Peace Through Strength

The Tragedy at New Town has reinvigorated a group of Americans who would see the availability of guns diminished.  The picture shown above seems to carry a pro-gun message.  A young caucasian male is seen carrying a sidearm in what may be a coffee shop or bakery.  The warm lighting and welcoming environment help to disarm the viewer.

The young man carrying the pistol in the photo is wearing a black polo and dark rimmed glasses which seem to portray a sense of astuteness and responsibility.  There also appears to be an older gentleman in the background also carrying a sidearm.  He is wearing a white collared business shirt and dress slacks. Once again the characters chosen complimented by their surroundings certainly promote a feeling of security and not of fear.

Those who would oppose and resist the right of their fellow citizens to carry guns in public often discuss it as an entirely dangerous venture.  The picture is painted of a trigger happy populace itching to make a power statement with some fire power.  This image we see above is very much so in contrast to that idea.  It is warm, safe, and promotes the idea of the socially responsible among us being armed and powerful to fortify a peaceful community.

http://www.firearmstoday.com/2011/06/08/bill-moves-forward-to-outlaw-open-carrying-of-unloaded-handguns-in-california/

Scholarly Stances

It certainly can be befuddling sifting through articles to find ones that match the scholarly criteria.  In this case, I first noticed that the article was posted in a publication for psychiatrists.  This would imply a measure of objectivity, fairness, and scholarly tact.  I also noticed that the author is a medical doctor.  It therefore appears that we have a professional writing presumably to a group of professionals.  

Our author starts off by informing us of the disturbing fact that over the last 15 years, America has averaged two instances of mass murder per year.  He sympathizes with the prevailing notion that if we could only understand the psychology of the murder then surely we could prevent further tragedies.  He does however quickly dismiss this idea as simply not the case, revealing the limitations of psychiatric capabilities.  The point is made that with the broad availability of guns to the general public, murders of one form or another are wholly inevitable.  Our options then, he proposes, is to either accept mass murders as an occasional reality or to embrace gun control legislation.

This article's general message is clear and the rhetorical style employed is largely effective.  While I disagree with some of the conclusions made, the methods in which the arguments were presented are both fair and persuasive.  

Frances, Allen. "Mass Murders, Madness, And Gun Control. (Cover Story)." Psychiatric Times 29.9 (2012): 1-4. Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 13 Apr. 2013.

The Plight of a Pacifist Soldier

The issue of gay rights seems to be everywhere lately!  The topic has found its way to the heights of headlines and the crown of conversation.  One of the main debates here has been over the issue of marriage.  Should gay marriage be legal or not?

A good way to put in perspective what is in essence happening is to put this in military terms.  Imagine someone who desperately wants to join the army.  The only problem is that they are fiercely pacifist and the very idea of war is repulsive to them.  Therefore, they want the army to adopt an entirely new pacifist limb of the military so that they can both fulfill their dream of joining the army and stay true to their pacifist convictions.

In all honesty, I really have no desire to hinder or appeal to government to restrict gay individuals from doing whatever they wish.  We live in America and as such we hold that we are very much so a free people.  So far as someone's actions affect them and them alone, I have no right to seek to restrict that.

The only area that trips me up in all of this then is not that the gay community wants to live together but that they want to redefine marriage altogether.  This lofty goal of redefining a cornerstone of our culture is where they lose me.  If someone is a pacifist then they have every right to hold fast to that belief.  The army, however, has a clearly defined mandate and must stay true to that trust.

Diversity is fine, and people will do as they please.  But the institution of marriage must not be infringed upon.  More than we know, the very foundation of our society rests on the shoulders of family.  So goes the family, so goes our country.  Right now, both are having a bit of a rough time.  Here's hoping and praying that our next steps as a nation are not towards compromise but towards the bedrock strength of a family structure at its finest.

What do you think?  Should gay marriage be legal?