At a time when America is evolving from the cocoon of the coronavirus pandemic and should feel an overwhelming sense of joy and elation, we are witnessing a disturbing and definite increase in lawlessness and incivility.
Memorial Day weekend was yet another violent weekend in the New Orleans area with 6 people killed, including a 12-year-old girl, and 12 others injured by gunfire. In Baton Rouge, a 1-year-old was among 3 shot after 2 men pulled guns during a confrontation. And at the end of nearly every news story about shootings in the New Orleans area is a plea from police for any information about who was responsible; and, too often, the plea is met with silence.
Police in Miami are searching for 3 suspects following a mass shooting at a concert where 2 people were killed and at least 20 injured. One of those shot when the suspects opened fire into a crowd with military-style weapons was 17.
In Minneapolis, a 9-year-old was shot in the head while playing on a trampoline at the birthday party of a friend. The young girl was killed by a stray bullet.
And these are just highlights of the violent Memorial Day weekend in America.
Every weekend seems to be met with a rash of shootings, and all of those injured could easily have been killed, too. Often the only difference between a fatality and an injury from a shooting is a fraction of an inch where the bullet enters the body.
But shootings are not the only sign of a turn toward lawlessness in America. The increasing number of unruly passengers on flights, which has caused Southwest Airlines and American Airlines to continue their ban on serving alcohol to passengers.
And as the NBA playoffs get underway, there is a spike in fans behaving badly. Over the weekend, Washington Wizards coach Scott Brooks condemned the “unacceptable” fan behavior during Game 4 of the series between the Wizards and the Philadelphia 76ers. During the 3rd quarter of the game, a fan ran out onto the court and imitated dunking the ball before he was tackled by a security guard.
In an earlier game, Wizards star Russell Westbrook ranted after a fan threw popcorn on him as he left the court to walk to the locker room.
In New York, Nets guard Kyrie Irving had a fan spit on him as he walked off the court and said fans are treating some players like “they’re in a human zoo.”
Some teams have permanently banned fans for their display of bad behavior.
From shootings to basic incivility, America seems to be reacting to the re-opening of society after the long pandemic lockdown. The question is - why?
The pandemic restrictions and mandates robbed us of some of our freedoms to lead normal lives. Personally, I am so excited about the evolution back to a more normal society that I find myself patient and not bothered by many of the little things that I deemed aggravating. But that may not be the way everyone feels.
Could the renewed sense of freedom from restrictions loosening and mandates being dropped have created frustration that is manifested in anger? Perhaps, the degree of isolation we all experienced in one way or another for over a year has caused us to be less tolerant of the physical presence of others?
Could there be a sense that President Joe Biden sends an image of being less authoritative than President Donald Trump and is that contributing to a subliminal tendency to act out?
Whatever the reasons - none should be acceptable excuses for the increase in violence or the diminished respect for civility that have become part of life in America and freedom bring us back together.
