EDITORIAL - Compassion trumps hatred
As the world marked International Day of Non-Violence on October 2, Americans woke up that Monday morning to the terrible news of yet another shooting incident in that nation. This time it was a mass shooting – a massacre – at a Las Vegas outdoor concert, which took the lives of over 50 people, leaving hundreds more injured and thousands more scarred for life.
Though it may seem like incidences of violence have become commonplace in our world today, especially in big cities in the United States (US), this latest occurrence was unprecedented. Now being labelled the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history, reports have revealed that the shooter – a retired accountant with no obvious motive and not previously known to the police – laid in wait with an arsenal of 23 firearms before the night’s attack. The shooter, now identified as Stephen Paddock, took aim at concert-goers from high above in the Mandalay Bay Resort, from two rooms which he had rented that faced different directions. Police later stated that the two positions most likely amplified the number of casualties.
In the wake of the massacre, several issues re-emerged and debate once again raged about gun control, US domestic security and even the validity of implementing travel restrictions on certain countries when the most recent terrorist-like events on US soil occurred at the hands of Americans.
However, what also emerged in the aftermath of the deadly shooting was the resilience of a people who united in the midst of desperation and frenzy to help others. People who showed that compassion trumps hatred and who demonstrated that the human spirit is fundamentally loving and kind, despite the host of cultural, religious and socio-economic challenges that seek divide them daily.
In the first seconds of confused panic during the shooting, some people were saved when others shoved them to safety. Immediately following the terrible shooting, first responders were aided by individuals at the scene who carried injured people on makeshift stretchers, transported them in their private vehicles to hospitals and helped others achieve a semblance of stability after a harrowing ordeal. And hours later, in the bright light of stark reality, thousands of people who were not even present during the shooting, made their way to the area and stood in line to donate blood for those injured in the massacre.
In addition to this, two days later millions of dollars have been donated to assist victims of the Las Vegas shooting. A GoFundMe account has netted over US$3 million, and there is even a fund-raising effort by the cast of Mean Girls with the aim of raising US$300 000.
In the final analysis, though crucial issue like gun control etc. need to be resolved and policies put in place that will promote better security, not just for the United States but for all countries, it is reassuring to see that there is still good in the world and that it flourishes even in the midst of calamity. This is evident now in Las Vegas, and is also evident now in the Caribbean as Barbados and other regional territories come to the aid of their Caribbean neighbours, which were devastated by major hurricanes
recently.
We take this time to encourage all to continue to pray for these countries and for their rebuilding efforts.