There are no simple solutions

To paraphrase Charles Dickens, “These are the best of times; these are the worst of times.” Fear of the unknown, fear for our security seems to be entangling and paralyzing our country. Yet there is so much for which to be thankful. We as human beings certainly are creative and resourceful enough to solve this problem of terrorism and gun violence if and when we choose to do so. It has been said that there are three parts to every problem. My part, your part and the relationship's part. Before we can do anything about truly rooting out terrorist threats we have to first acknowledge and then do something about changing the part we play. 

In the wake of the Colorado Springs and San Bernadino shootings I am reminded of Robinson Crusoe, shipwrecked on a deserted island. Instead of giving in to despair he assesses his situation. He's alive, has food. He's naked but warm, able to scavange and create what he needs from the island and the shipwreck. Most importantly, he encounters Friday who is definitely the other, the outsider: black, a stranger, speaking a different language, practicing vastly different customs. Yet by banding together they build a community and create a meaningful life for themselves.

Through the Marshall Plan, following WWII we helped rebuilt a damaged Europe and Japan, thus forging deep bonds with former enemies. Terrorism is a mind set that lurks in the hearts of human beings. It stems from fear, anger, hatred, misunderstanding, prejudice, discrimination, rejection, we must first look at ourselves, acknowledge and accept the part we have played and still play. As Pogo once said, “we have met the enemy, and it is us.” Playing the blame game simply guarantees an escalation of tension and attacks.

The Serenity Prayer tells us to pray for the serenity to accept the things we cannot change but to change the things we can. There definitely are things we can change that could alter the course we are currently on. We could make people more important than profits, guns, or “our right” to own military style weapons. That significant attitudinal and policy shift...people first...would enable us to change our focus from me and “my rights” to we and societies rights. For instance, in the wake of Australia's mass shooting they not only outlawed the sale of assault type guns, but instituted a massive buyback to reimburse citizens and get those guns off the streets. Since we are afraid of radical Islamists why do we sell them guns? Why do we export weapons as “foreign aid” instead of investing in aid that helps people, such as the millions of refugees? If we don't want Syrian refugees coming here then let's help those nations who are open to assisting them. Let's make health and educational resources, housing, equipement, food, agricultural, economic, and technological assistance available to host countries. Let's address people oriented solutions to develop trust and friendship.

Complex problems require complex solutions. Our first attempts to solve terrorist threats simply created more terrorism. What might happen if we invested as much thought, time, energy, and money in waging peace as we do in waging war? Dare we try?

Joyce Shutt is pastor emeritus of the Fairfield Mennonite Church