Times of Voluntary Blindness

It almost seems impossible to check the news and not read about some new tragedy, abuse of power, or disaster. As we continue to try to wrap our head around what life is for each of us during a pandemic, it should come as no surprise that tensions run high and worrying things keep happening. Things that people turn a blind eye to, justify, or blatantly deny. But the more things happen, the clearer it becomes that race, racism, prejudice, and violence are here to stay.

 

Last week, a white American murdered 8 people, 6 who were Asian women in 3 locations around Atlanta. This week a Syrian American murdered 10 people in a supermarket in Boulder. 

I had to rewrite those first two sentences a couple of times to be as objective as possible.

 There are stark similarities and differences between the cases and some people will see parallels while others see opposites. The reality is that some things coincide, others do not, and there are several topics to discuss in each, but like many things in life, things get muddled.

 

The similarities: 

• Both suspects are 21. 
• Both are male. 
• Both had access to guns. 
• Both seem to be troubled and have a history of behavioral problems. 

In the case of the Boulder suspect, Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa seems to have a history of paranoia, violent outbursts, and although shocked, the initial reaction doesn’t seem one of surprise from anyone who knew him. His temper has been on record for several things that have happened before. He went into the store with a modified weapon and started shooting. In the case of Robert Aaron Long, a pattern of problematic behavior was also evident, with reports indicating he had been treated for sexual addiction, but that he had also had a falling out in his home, from where he was kicked out the evening prior to the shootings. He then proceeded to go to three locations with several miles in between them and murdered 8 people. 

 

The differences: 

• In the Boulder case, it was a matter of who was in the vicinity would suffer the suspect’s wrath. 
• In the Atlanta case, three spas were possibly targeted, and most victims fell under one demographic, Asian females. 

 

Both of these individuals were troubled. Both had access to guns. One possibly targeted people. The other seemed to just go on a shooting spree. Unfortunately, we are living times that are as racially tense as anything most of us have ever lived. Narratives shall be spun on motive and method and people will once again offer thoughts and prayers. 

Will any legislation be passed to regulate weapons? 

Not likely, if we look at this country’s track record. 

Will mental health be given higher priority, especially during a time of such distress as what we’re all living through? 

Highly unlike as well. The opposite seems to be the case, seeing certain cuts in coverage of mental health services. 

Will the race card be played? Of course, and so will religion. 

Here’s the thing, people will scream that Aliwi was Muslim. I mean, scream it. But how many people will point to Long being Christian or Baptist to be more specific? How many people will turn a blind eye to that or brush it off, because of course in that case, it is of no consequence. 

Think about this, both suspects are 21. That means that for 9/11 both of them were 1-year-old. I don’t know what, if anything, Aliwi faced while growing up, but I do have Muslim friends who have had to endure a lot of prejudice, targeting, attacks, and harassment. In the case of Long, he grew up Christian, often carried a Bible and somehow fell into porn addiction. From seeing the mug shots of both, they land into versions of stereotypes we’ve grown too accustomed to…both situations caused the unnecessary loss of life and while investigators try to piece things together, one is a mass shooting, while the other is possibly a hate crime, though can also just be a case of another avoidable tragedy that was slowly but surely pushed past the edge. How some people can focus on one religion and deny another, focus on one race and turn a blind eye to another is still something I have a hard time coming to terms with, even if I see it very frequently. But those are the times we’re living, muddled and complicated.

 

As for the events in Atlanta, was it a hate crime? Was it an extension of what’s been gaining momentum since the pandemic begun? Or was it just a coincidence…Although only time will tell, the timing is what brings this problem to the forefront and something to discuss in another blog post. For now, let us hope that focus is put on the things we can in fact remedy, before we add another tragedy to an already depressing list.