Another day waking up to horrendous news…
What is it about our times? How many individuals are prepared to commit suicide, if they can take others – many others – with them? What is this urge to go out and murder people who have done you no harm? How much anger can their heart contain?
Fanatics, I hear you say. Of course, fanatics were always dangerous – loose cannons who feel they have nothing to lose. Once they have decided on martyrdom, nothing can stop them.
But it is not only fanatics. There have always been people who are suicidal, but they went off into the woods and shot themselves, or stuck their heads in the oven. Now some feel they have to shoot down a whole classroom, or smash a plane against a mountain.
Is it the fault of chemicals in the air? The influence of violent video games? The availability of guns? The unfairness of capitalism? How can this be explained in terms of human psychology? I wish someone would tell me.
Meanwhile I am thinking about so many lives shattered, and taking solace in nature.
Letters from Athens 