Reading about today’s shooting in Texas got me thinking — a dangerous thing.
For the longest time, what has been our answer as to why some man (and, yes, they are typically almost always all men — and often white men) has done something that has injured or killed one or more people?
Because they can.
Why did this shooter shoot up that place? Because he can.
Why did this man sexually harass that woman? Because he can.
Why did this man rape, that man abuse, that other man cheat, that still other man steal? Because he can.
But you know, that’s the wrong answer. The correct answer is: Because we let them.
We let weapons of destruction get into the hands of people that abuse them (be they guns or cars — they were in the hands of a man who used them for bad). We look the other way when that off-color joke or remark is made. We look the other way when women and minorities are paid less and treated badly. We let our leaders not pass laws or create restrictions or programs that might stop these actions.
Because we let them.
But you know what? That must change. We must say: Let them no more.
People with mental illness buying and owning guns? Let them no more.
People using positions of power to abuse and harass people? Let them no more.
People treating others as inferior? Let them no more.
It’s a simple movement: Let them no more.
