Group Connections

We have heard many so-called solutions to our epidemic of violence ranging from raising the age to purchase weapons, eliminating the bump stock accessory, to adding more firepower to the burning inferno by arming teachers. The Parkland students encountered a real-life version regarding the learning of civics. They visited the state legislature in Tallahassee to find that the lawmakers had already voted not to deal with this important issue until next year. Those members voting not to deal with this issue reportedly received an A rating from the NRA, while those voting to deal with it this year ,didn’t do so well according to the NRA’s grading system. Another personality component related to this major problem is the motivational withdrawing of energy from others, as reflected in impaired attachments. This is coupled by difficulties with objective reasoning and less interest in the complexities that exist in the outside world. Examples of this personality component are often expressed verbally. The individual can talk incessantly coupled with not being open to another. One may verbalize about his all-encompassing knowledge about a whole range of topics; his superior wit, brain and intelligence; his prowess; his wealth or acquisitions; his superior family; and his famous friends are some examples. These are simply the objects of his attachment and are mechanisms to inflate a vulnerable ego. The individual identifies and becomes part of a group that provide safety , a sense of belonging to provide relief from feelings of aloneness and fear from the dangerous and immoral world. In addition, engage in the distortion of rational judgment. There’s also a prejudicial accompaniment. My clan, my religion, my race, my nation, my political party, my team is greater, better, more honorable, more superior, more fair, or more righteousness than the other. This inflation is in the absence of reason and rational judgment and is based on consensus, as there are many others in the particular group or groups. Once again, everything outside or different from” the group” is undervalued, perceived as dangerous, immoral or corrupt, and simply bad and not worthy. For those that are economically and culturally poor, with very little realistic opportunity to better their lives, pride can be gained by belonging to a particular group. Since the world is dangerous, unpredictable with violent others on the loose, one can experience a false sense of security by obtaining a weapon and belonging to that particular group which continues to promote and disseminate fear and anxiety about losing that killing device. The one that you’re going to kill is unworthy, violent, without morals, mentally ill or UN American. You are simply protecting your family for survival. Yes, survival is a necessary and an important biological function. In this case, this group essentially symbolizes violence and has tremendous input with many of our political representatives. Unfortunately, choosing a group is not necessarily based on rational judgment, but is based upon something lacking. PS I entered the Salmon Falls 50 K last Saturday with my friend Jonathan and his two teenage sons. I significantly smashed last year’s finishing time, as did Elijah age 16.