User blog:Spikewitwicky/June 13th, 2016 - Spike's Journal Entry



Well, yesterday, I had the unenviable task that every parent in the U.S. goes through at some time in their life: explaining a mass shooting to their child who is just starting to absorb the world around her - and process stuff.

Unfortunately, there are so many of these tragedies, that I'll have to write this one down, because most likely, there will be several more down the road. So, this one currently stands as the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. 50 people were killed and another 50 were injured in a shooting at a gay night club in Orlando.

Yesterday, as I was watching, Megan asked "mommy, daddy, what's happening?"

Us: "There was a horrible shooting, and a lot of people died."

Megan: "Was it the Decepticons?"

Us: "No, no honey, this was us...humans who did this."

Megan: "Why would a human do this?"

Us: "...Honestly, I don't know."

After reading a bit of Indian history, I'm beginning to see the Decepticons as the U.S. in the 1800s. That's a blanket statement, I know, but hear me out...the U.S. saw the Indians as the Decepticons see us - as a nuisance. Something that's in the way. And something that needs to be moved, quelled, sequestered, dealt with so that they can get back to doing what they do. In other words, they don't even regard us enough to hate us - that would involve them thinking we were on some equal level with them. Contrast that with the horrible events in Orlando and last year, in South Carolina where humans, on the other hand, go out of their way to target people of a different ethnicity, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

Looking at these events, I see how woefully limited my own experiences are. Daniel has gay friends, has African American friends, and has friends of various religious faiths (including none of the above). Yes, I have good relationships with people of different races, orientations, and religious faiths, but as 'human friends' go... I sort of let that ship sail when the Autobots rescued us. I have Chip Chase, who I barely talk with now (he's since moved well on to accomplish bigger and better things), Sci-Fi, Lifeline ...and maybe...MAYBE Marissa. Although if I told her she was my friend, I may get a 'oh...Spike, no, you see, we're associates, fighting for the same cause, not friends!' kind of response.

Anyway, it's woefully limiting for someone who's supposed to be a world ambassador. Less than 5, all white, all straight. That doesn't mean that Orlando or South Carolina didn't affect me. Far from it. Yesterday just proved to me that for every evil the Decepitcons commit, there's a human out there who will see that act of evil, and raise you an even more gruesome and horrifying act.