America Experiences Yet Another Act...Of Senseless Violence !!

I would like to express my deepest sympathy and sorrow to the victims of the shooting at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wis., and to everyone in America who has been traumatized by this tragic event. In a nation founded on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, it is appalling that so many, particularly people of color, are denied that first, fundamental right, to enjoy a full life. As the “Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum” stated, “This attack was motivated by hate, xenophobia, and racism. It violated the civil rights, safety, and security of innocent and ordinary people and was an attack against all Americans.” I stand united with the Sikh American community and all of us who oppose all forms of hatred, violence and intolerance.

This hate crime has occurred when so many are still reeling from the shooting in Aurora, Colo. Nearly twenty people killed in mass incidents over the span of sixteen days, in addition to the less-publicized killings that have occurred in the United States. There are nearly three hundred each week.

We must consider the toll on our national psyche, the collective trauma that occurs when we witness violence on our streets, in our homes and on the news. While many are shocked and seek answers for how this could have happened, we can no longer ignore how predictable mass murder has become in America. As a society, we have once again stood by and allowed this to happen. But we do know how to prevent violence. Just last week, in the “Huffington Post,” written in response to the Aurora shooting, Larry Cohen stated that “violence will not abate on its own. Now is the time for action, as well as mourning. Part of the healing process must be to make our communities safer.”

As community members, public health leaders and supporters of health equity, we must develop and implement strategies that will reduce the likelihood of future tragic events from ever occurring. Unless we take action, this latest tragedy will surely not be the last. As a nation, we must not only renounce the deplorable hate crime in Oak Creek, but move toward a society which keeps people safe, in the first place. I urge everyone to call on our leaders to re-evaluate our national priorities and commit to keeping everyone, in all communities, safe from preventable harm.
Allen J. Tanner is a crisis counselor with Chaplain & Counseling Services Inc. in Nashville. He has worked with law enforcement agencies on the shootings at the Sikh temple, the Aurora theater, Virginia Tech and Columbine High School.
Contact Information:
Allen J. Tanner
Chaplain & Counseling Services, Inc.
www.chaplaintanner.blogspot.com
chaplaintanner@yahoo.com
941-779-7335