By Jim Young, Paths to Peace

I began this column on another subject entirely when, about midday on the 16th of April, my wife called to ask me if I had heard about the news about Virginia Tech. I then learned what was already being described as the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history &8212; more than 30 dead at the time that I write this.

Words to express the sadness and horror that I feel escape me.

It brings vividly to mind similarly tragic events that happened near or around this time of year (around tax time, and the Easter season): Waco, Oklahoma City, Columbine High School. How can this keep happening? I have no firm answers to give, only speculation. One thing that has occurred to me is how very chilling I now find a line that I used to think very funny: &8220;I don’t get mad. I get even.&8221;

Ours is a culture that appears to be focused on self above all else, and it is steeped in what theologian Walter Wink (The Powers that Be) calls the myth of redemptive violence. In movies, literature, television dramas, theatre, comic books, video games, music, mythology, etc., one is constantly exposed to the notion of some apocalyptic final showdown between good and evil, and where the conflict can only be settled by the bloody and violent defeat of the powers of evil.

Nor is this phenomenon a new one.

It goes as far back as recorded human history itself.

What I find so tragically ironic is the persistence of the presupposition that ours is a &8220;Christian nation.&8221; Christians are now in the midst of the Easter season. Prior to Easter, people of faith observe Holy Week which recalls the betrayal, arrest, trial and death of Jesus. Gospel accounts of these events mention that some of Jesus&8217; followers would have acted violently to save him from this fate.

Jesus firmly rejects violence as the solution. In fact, it is a foundation of faith to say that Jesus overcame death by love and compassion, not by force or violence.

In the weeks and months to come, as the pain of this tragedy recedes, I fervently wish, hope and pray that we will take the opportunity that is presented to us. This tragedy offers us the chance to really talk with one another and to listen with respect and compassionate resolve in our homes, at school, in churches, town meetings and other public venues. We must talk about the root causes of violence in our culture and the non-violent resolution of conflict without pointing fingers, assessing blame and politicizing the issue. Too much is at stake for us to do nothing.

One problem that I anticipate is that we as a nation have lost much of our ability to engage in open public discourse &8212; a practice upon which our nation was founded. Pressures to win at all costs have reduced the chances of public conversation succeeding because of the tendency for it to lapse into a debate where winning instead of exploring solutions takes precedence. It is not easy because it means truly listening and speaking with mutual respect, and even risking having one&8217;s mind changed.

I think that we can have this kind of public give and take. It requires practice and a commitment to doing something for the benefit of all of us.

We owe the innocent dead from this tragedy and others like it no less than our very best.

This column is usually intended to talk about notable peacemakers in our community and the world. This is the chance for us to do something to honor the memory of the students and faculty members who died. In essence, this column is now about the peacemakers who I pray will come forward and ask for the chance to really talk about this and do something positive about it.

We can and we must. Talk and listen to your relatives, friends and neighbors. Talk and listen to your local, state and federal representatives, to your school’s administrators and to your pastors. But please, let us begin this conversation!

The Rev. Jim Young is the rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Albert Lea. He is also a member of Paths to Peace in Freeborn County.