vision2020] Wayne Krauss on Gun Violence and What is Wrong in
> America****
>
> ** **
>
> [image: image.png]****
>
> ** **
>
> Moscow City Council session (January 22, 2013)****
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdpEyaWatWo****
>
>  ****
>
> Seeya round town, Moscow, because . . .****
>
> ** **
>
> "Moscow Cares"****
>
> http://www.MoscowCares.com****
>
>   ****
>
> Tom Hansen****
>
> Moscow, Idaho****
>
> ** **
>
> "There's room at the top they are telling you still ****
>
> But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
> If you want to be like the folks on the hill."****
>
>
>
> ****
>
> - John Lennon
>
> ****
>
>  ****
>
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-- 
Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
art.deco.studios at gmail.com
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