Mike Lopresti wrote a thoughtful article in USA Today yesterday reflecting on the shootings at the school in Connecticut. One of his observations, and I could not agree more, is that we have created (and perpetuate) a culture of blood and violence in this country. There is no one reason why these shootings continue to happen, but it is more than gun-control laws. It arises when children (who grow into 22-year-old adults) are saturated with violent video games, violent movies, and violent prime-time television.
It is everywhere.
Now, we are able to make our own choices. No video game or movie forces us to do anything. And yet, it has a desensitizing effect on us. Maimed bodies become "comical" and elicit a chuckle from youth or a high-five, as they congregate around the Play Station or XBox.
Don't believe me? Watch kids play these games sometime and you will know what I am talking about.
We made a decision in our household about 6 months ago to get rid of all violent video games on the kids' XBox. This was painful for the kids, and they still ask me sometimes if we can "go back" to playing these games again.
The answer needs to be no. And in fact, we as a family need to watch less of television programs where the indiscriminate loss of life is a necessary ingredient for our entertainment.
And just as gun-control is not the be-all, end-all, neither are my recommendations. It goes beyond gun control and it goes beyond violent video games and movies.
There is something wrong with the heart of this nation. It is deep-seated and dangerous, and I pray that God can help us to change behaviors, laws, and values that are destroying us.
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