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Stop the Nonsense & Let's Get to Work

Rich Egger

Stop it.  Just stop it.  Stop pretending to care about those harmed by gun violence when you fail to address the root of the problem.

For nearly 20 years, Congress with strong backing from the NRA (National Rifle Association) has encouraged the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – one of our nation’s premier public health research institutions -   to steer clear of firearms violence research.  In 2014 ProPublica reported that research funding for firearms injury prevention dropped from more than $2.7 million in 1995 to barely $100,000 by 2012.  The CDC's current funding for gun violence prevention research?  $0.

Stop it.  Just stop it. 

Stop acting as if you value the lives and opinions and contributions of women when you continuously attempt to deny us of the rights we are granted under the constitution.

You say you value all human life?  Well, then adopt the proposal set forth by Missouri State Representative Stacey Newman, Democrat.  She requests that everyone who wants to purchase guns in her state follow the same 72-hour waiting period, along with adhering to the myriad of other requirements that women seeking abortions in Missouri are required to complete.  Show me that your words mean something and stop playing the gender-double standard card. 

Credit Rich Egger
Heather McIlvaine-Newsad

Stop it.  Just stop it. 

Stop fostering hate and fear by spewing vitriol speech encouraging people to be afraid of others who may speak a different language, have a different skin color, or believe in a god other than your own.  Stop encouraging people who are already scared because they have lost their jobs and homes and can no longer afford to send their children to college, to point their fingers at those who are only seeking the same opportunities that were afforded to our fore-mothers and fore-fathers when they came to this country hoping for a better life. 

Stop it.  Just stop it. 

Stop pushing the can down the road while saying that you are working for the good of all people while both parties refuse to even sit at the same table and speak openly and honestly to one and other.  Stop being greedy and thinking that you are the only one who matters and limiting the choices of future generations by the decisions you make today.  Sit down and put all of your cards on the table.  The conversations will be hard and no one will get everything they want.  But no more back room conversations and guilt trips and bull**** that the decisions you make will benefit us all. 

Stop it.  Just stop it. 

Stop ignoring the scientific facts that as a species we are harming the planet.   We are the only ones who can fix it. We need to take responsibility for all the carbon that we have spewed into the atmosphere.  Stop asking those who have less, to sacrifice more, while we make few changes in the way in which we live. We have so much in this country, more than enough.  We are all riding this big blue marble together and money and power are things we made up.  The Earth is real and finite and when she can no longer sustain us because of our greed she will change the balance of power and we may no longer exist as a species.  It has happened before and it will happen again.

The events of the past several weeks have made me sad, and angry, but more than anything else determined that we are better than our past actions.  Our country was founded on the belief in human dignity and opportunity for all.  So let’s start acting like adults and do what needs to be done.   

In this season of giving and the dawn of a new year, we would be wise to remember the words of the Dali Lama, one of the world’s wisest leaders:  “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.” 

Now get to work people and let’s do what needs to be done. 

Heather McIlvaine-Newsad is a Professor of Anthropology at Western Illinois University. 

The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University or Tri States Public Radio.  Diverse viewpoints are welcome and encouraged.