Beacons of Ignorance

There was a shooting today in the parking lot of the Latter Day Saints Columbus Temple.  When the news story broke, and WBNS 10 TV posted it on Facebook, some of the comments were down right rude.  Some called Mormons weirdos, others suggested Romney had just signed their Concealed Carry Permits, and one other I saw suggested that the gun nuts were going after the religious nuts.  What the heck is wrong with these people?  First off, some things are (and should be) sacred, and respected if only for what they mean to the community that believes in the power and faith of the church.  That someone committed a horrible act of violence there should be an affront to everyone in the city and indeed the country.  Now imagine if you had a family member or friend who is a Mormon, how would you feel?  You have no idea who was shot, why they were shot, nothing more than someone or someones have been shot, and people are publicly making a mockery of your faith?  How disheartening is that?  And how rude is it for someone to do that?  If it had happened in the parking lot of a Catholic Church, would it be acceptable to joke about someone going after a pedophile?  I just don't understand how people can be so deliberately cruel.  If anyone cares, no, I am not a Mormon, although I have several friends who are, and they are amazing people who have had a huge effect on my life, also, as of the latest report, two people, one suspect, and one victim, were taken to the hospital in critical condition.  The events that led to the shooting did not start at the Temple, but just happened to end there.  A volunteer from the Church has reported that the shooting had nothing to do with the Church.  A relief for me since while I only a few Mormons myself and most of them are missionaries from out of state, they are my friends and I would not want them to have to feel the pain and loss of it having been someone they knew.  I can not imagine what was running through some peoples minds when they post stuff like that.  Even if this wasn't a tragic event, why must they allow their ignorance to shine forth like a beacon of darkness and insult and tear down something they not only don't understand, but have never even tried to understand?  Well, that is all I'm going to say on the matter tonight.



Vitam Libertatem Honorem