In the 2002 Academy Award winning film, Bowling for Columbine, Micheal Moore strives to find a straight answer as to why Americans feel the need to posses/carry guns. Moore pointed out the ridiculousness of America's gun obsession through comedy and old gun adds. He explored the Columbine shooting as well as the Michigan school shooting, involving two young children. Moore didn't ask simple straight-forward questions, he questioned their morals. At times during the film, Moore didn't even need to question beliefs because the individuals couldn't bear to face the facts. There is one very important observation Moore makes with this film; America is driven by fear. This fear isn't just of terrorists or foreign threats, it's of our neighbors, our government, or even our children.
On April 20th, 1999, America got it's big wake up call. Columbine turned from a high school to one of the most tragic homicide/suicides in American history. At first, we blamed it on the families of the shooters, saying it was somehow their fault they failed to realize the "flaw" in their sons. Then we blamed it on Marilyn Manson. Then we blamed it on violent movies. Then we blamed it on the store the guns were from. Then we blamed it on the government. This is America, the land of the blame. What really shook up everyone about Columbine is that there is no one to blame. There is no enemy but ourselves. Charlton Heston, president of the National Riffle Association from 2003-2008, was interviewed by Moore addressing this fear of our own children. Moore asked him about his motive for having an NRA rally in Colorado days after Columbine and again, for having an NRA rally in Michigan after Buell Elementary School shooting. Heston claimed to not have known, but when asked if he would of had a pro-gun rally if he HAD known, he ended the interview by walking away. The president of the NRA couldn't decide which was more important; decency for the victims or his personal belief in guns. After this interview, it became quite clear the importance of guns to the American people. From birth, we condition our children to believe that guns are okay. Toy guns are given to children for innocent fun. When children grow out of toy guns, they move onto bigger better things like Bee Bee and Air soft guns. Tamir Rice was merely 12 years old when he was shot down by police after a scared citizen called him in for possessing a dangerous firearm. Police killed Rice within two seconds of arriving on the scene and soon came to realize it was an Air soft gun. Once children grow up to become gun-bearing adults, they exercise their 2nd Amendment. Girls are encouraged to carry guns for protection. Men purchase guns because the government can't be trusted for protection. At this point, we now live in fear of each other.
It's about time we start blaming ourselves.
No comments:
Post a Comment