Sunday, June 12, 2016

I'm Tired ... I'm So Tired

God, I’m tired …

I’m tired … of another shooting, this time in Orlando, this time at a gay nightclub, this time the biggest mass shooting in our history! We’re #1!!! We’re #1!!!

I’m tired … of listening to news people and politicians talk about the horror of it all and yet doing nothing about it.

I’m tired … or Republicans — and, yes, some Democrats, too — long in the pockets of the NRA who are quick to offer their ridiculous “thoughts and prayers” to the victims and their families, but then move along with the rest of their days and lives and political careers doing absolutely fucking nothing to stop this kind of violence; violence that rarely occurs outside our borders, mind you.

I’m tired … of learning that Republicans, and one Democrat— Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota — sided with NRA lobbyists six months ago and voted to kill a bill that would have made it impossible for anyone on the terrorist watch list — like Omar Mateen … and that is the first and last time I will say his name — to acquire a gun and to murder at least fifty people, and wound at least fifty more.

I’m tired … that this vote came one day, one day, after fourteen people were killed during the San Bernardino massacre in California.

I’m tired … of Marco Rubio, who rushed out this morning to say that this was all about Islam when he was one of those Republicans who allowed this to happen; there is blood on his hands today and I am tired.

I’m tired … that once again President Obama has had to speak to a horrified nation about mass shootings, at schools, at malls, at movie theaters, in offices, on college campuses, at nightclubs.

I’m tired … that the GOP and the NRA will once again spin this that Obama is coming for your guns. Bull.Shit. He is coming for the guns of terrorists who are allowed to buy guns because of the GOP and the NRA.

I’m tired … Obama had to say this:
"We know enough to say this was an act of terror and an act of hate. The FBI is appropriately investigating this as an act of terror. We will go wherever the facts lead us ... What is clear is he was a person filled with hatred."
I ‘m tired … of Hate; of hatred for anyone, because of color or gender or gender identity or sexual orientation or religion or ethnicity or hair color or weight or whatever ridiculous reason anyone chooses to hate anyone else.

I’m tired … of weeping for dead Americans, but, hey, when nothing came about regarding gun control after school children were murdered, I guess I should have gotten used to crying. But I’m tired.

I’m tired … of Donald J., Trump, who has met with, and been endorsed by, the NRA asking “When will this stop? When will we get tough, smart & vigilant?" I’m tired of hypocrisy.

I’m tired … of Trump for patting himself on the back, while bodies were being removed from the nightclub and identified, while friends and families were being notified that their loved ones had been murdered, when he said:
“Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!"
I’m tired … that Trump is anywhere near being elected President of this country because the blood of all those who died is on his hands too when he sides with the NRA and stands with Hate Groups who work against the LGBT community.

I’m tired … sick and tired, of Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who took time out from his witch-hunt against transgender Americans, to Tweet, then delete,  a message many believe implied that the victims of the mass shooting at an Orlando gay club deserved to be murdered:
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows: Galatians 6:7.”
I’m tired … that one of Patrick’s staffers, and not Dan Patrick himself, who hates the LGBTQ community, tried to explain this away with the news that Patrick posts a religious meme every Sunday morning.

I’m tired … that Dan Patrick, if this was all a mistake, a disgusting horrible mistake, didn’t instantly take down that tweet and offer a statement on murder. But then, it’s The Gays who were killed so …

I’m tired … that the murderer’s father says this all happened because his son was disgusted after seeing two men kissing in Miami two months ago.

I’m tired … of love being spat upon, name-called, legislated against, demeaned and shot at.

I’m tired … and so I’ll end with something my friend Rick Vila posted to Facebook because … I’m tired and crying …
Prayers alone are not enough! Teach your children that two men or two women kissing is a beautiful act. Support Gun Control! Vote for candidates that will take on the NRA. That is how you respect the memory of those who so senselessly died this morning in Orlando.”
I’m tired … and we all should be tired, too.

12 comments:

  1. I'm so tired, too. I want to cry and I can't cry, because it's just too much. All I can think about is the families; of the dead, of the injured. And I'm scared, for my daughter and her girlfriend, for my friends and their partners. I'm so tired of the hate.

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  2. I can't help but think that the national increase in hatred being espoused by so many groups is encouraging those gun-crazed killers. They exist by the millions, barely keeping their murderous impulses at bay. When they have the guns and the ever-burgeoning desire to kill, it doesn't take much to push them over the edge. The political climate in Florida must certainly qualify as being an instigator!

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  3. {{Bob and Carlos}} wish I could teleport in and give you hugs and kisses.
    xoxoxoxoxo

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  4. I'm joining the club of tired people too. This is getting way out of hand. I said to someone earlier on their blog, until it starts happening to the loved ones and children of all the idiots who are politicians, both sides, we're getting no where. Why do they not see we have extremely major issues?????? It will be a different story when it hits close to home for these folks. If we cant and haven't learned from history and the past yet, we haven't learned a damn thing. And I have no hope for us as humans. We may as well keep our flag flying at half staff from now on. ������

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  5. It is time for ALL religious leaders to condemn hatred and violence toward Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Persons WITHOUT RESERVATION
    AND WITH CREDIBLE ACTION.
    IT IS TIME TO LEAVE BEHIND LEVITICUS and CORINTHIANS and HEBREWS, and the rest of the biblical poetry,
    AND STOP PERSECUTING US.
    ENOUGH!

    This heinous act may have been inspired by a distorted version of Muslim teaching, but there are distorted versions of Christianity and other religions that inspire hate and violence toward us as well.
    Religions MUST figure out theologies or philosophies that are compatible with our inherent dignity as human beings, with our civil rights and with civil respect or
    THEY SHOULD HOLD THEIR PEACE (i.e. shut up).
    We cannot allow religious extremists or even religious conservaives to define the dialogue or the laws or the culture of this diverse nation. ENOUGH!
    It is not ENOUGH to PREACH "LOVE"
    If religious leaders and other people of faith who have not yet realized that their teachings are dangerous and hurtful, then
    THEY ARE JUST AS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE TRAGIC DEATHS as the gunman. AND THE NRA and all the Republican legislators who they've bought.
    BLOOD IS ON THEIR HANDS AS WELL.
    Watching news coverage almost non-stop, I am just so outraged that this could happen, especially in view of all of the bullshit that we've been going through since we got marriage equality. And yes the availability of guns is a big issue, but people must realize that people shooting a gun, nay an assault weapon, generally have a target and the belief that LGBT people are evil makes us an easy, convenient and expendable target. I am outraged and angry. I know I will probably cry a river when the reality hits over the next week, with funerals and outpouring of grief. But right now, ENOUGH!

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  6. enough is enough. and unless americans stand up and fight back against the hate, hate will win.

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  7. Same here. Just had to 'explain' to English friends who asked, "Why is this so common in America?"

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  8. I too am tired of guns, tired of morons with guns, tired of rape culture, tired of h8, tired of organized religion, tired of the NRA, tired of guvmint people kissing the NRA's ass, tired of white people thinking they are "the one and only", tired of homophobia, tired of racism, tired of jingoism, tired of xenophobia, tired of bigotry, tired of h8 groups, tired of amurikkka.

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  9. @ Mitchell-"Why is this so common in America?" I can't tell you how sad that is to hear. But true. When I was in Amsterdam, people I was with think Americans are all nuts, and don't know how to just enjoy life.

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  10. We are tired, we have reason to be.
    Let's just not be so tired that we don't do something.
    Thanks for posting this Bob. Thank you for always making us think.

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  11. Would the haters rather have two men love each other or two men shoot at each other with automatic weapons? All those who answer no 2 should be shopped off to Russia where they can enjoy all the hating 'god' can devise.

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  12. A second rant - since the Dunblane school massacre in 1996 I think we've had one major mass shooting in the UK. Why don't our stats make your politicians think again? After this shocking event - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunblane_school_massacre - legislation was passed to severely restrict gun control

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