“Wenzeni esikoleni namuhla, Seamus?” Umbuzo engimbuza wona mihla namalanga.
“Hhayi-ke,” kuqala ingane yami yasenkulisa eziqhenyayo, “asizange sibe nendawo yokuprakthiza namuhla.” Futhi lokho kucishe kufike lapho efinyelela khona ubuciko bokuxoxa indaba. Kwesinye isikhathi ngizothola okuthile ngo-“bim” (ijimu) noma ukuthi u-“Bambi” (uJeremy) ammpine kanjani ngesikhathi sokudlala mahhala. Kodwa into ekhathaza ingane yami eneminyaka emithathu ngaphambi kwesikhathi njalo ngosuku eya esikoleni wuhlelo lokuvala isikole yena nabafundi afunda nabo ababenalo enyangeni yabo yokuqala esikoleni.
Engqungqutheleni yabazali nothisha ngoNovemba, umyeni wami uPatrick kanye nami sathola isithombe esigcwele salesi siqephu kuthisha wakhe. Ngenkathi kuqala ukuvalwa, uthi, u-Seamus nabafundi afunda nabo babesehholo besendleleni eya emtatsheni wezincwadi. Phakathi nalezi zingxabano, babalekela egunjini lokuvivinya umzimba. Izingane eziyishumi nesishiyagalombili kanye nothisha ababili bahlezi ama-appleauce e-crisscross phansi phakathi kwama-rack ama-hula hoops. U-Seamus, usitshela, wayehlezi emathangeni akhe neminwe yakhe emlonyeni futhi ekhala sonke isikhathi.
"Ukhuluma ngani ekhaya?" uyabuza.
“Kunjengokungathi akukho okunye okwenzekayo esikoleni,” kuphendula umyeni wami. "Ukhuluma ngama-Lockdown drills ngaso sonke isikhathi."
Uyasazisa ukuthi ukuzivivinya kwenzeka kanye ngenyanga, nokuthi u-Seamus uhlala ethuke kalula ngemva kwesikhathi eside, ebalekela ukukhoseliswa phakathi kwemilenze yomuntu omdala noma nini lapho ezwa imisindo emikhulu ekilasini.
Ngaleso sikhathi - hhayi oyedwa engiziqhenyayo - ngakhala izinyembezi. Angikwazanga ukubekezelela injabulo yothando nokuzethemba kwendodana yami kubantu abaseduze kwayo nokwesaba okubuhlungu, okulimaza amazinyo kwezingane ezicushwa umbulali ohlomile emahholo eSikole Sobungani. Uzijwayeza kanjani-ke izinto ezingacabangeki? Lesi yisihloko ebesilokhu sisengqondweni yami njengoba ngangimdala kakhulu kunaye manje. Ngimbuka edlala ngokugculiseka nodadewabo, uMadeline, cishe ababili, noRosena, cishe abayisishiyagalolunye, eziqhenya kakhulu ngokuhlanganyela nabo ekilasini lakhe.
“Ekhaya,” ngitshela uthisha ngezinyembezi, “sicula 'Ukulawula Izibhamu, Hhayi Imishini Yokukhiya!' njalo uma ekhuluma ngabo.” Bese ngengeza, “Kuyangithukuthelisa kakhulu ukuthi yena nabangane bakhe kufanele badlule kulokhu kuhlukumezeka futhi amadoda amakhulu agcine ilungelo lawo lokuphatha izikhali zokuhlasela. Yena kufanele usabe ama-Lockdown drills. Zizwakala kabi. Akufanele azilolonge ukusinda esiqeshini sokubulawa kwabantu abaningi kwenye yezindawo azikhonzile emhlabeni wonke.” Ngizesule izinyembezi, kodwa zilokhu ziza.
Izingane zethu zisibuza yonke inhlobo yemibuzo. Kungani? Kungani? Kungani? Bangama-existentialists amancane. Kungani isibhakabhaka siluhlaza? Kungani abantu befa? Kungani kukhula utshani? Bahlale befuna ukuthi sibachazele umhlaba. Ngikufisela inhlanhla!
Uthisha wakhe ukhuthele futhi mncane kakhulu futhi ngizizwa ngifiphele futhi ngidlulele kakhulu lapho ngikhala, ngigoqwe kwesinye sezihlalo ezincane etafuleni elingangekota ekilasini lakhe elijabule. “Mina am ngiyaxolisa,” ekugcineni ngithi.
“Cha, cha, kulungile,” uphendula ngendlela enesizotha efundwa uthisha. “Kunzima,” uyaqhubeka, “kodwa lokhu kuyiqiniso. Kufanele sizilolonge lolu hlobo lwento.”
Ukucabanga Okungacabangeki
Ngiyazibuza, kunjalo. Ngiyazi ukuthi okuningi kwalokhu kusekelwe ekwesabeni - hhayi okungenangqondo impela kodwa kushaywa umoya ngaphandle kwesilinganiso - eziye zalukwa emhlabeni wethu waseMelika. Umyeni wami ungikhumbuza indlela isizukulwane sabazali bakhe okwakudingeka sizilolonge ngayo ukusinda ekuhlaselweni kwenuzi ngokwenza “idada nekhava” ubhoboza ngaphansi kwamadeski abo. Ngangimncane kakhulu ukuba ngibambe idada futhi ngimboze, kodwa abazali bami babeyizishoshovu ezishisekayo zokulwa nezikhali zenuzi ezingenalo isithiyo ekuchazeleni ingane ukuthi impi enjalo yayizosho ukuthini ngakho ngafunda ukwesaba impi yenuzi ngisemncane kakhulu.
Ngakholelwa ukuthi okuwukuphela kwento eyayivimba imicibisholo ye-ballistic yaseSoviet neMelika ekucekeleni phansi amadolobha ethu kwakuwukushisekela, ukuhlela, nobufakazi babazali bami neqembu labo elincane labangane kanye nabahambi engikanye nabo. Besizoma phambi kwePentagon - lokhu kwakusekupheleni kweminyaka yawo-1970 nangawo wonke ama-1980s - bephethe izimpawu ezineziqubulo ezinjengokuthi "Awukwazi ukucasha ngebhomu lenuzi" kanye nophawu oludala lwendawo yokukhosela ephrintiwe ngaphansi kwayo. Ngafundiswa ukuthi kwakungeke kube khona ukulondeka, ukuphepha ezweni eligcwele izikhali zenuzi, ukuthi ukuphela kwendlela yokuphepha kwakuwukuziqeda.
Cabanga nje ukuthi ngizizwa kanjani yonke le minyaka kamuva emhlabeni i-chock-a-block igcwele wezikhali ezinjalo. Kulezi zinsuku, ngiyamangala ukuthi kungani ukusaba kwabo kuphelile, kuyilapho izikhali zisekhona. Ingabe lokho kungcono noma kubi esizukulwaneni sikaSeamus? Futhi kuthiwani ngeqoqo lethu lamanje lokwesaba? Kuthiwani ngezizathu zethu zekhulu lamashumi amabili nanye?
Ngokucabanga ukuthi kukhona okuningi Adam Lanzas laphaya (futhi kusobala ukuthi zikhona), ukuthi izitolo eziningi zezibhamu zizothengisa amathuluzi amaningi okufa nokucekela phansi ngokushesha, nokuthi abagqugquzeli bezibhamu abaningi kanye nabagqugquzeli bazo aqhubeke abambelele kuleli lungelo “elinikezwe uNkulunkulu, elibekwe ngokomthethosisekelo,” indodana yami idinga ukubekezelela ukuqeqeshwa okwengeziwe.
Ukuvumelana kwe ochwepheshe bezokuphepha besikole ngokuqinisekile ukuthi lesi sibhicongo Sandy Hook Elementary School eNewtown, e-Connecticut (amakhilomitha angu-80 kuphela ukusuka endlini yethu), ngabe kubi kakhulu ukube abafundi nothisha babengazilolongi lesi simo esibi esenzeke ngoDisemba 14, 2012.
Kodwa ngingachaza kanjani noma yikuphi kwalokhu kumfana wami omncane kuyilapho kungenangqondo kimi? Uma kungenangqondo, isikhathi?
Kungani? Kungani? Kungani? Ngiseyingane, ngangithola indlebe njalo lapho ngibuza lowo mbuzo. Abazali bami babekhululekile ukuchaya mina, umfowethu, udadewethu, ezintweni ezesabekayo zomhlaba wethu. Ebangeni lokuqala noma lesibili, abazali bami abayizishoshovu bangifaka embukisweni wama-slide we-UNICEF owawukhuluma ngendlala emhlabeni. Sasiya emasontweni nasezikoleni lapho ngangiphindaphinda khona umbhalo, ugcwele ukudabukisa (futhi namanje, ngokudabukisayo, ikakhulukazi kumaki) izibalo mayelana nendlela izingane emhlabeni wonke ezihlupheka ngayo ngenxa yokungondleki. Bengingakutshela ukuthi kungani izingane zazilambile emhlabeni wonke, njengoba umama wayeqedele umbukiso wamaslayidi owawubeka icala eliphelele esikhungweni sezempi nezimboni zase-US.
Nokho, abazali bami bazama ukungivikela kulokho abakuthola kubhubhisa ngokwesabekayo ekuphileni kwaseMelika. Sasingavunyelwe ukubuka ithelevishini, ngaphandle kwezindaba zakusihlwa (ezincane ngandlela-thile kunanamuhla kodwa zimnyama kakhulu). Njenganoma iyiphi ingane yaseMelika ezihloniphayo, ngangihlale ngibuza, “Kungani ingekho i-TV?” futhi njalo uthole impendulo efanayo. "Ngenxa yokuthi ifundisa ukucwasa, ukucwasa ngokobulili, kanye nokuthanda ukuthenga, ngoba igcwalisa ikhanda lakho ngokufuna, ngoba ingena endleleni yakho yokucabanga nokudala."
Ngakho esikhundleni sokuthi Knight Rider or The Cosby Show, sabukela amafilimu amnyama namhlophe akhuluma nge-Hiroshima ne-Nagasaki eboniswa odongeni lwegumbi lethu lokuphumula. Angikwazanga ukukutshela mayelana nesakhiwo sakamuva esiguqukayo Indlu egcwele, kodwa ngingakutshela ukuthi kungani izikhali zenuzi zazingalungile. Lezo zithombe ezisanhlamvu zamadolobha acekeleke phansi, isikhumba esishile, nobuso obunezibazi zaqoshwa ebuchosheni bami obuncane lapho ngineminyaka emihlanu ubudala. Amaqhawekazi ami kwakuyizishoshovu ezimbili ezisencane ezimelene nezikhali zenuzi. Sadako Sasaki kwakuyintombazane yaseJapane eyathola i-leukemia ngemva kokuqhuma kwebhomu le-athomu. Wagoqa amakhulu ama-cranes wamaphepha njengomthandazo wokuphulukiswa nokuthula ngaphambi kokuba ashone eneminyaka engu-12. Samantha Smith, intombazanyana yaseMaine, yabhalela umholi wamaSoviet uYuri Andropov icela ukuthula. Naye, wammema ukuba avakashele eSoviet Union lapho ayexhumene khona ngokujulile nentsha yaseRussia. Washona engozini yendiza eneminyaka engu-13 ubudala.
Ngiyazibuza manje ngovalo lwami lobuntwana. Bangisiza ngasekela futhi ngikholelwa emsebenzini wokulwa nezikhali zenuzi wabazali bami. Kepha amaphupho amabi, ukuthakasela okudabukisayo ngabafel’ ukholo abasebasha, ukulungiswa kophawu lwemikhaza I-Bulletin ye-Atomic Scientists' I-Doomsday Clock — lezi akuzona izinto engifuna ukuzidlulisela esizukulwaneni esilandelayo. Ngicabanga ukuthi ngiyajabula ukuthi abazi ukuthi ziyini izikhali zenuzi (okwamanje) futhi kungenye into engingalangazeleli ukubachazela yona.
Imibuzo isivele iza ngokushesha futhi ithukuthele kulezi zinsuku futhi izophindaphindeka kuphela. Kufanele sizame - kufanele ngizame - ukubaphendula ngokusemandleni ethu - mina - esingakwenza. Kuyisici esiyigugu sokukhulisa izingane, ithuba lokuchaza, ukufundisa, ngisho nokuchaza izimangaliso nezinto ezesabekayo zalo mhlaba wethu, futhi kuwumthwalo wemfanelo onzima. Ubani ofuna ukuchaza izinto ezinzima? Kodwa uma we ungakwenzi, abanye ngokuqinisekile bazokwenza. Kule minyaka yokuqala, izingane zethu ziphendukela kithi kuqala, kodwa uma singakwazi noma singayiphenduli imibuzo yazo, kuyoze kube nini zilokhu zizibuza?
Kungani senza ama-Lockdown drills? Kungani abantu bebulala izingane? Kungani kunempi? Kungani zonke lezo zikhali, ezenuzi kanye nezibhamu zokuhlasela zisekhona?
“Kungani Amaphoyisa Ebulala Abantu?”
Kwezinye izikole zasenkulisa, kuwumthetho olandelwayo ukuchaza izivivinyo zokuvala izinsimbi mayelana nokulungiselela uma kwenzeka i-skunk enukayo ingena esakhiweni. Akekho ofuna ukufuthwa yi-skunk enukayo, akunjalo?
Ngandlela thize, futhi angikwazi ukukutshela ukuthi kungani, lokhu kimi kubonakala kubi kakhulu kuneqiniso. Esikoleni sikaSeamus, abakhulumi ngokusobala ngesigebengu esihlomile, kodwa benza umehluko phakathi kwemishini yokucisha umlilo lapho bekhipha khona isakhiwo futhi “bazivikele engozini” “ngokucasha” kuso.
Kule nyanga kusukela emhlanganweni wethu wabazali nothisha, u-Seamus ubekezelele okunye ukuvivinywa kwe-lockdown futhi izwe lethu liye laqhubeka nokuba nemicimbi yokudubula kwabantu abaningi - iSan Bernardino kanye neColorado Springs okwesabisa kakhulu. Ngesikhathi sidla ukudla kwasekuseni, mina noPatrick safunda izindaba eziphathelene amahhovisi ezempilo kanye nama-ejensi enkonzo yezenhlalakahle aphenduke izindawo zokulahla, kodwa nokho sikhuluma ngezinto ezinjalo kuphela ngekhodi phezu kwegranola neyogathi. Kufana nokuthi sinesivumelwano esingashiwongo sokuthi singangeni kulolu bhubhane lodlame lwezibhamu nokudutshulwa kwabantu abaningi nezingane zethu.
Noma kunjalo, kuyamangaza ukungakhulumi ngale ndaba eyodwa lapho sikhuluma ngokukhululekile phambi kwezingane zethu mayelana nokunye okuningi: I-Iraq ne-Afghanistan, inkinga yababaleki baseSyria, indlala nokungabi namakhaya, iGuantánamo nokushintsha kwesimo sezulu. Sivamise ukwamukela izizathu zabo bese sigxumelana ukuze sichaze. UPatrick ungcono kakhulu ekukhulumeni ngendlela yokuthi bonke bangene ngaphakathi. Ngizikhohlwa kalula bese ngingena emodini yokufundisa (ngicela ku-slide esilandelayo).
Ngemuva kokubulawa kwamaphoyisa kwe Lashano Gilbert (sashona saze sashona edolobheni lakithi laseNew London, e-Connecticut), u-Eric Garner, uMichael Brown, noFreddie Gray, sayisa izingane emilindelweni yokukhanyisa amakhandlela nemibukiso, senza konke okusemandleni ethu ukuphendula yonke imibuzo ka-Seamus. "Kungani amaphoyisa ebulala abantu?" kulandele, vele, ngokuthi “Ingabe bazongibulala?” Khona-ke ngandlela-thile kwadingeka sichaze ilungelo elimhlophe kumntwana oneminyaka emithathu ubudala nokuthi zona kanye izinto esasizikhuthaza kuye - ilukuluku, ukuvuleleka, ukubuza imibuzo - kwakuyizinto abazali abamnyama ababephoqeleka ukuba badikibalise amadodana abo ukuze angabulawa ngamaphoyisa.
Futhi-ke, vele, kwavela okulandelayo okungagwemeki "Kungani?" (efanayo ngiqinisekile ukuthi sizoyizwa iminyaka ezayo). Futhi ngokushesha nje, sase sizama ngamandla wonke ukuzikhulula kulokho okungaqondakali ngempela - enganeni encane kangaka, kodwa mhlawumbe nathi sonke - uma kuziwa endabeni yefa lobugqila nokucwasa kanye nobudlova bombuso ekuchazeni okuncane kwethu. umfana womlungu kungani engadingi ukukhala njalo uma ebona iphoyisa.
Bese kulandela okulandelayo "Kungani?" futhi ngubani ongeke acabange ngokushesha noma kamuva ukuthi impendulo yangempela yazo zonke izizathu zakhe (kanye nezethu) imane nje, “Ngoba amakinati! Futhi singamantongomane!” Ngiqonde ukuthi, sigcine kuphi lapho impendulo yethu kuye, empeleni ithi: “Ungakhathazeki, umhlophe!”
Bese-ke, kunjalo, kukhona ukukhathazeka enginakho mayelana nokuthi uzokwamukela kanjani noma yikuphi kwalokhu nokuthi angakhuluma kanjani ngakho ekilasini lakhe elihlukene ngokwezinhlanga - umdlalo ohlekisayo "wocingo" angawudlala ngawo wonke amagama amasha. nezingcezwana zemiqondo enyakazayo ebuchosheni bakhe.
Indodakazi yami yokutholwa uRosena wayeyinkulisa ngenkathi u-Adam Lanza ebulala lezo zingane ezincane ezingama-20 kanye nabantu abadala abayisithupha esikoleni sabo esiqhele ngamamayela angu-80 nje entshonalanga kwethu. Isikole sakhe sathuthukisa izimiso zaso zokuphepha, sasungula izivivinyo ezivamile, futhi sanikeza abazali nabanakekeli ngezinsiza zokuthi bangakhuluma kanjani nezingane zabo ngokwenzekile. Ezinganeni ezineminyaka emihlanu neyisithupha ubudala, ziye zeluleka ukuba zingayiqalisi leyo ngxoxo, noma zivunyelwe ukuthi zibukele i-TV noma zilalele izindaba zomsakazo mayelana nalesi sibhicongo. (Akuyona into elula kakhulu kithi 24/7 umzuzu wemidiya.) Baphinde baphakamisa ukuphendula imibuzo ngemibandela evamile kuphela. Empeleni, bekufanele sihlale siqinile futhi sethemba ukuthi izingane zethu azizange zithole ulwazi olwanele ukuze zenze ukuthi kungani.
Ngikufisela inhlanhla kulokho kulezi zinsuku, kodwa ngezinye izikhathi ngizifisela okufanayo. Azikho izindaba, hlala uqinise, futhi wenze sengathi akukho okwenzekayo. Phela, njengokwesaba kwethu okuningi kwamanje kwaseMelika, ukwesaba ukuthi izingane zami zizodutshulwa emakilasini azo akunangqondo, akunjalo? Ukudutshulwa kwesikole okunjalo akwenzeki kaningi. Ngenxa yokuthi enye yenzeka cishe lapha eminyakeni emithathu edlule akusho ukuthi izikole zamabanga aphansi kanye nezikole zamabanga aphansi zihlaselwa ngendlela ehlelekile, yebo?
Ngokungafani nabantu abaningi kule planethi, asihlali endaweni yempi (uma ubeka eceleni ukucekela phansi kwezikhali zenuzi emhlabeni wonke). Futhi kunikezwe izibalo zonyaka ku ukufa ngemoto kuleli zwe, izingane zami ziphephe ngendlela emangalisayo esikoleni, kunoma yisiphi isikole, kunokuba zihlezi esihlalweni esingemuva semoto yami nganoma yiluphi usuku lwesonto, akunjalo?
Kunjalo, kukhona enye inkinga ecashe lapha futhi ingeyami. Angikho lapho. Indodana yami eneminyaka emithathu ihlangabezana nezimo ezethusayo futhi angikho lapho ngizoyidlula kuzo. Bese kuba khona lawo ma-Lockdown drill kanye nalokho abamlungisela kona. Abakwazanga ukuba Creepier. Azisikhumbuzi nje ezinganeni zethu kodwa nakubazali bazo ukuthi, ngemva kwemfashini, kungenzeka ngempela ukuthi siphila ohlotsheni lwendawo yempi. Ngo-2013, ngokuvumelana ne iCenters for Disease Control, abantu abangu-33,636 babulawa ngezibhamu kuleli zwe; ngawo lowo nyaka, kwabulawa amasosha aseMelika angu-127 e-Afghanistan.
Eminye Imibuzo Ilula Kuneminye
Kungani isibhakabhaka siluhlaza? Angazi, kodwa kuthatha umzuzu nje we-Googling ukuthola ukuthi ihlobene nendlela ama-molecule omoya asakaza ngayo ukukhanya okuluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka kunokukhanya okubomvu. Kungani abantu befa? Ngoba akekho umuntu ongaphila ingunaphakade ngoba uyagula nemizimba iyaguga nezitho zomzimba azibe zisasebenza bese siyakhala ngoba siyabakhumbula futhi siyabathanda kodwa baphile baphile okungenani kuze kudlule ezethu izinkumbulo. Kungani kukhula utshani? Awu, Google ngokwakho.
Inkinga, nokho, isemibuzweni yabantu abaningi, leyo edelela i-Googling nengqondo enhle - noma yimuphi umuzwa esingaba nawo wobuhle besintu. Futhi mhlawumbe, zingane, kufanele nje sibambene nalabo ngokusemandleni ethu kulo mhlaba odideke ngempela.
Futhi gcina into eyodwa engqondweni: uhide olufanayo lwemibuzo izingane zethu ezingayeki ukuyibuza nokuthi esikuthola kunzima ukuyiphendula, noma sizibuze ukuthi siphendule nhlobo, lihlala ligijima njengengoma ethile engavamile nakumakhanda ethu abantu abadala, futhi engaphenduliwe. .
Kungani kulo mhlaba? Kungani ngale ndlela ethile? Kungani manje?
Ngani? Ngani? Ngani?
UFrida Berrigan, a TomDispatch Njalo, kubhala u Ukuvukela Okuncane ibhulogi ye-WagingNonviolence.org, umbhali we Isebenza Emndenini: Ekukhulisweni Ngama-Radicals futhi Ukhule Ube Umama Ovukelayo, futhi uhlala eNew London, Connecticut.
Lesi sihloko sivele okokuqala ku-TomDispatch.com, i-weblog ye-Nation Institute, enikeza ukugeleza okuqhubekayo kweminye imithombo, izindaba, kanye nemibono evela ku-Tom Engelhardt, umhleli wesikhathi eside ekushicileleni, umsunguli we-American Empire Project, umbhali we Ukuphela Kwesiko Lokunqoba, njengenoveli, Izinsuku Zokugcina Zokushicilela. Incwadi yakhe yakamuva ithi I-Shadow Government: Ukuqapha, Impi Yezimfihlo, ne-Global Security State ezweni elilodwa elinamandla (Izincwadi zeHaymarket).
I-ZNetwork ixhaswa kuphela ngokuphana kwabafundi bayo.
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1 Amazwana
Ukubulawa kwabantu ababuthaka nabangakwazi ukuzivikela kuyisenzakalo sansuku zonke emhlabeni wonke. Izibhamu, amabhomu, imimese, ocelemba, umlilo, igesi, amanzi, izindiza, izimoto, amaloli, izitimela, uhlu luyaqhubeka. Ababulali bazobulala. Ungenzi. ube buthakathaka. Ungabi abangenakuzivikela. Futhi ngaphezu kwakho konke, ungakholelwa ukuthi "ukulawula" kuzonciphisa noma yikuphi kwalokhu.