OPINION
Texas, Colorado shootings: insight into fundamental (laws of society
AUGUST 31, 2012
BY ADITYA
GARG
Staff Writer
Thomas Caff all, James Holmes
and Jared Lee Loughner. In the
past few months, the U.S. has
experienced a number of public
shootings
— most
prominently,
the Texas A&M
University
and Colorado
shootings.
Instigated
by Caffall, the
Texas A&M
shootings
resulted in three
dead and four
injured. The
Colorado shootings, involving
James Holmes, saw 12 dead and
58 others wounded.
While certainly tragic, these
shootings have not only rocked
our foundations but also have
inspired widespread fear and
intimidation throughout the
nation. What has instigated such
permeating acts of violence?
Is this the result of loose gun
control, poor law enforcement
and government inaction, or
does this represent a deeper
instability of the American
people?
While stricter regulations
have the potential to somewhat
infringe upon citizens' liberties,
these shootings represent a
deeper misconception, in part,
of the general populace.
When evaluating both of
these shootings, we see there
are a number of elements
that are similar. In both cases,
the shooters were college
age students studying at
universities. A major point in
both of these shootings is that
both of these students were
dissatisfied with their lives.
Holmes had recently fallen
out of favor from university
professors and had failed
a key oral exam. The Texas
A&M shootings occurred while
police officers were attempting
to serve an eviction notice.
Thus, ignoring the possibility
I believe that this
demonstrates an important
fact: people expect too much
from their government and
their society. Instead of taking
responsibility and facing their
problems, these citizens have
been taught to rely solely on
others.
This represents a fundamental
flaw in our society: an emphasis
on dependence instead of self-
reliance and responsibility.
While this may stem from a
number of sources—school,
community, relationships—if we
are to prevent such occurrences
While I do not wish to debate or conduct an
extensive review of the Second Amendment, I do
want to point out that the public supersedes the
individual.
of mental instability, both of
these shooters had a prominent
motive.
Furthermore, many of us
have failed to see that instead
of facing their problems, these
men committed mass slayings.
Instead of confronting their
problems, they chose to blame
the government and the public.
in the future, we must first instill
fundamental moral values.
> j Hovvever, these shootings alsp
prompt the argument for stricter
gun control. I acknowledge that
gun control is a sensitive issue,
and many believe that it is an
established right of the people.
While I do not wish to debate
or conduct an extensive review
of the Second Amendment, I do
want to point out that the public
supersedes the individual. Thus,
to protect the general public, we
must enact stricter gun control.
Both of the individuals
involved in the Texas and
Colorado shootings were
partly able to vent their anger
on the public due to their ease
in procuring guns, armor and
explosives.
If we want to truly attempt %
to guarantee public safety, we
must limit the flow of such
weapons into the general
public. Military-grade firearms
and weapons are not needed '
for sport, hunting, personal
enjoyment or protection. These
firearms only serve as a medium
to kill small children, teens and
adults quickly and effectively.
In the context of the eight
or more shootings that have
happened recently, the public
has come to find ease in a
sickening mixture of fear and a
false illusion of safety. Though
Congress and government
officials may continue to
cower behind the power of
the National Rifle Association,
and people will continue to
seek rights through the Second
Amendment, it is time that the
general populace accepts the
true realities of widespread
gun availability, unless they
want another repetition of the
aforementioned acts of violence.
Legitimate rape' comment harmful, destructive
Words are just words — unless someone is listening. When a
politician speaks, the nation listens.
This was certainly the case for Missouri Representative and
long-time Paul Ryan ally Todd Akin when he responded to a
question regarding the legality of abortion for
pregnant victims of rape.
"From what I understand from doctors, that's
really rare," said Akin in his interview with the
Jaco Report, a St. Louis news show. "If it's a
legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try
to shut that whole thing down."
In this context, the word "legitimate" may
seem harmless, but in fact it is nothing but
dangerous. With this one simple word. Akin
has created ambiguity where there should be
universal understanding and assumption where
there should be research.
The claim that legitimate rape does not result
in pregnancy does two extremely harmful things to women.
Firstly, it once again makes the definition of rape foggy. Secondly,
it creates a misperception of women's bodies, thus tainting the
understanding of sexual violence which is so paramount in the
quest for protecting women, legally and socially.
Make no mistake: there are no varying degrees of rape.
Sexual violence against women is so pervasive, in part, because
of widespread misconceptions like those shared by Todd Akin. He
may have been the one to speak out this time, but how many more
pro-life politicians are there who hold the same views? Plenty.
Whether pro-life or pro-choice, no humane individual wants
sexual violence to persist. Akin's statement transcends the issue of
abortion, though the two issues are undoubtedly interconnected.
In a nation governed by laws observing Akin's philosophy, a
woman who becomes pregnant after being raped would be denied
an abortion, because obviously, if she had actually been raped,
there would be no pregnancy. She then surrenders her autonomy,
not to mention her body, to an ignorant legal system.
Would you want your daughter to be subject to such a system?
What about your mother, friend, sister or girlfriend? What about
you?
Thankfully, most of the popular media are shunning Akin
for his statement. Still, for every person who disagrees with his
comments based on reliable knowledge and research, there is one
BY HALEY
HAWKINS
Opinion Editor
Make no mistake; there are no varying
degrees of rape. Sexual violence against
women is so pervasive, in part, because of
widespread misconceptions like those shared
by Todd Akin.
who holds his same misconception.
Education is key. If we as a society even hope to live in a world
where sexual violence against women is obsolete, we must first
create a world in which rape and sexual violence are understood
and free of ambiguity.
How can we do this? By being vocal, for starters. After all,
that was how this controversy was started. Akin's words were
destructive, but words can also create positive change. Use your
words for the latter; you never know who's listening.
IS tels
Remember
why we ere
here
Vans parked in endless lines.
Boxes g^ore. Mumbled pardons,
cheerful hellos and long-awaited
embraces across the quad.
Yes, it's that time of year where we
scramble to drop our classes, make
new friends, rekindle old friendships
and altogether enjoy our college life.
Although we are gratefril for
our social life, cheap online book
prices, and Friday nights out, we
seem to overlook one critical factor:
the simple reason why we are at
Guilford at all.
Education.
We bemoan our ten page
papers and even longer theses,
procrastinating until the very last
second to submit them to Moodle.
We skim our readings instead of
taking notes; we widen our margins
instead of trudging through that last
paragraph.
On a larger scale, classes are-
a means to graduation, and
graduation, with ^t freshly-printed
degree, is a means to a job.
We place more value on shortcuts,
spending the time to reseaieh
summaries of books and a few
quotes instead of setting aside two
hours to read.
More people would rather
socialize than digest ti\e intricacies of
(2hma in the fifth century, or head to
Green Street in place of debating the
finer points of our current political
system and the importance of taking
our place within it.
Plutarch once said, "Education
is not the filling of a pail, but the
lighting of a jfiie." Though it may
seem like any degree is the ticket to
a job, education is more than earning
money. It's about engaging with the
world on a local to global basis. With
professors that provoke us to argue
a point, we learn to debate policies.
By presenting a proposal to
Community Senate, we gain
negotiation skills. With all the
information at our fingertips, in
Hege Library, from our professors,
and even from our peers, we realize
that education is more than just
sitting in a classroom; it's leaving the
classroom and making a difference
in the real world.
Reflecting Guilford College's core
Quaker values, the topics and content
OF Staff Editorials are chosen
THROUGH consensus OF ALL 15 EDITORS.