Shooting in Knoxville

My heart weeps for those involved in the tragedy at Tennessee Valley UU Church in Knoxville, TN. It turns out that half of the shooting victims were from another UU church, Westside UU, also in Knoxville. This is such a shocking and terrible event, and comes so soon after the murder-suicide in the Clearwater, Florida congregation last December, that one reels in the ramifications.

The UU Trauma Response Ministry is on site today, working with the children and members of the congregations. We are truly blessed to have such a team as part of our denominational ministry.

If there are bright spots in this tragedy, they are in the acts of courage and simple clear thinking that occurred in the moment. I understand one congregant stood to block the attack, and others subdued the shooter. I also understand the children were taken to the Presbyterian Church next door as a safe haven.

This is difficult for me to say, but I'll say it. I'm glad the perpetrator was subdued and taken into custody, and was unable to act on his plans of suicide either by his own hand or 'suicide by cop'. This form of pseudo-martyrdom must fade from acceptability by any segment of America. At the same time, in bringing him to justice, I hope we will be able to avoid the voyuerism that has surrounded so many other criminal cases, and learn what we can to discourage this kind of violence in the future.

I am marking my calendar, three or six months in the future, to check in on the folks in Tennessee, indirectly, to see what help they might need. Columbine and other tragedies teach us the same lesson: too much attention by the news media and everyone in the beginning, followed by no support in the months ahead, when the grief is most present.

Finally, the image of rosary beads above in not a mistake. It was part of the initial three image slideshow on Yahoo News that a friend noticed. She thought it was probably a stock 'religion section' photo grabbed quickly for the breaking story. But the picture is a reminder of all people of all faiths, and those of no faith, who offer their prayers and support in this hard time. We are all one.