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tbutlerSo... I've had a tradition, for many years. I've always been somewhat annoyed by Super Bowl hype, so my own personal thumb-my-nose has been to drive 30 miles to a local cider mill, and drink a cup or two while eating cider donuts on that Sunday afternoon.
Unfortunately, this year - for the first time - they closed early. :(
So I decided if you couldn't beat 'em, join 'em, and drove up to Union Station to see if anything was going on; that's where they hold the big celebrations if Kansas City wins. To my surprise, it was also deserted.
Come Wednesday, after the Chiefs won, I thought about going down to the parade/rally; but decided that I'd try the cider mill again, and try to uphold the tradition that way.
Partway along, the first news alerts started coming in about the shootings at the rally.
Now, a day after the chaos, the details are emerging. It wasn't a lunatic upset about his job, or delusional about conspiracy theories. (Although some people are already spinning conspiracy theories about it.) It wasn't a plot to inspire terror in people at a major celebration. From what we know right now, it was "just" a couple of guys with guns (Missouri is an open carry state) who got into an argument, and decided to start shooting.
So yeah, I'm bitter.
I'm bitter that what was supposed to be a happy celebration was turned into a moment of chaos and death.
I'm bitter that it all happened because of a relatively petty cause.
I'm bitter that laws letting people just walk around with guns turned an argument into a deadly incident, with one person dead and at least 22 injured. (So much for the idea that open carry acts as a deterrent.)
I guess they're right - having something like this happen in your own backyard really hits home in a way that reading about it in the news just doesn't. And even then, I can't imagine what it must be like for the friends and loved ones of those caught in the shooting.
My heart goes out to them regardless.
Unfortunately, this year - for the first time - they closed early. :(
So I decided if you couldn't beat 'em, join 'em, and drove up to Union Station to see if anything was going on; that's where they hold the big celebrations if Kansas City wins. To my surprise, it was also deserted.
Come Wednesday, after the Chiefs won, I thought about going down to the parade/rally; but decided that I'd try the cider mill again, and try to uphold the tradition that way.
Partway along, the first news alerts started coming in about the shootings at the rally.
Now, a day after the chaos, the details are emerging. It wasn't a lunatic upset about his job, or delusional about conspiracy theories. (Although some people are already spinning conspiracy theories about it.) It wasn't a plot to inspire terror in people at a major celebration. From what we know right now, it was "just" a couple of guys with guns (Missouri is an open carry state) who got into an argument, and decided to start shooting.
So yeah, I'm bitter.
I'm bitter that what was supposed to be a happy celebration was turned into a moment of chaos and death.
I'm bitter that it all happened because of a relatively petty cause.
I'm bitter that laws letting people just walk around with guns turned an argument into a deadly incident, with one person dead and at least 22 injured. (So much for the idea that open carry acts as a deterrent.)
I guess they're right - having something like this happen in your own backyard really hits home in a way that reading about it in the news just doesn't. And even then, I can't imagine what it must be like for the friends and loved ones of those caught in the shooting.
My heart goes out to them regardless.
