Cue the Condolences: Matters of Race and Violence

Our guest contributor, Cheryl Farrell, a corporate communicator responds to gun violence.

A CNN video clip shows news anchors needing more than three minutes to recite the list of mass shootings in the U.S. … that occurred in the first five months of the year! Three minutes is about the time it took for bullets to fly from a shooter’s weapon to kill 10 people in just one incident.

I dread the assignment to craft yet another response to a gun-related and/or race-related tragedy. I don’t have the luxury to “dust off” a message of condolence to families left behind. The template does not sit on the shelf long enough to gather dust.

All the platitudes and posturing.
All the explanations for lack of mental health care and gun legislation. All the fanning of flames towards racial violence.

We “cue the condolences” as routine. Stories of victims come to light with gun violence as a backdrop. The catch phrases. Diversity and inclusion flag-waving. Evoking prayers when no mention of God comes up on any other matters. The ever-present lament, “When will it all end?”

Let’s do better. Let’s be better in the board rooms, in legislative halls, in churches, in social services department. Let’s do better for humanity.

Respectfully submitted … please.