09/01/2026
The recent mass shooting in Montana brings to light, once again, major social issues around gun control and mental health.
I was recently privy to a comment, directly responding to this act of senseless violence…”that’s the price of freedom.“
My first reaction was shock and disgust, then anger, and then complete bewilderment at the cold assuredness only naivety and immaturity can give. How can anyone who has had any real life experience with violence, loss, true trauma, respond in such a compassionless, arm chair-philosophizing manner?
My reaction happened in my head mind you. A two day headache, I can only attribute to stress and grief, was slowing me down. But I am grateful because it allowed me time to think.
What are we missing? What is it that shuts us down, turning us into spoiled children in our reactions, instead of creating space for the more natural healthy responses, like compassion and questions like, “how do we fix this?” Because wouldn’t that be a natural response?
We’ve been taught that as a species we are not compassionate, that the world is governed by survival of the fittest (a gross misinterpretation of Charles Darwin’s work, often speculated as a weaponization to divide the masses). Time and time again biology teaches us, research teaches us, and our gut tells us that we as a species are naturally inclined to compassion and fairness, and that it is the species that works together that survives together. *mind you that doesn’t get ratings though.
So where is that in our responses to one another?
As we navigate these huge issues amongst so many others, environmental, humanitarian, animal welfare, misogyny, social inequality, gender identity, etc., it is IMPERATIVE that we shift the script.
Up to this point we have become increasingly comfortable with treating crucial social issues as plays in a game, a game of politics. Where one side beats the other and dominates with their “right“ way. Politics has just become another version of team sports.
This does not work amongst friends, it does not work amongst family, and it certainly does not work amongst community. It is, at its core, unnatural!
And not only is it unnatural, it does not serve us. It makes us vulnerable. It makes us weak. It is only when we stand together, when we mature and acknowledge the reality of the fact… that we are all in this together that we know strength.
Sometimes it is easier said than done, when we are so passionate about a given subject, and/or when we live in times of incredible stress and crisis. But nothing worth anything is easy.
So next time, when you find yourself in a situation, where you have the choice between taking sides or creating a third path…PLEASE consider the third path. It is there that you will find compromise, a new way of thinking, and most importantly community.
If you need a reason to do so, motivation, please look at the obituaries of these beautiful children. Their deaths are lessons, totally avoidable tragedies. Please do not let them be in vain.
https://www.michelottisawyers.com/obituaries/charlotte-ghekiere
https://www.michelottisawyers.com/obituaries/landon-ghekiere
