Why? WHY? WHYYYY? on the 4th of July

I know it's been over a week since the 4th of July (and even much longer since I blogged here) but I seriously had to get my thoughts together before writing this post.

On the 4th of July, my best friend and I went to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena to watch the fireworks, eat some roasted corn dipped in mayonnaise, and celebrate the end of colonial rule, because that's what good Americans do on the 4th of July. I always look forward to this day, not because of the hokey blind patriotism bullshit, but more because I like the idea of freedom, and I LOVE fireworks. My friend and I got there in time to check out the various vendors, food trucks, and entertainment. Lots of people were milling around, tailgating, eating, having a good time. Kids were lined up to get funnel cakes, balloons, ice cream, face painting, and deadly assault weapons. (Insert loud screeching brakes for affect here). Yes, I said deadly assault weapons. The army set up a booth at the fairgrounds with deadly assault weapons for people to "try out." Granted they were not loaded or functional by any means (I hope) but they were the real deal.

When I first caught sight of the booth I saw only adults "trying them out." But then I noticed parents taking their small children to the weapons, and then taking snapshots of their children holding the weapons.

Number one, this is crazy.

Number two, this is CRAZZZZYYY!

Number three, this is as sad as it crazy.

We live in a culture that has no reservation whatsoever over killing people in the name of "freedom." We have no reservation whatsoever in establishing the worth of one's life (an American's) over any other who we (however erroneous) deem to be a threat to us. And worst of all, we have little to no reservation in passing on our violent, barbaric, ways to our children. This photo was taken at the Rose Bowl. After I took it, I desperately wanted to make eye contact with someone who understood or saw the scenario the way I did. I wanted validation from someone that I wasn't crazy. But there was no one to reassure me, only people who kept asking if I was "next" in line to hold a gun.

I wanted to yell at the soldier standing there. I wanted to ask him if he's ever killed a person like my friend who was sent to Iraq who estimates killing 47 men all under or around the age of 18. Even though my friend held to a "kill or be killed" philosophy, he has never rejoiced over those deaths, and I greatly respect him for that. In the moment he faced a life or death situation and he did what he could to survive, and that meant killing other human beings who likely got caught up in a complicated web of nationalism and their own version of "protecting one's own."

Killing is never easy. Sometimes it is necessary or better yet, instinctual for self preservation, but it should never be seen as something recreational. The kids I saw handling these weapons were too young to understand the implications of holding such weapons. They seemed to be awestruck by what they were looking at, which disturbed me a great deal. You know, I hear people talk all the time about the stuff kids face today like drugs, violence in school, and a host of other things that negatively impact youth. But what about the violent messages that are taught through our foreign policies, as well as our wartime propaganda? Why don't we ever talk about the powerful forces of THOSE influences? Why, WHY WHHHHYYY do we do this to our kids and then wonder why they are so screwed up??