The Outcast by Sandro Botticelli, c. 1496 (Wikiart.org)
https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2016/06/12/president-obama-tragic-shooting-orlando
Omar Seddique Mateen
Yesterday, posting was not possible. Writing on Molière in the wake of the shooting spree in Orlando seemed blasphemous.
I wish to extend heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims. I also wish to extend sincere condolences to all Americans, Canada’s neighbours to the south.
Before he started shooting, the presumed killer, Omar Seddique Mateen, made a phone call and declared his allegiance to the Islamic State. ISIL has since claimed responsibility for the killings.
Donald Trump was prompt to blame United States President Barack Obama for not naming Mr Mateen in his address to Americans. Accusations are inflammatory and the crime had not been investigated. For instance, although a very effective automatic weapon was used, there was a large number of victims. There could have been more than one shooter.
Mr Trump has no sympathy for Muslims.
Moreover, homosexuals and lesbians were targeted, which complicates matters. It may have been an attack on homosexuals and lesbians.
Whatever the ethnicity of the killer(s), it would seem very wrong to blame all Muslims for this barbaric act. We all know that rotten apples are committing horrendous crimes in the Middle East forcing a large number of Muslims to leave their homes.
One cannot shoot without a gun.
Kathleen Battle sings Care Selve from Händel’s Atalanta 8 / 9
Portrait of a Young Man with Red Cap by Sandro Botticelli (Google Images)
© Micheline Walker
13 June 2016
WordPress
Micheline's Blog 
Sadness… only deep sorrow and unending sadness…
LikeLike
It is truly unacceptable and overwhelmingly sad. When will it stop?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Humans are evil, and so few are concerned about “animals” which are sentient being just as we are…
Please as well sign the AVAAZ Petition… and share with your contacts! Heartened thanks 😦 claudine
LikeLike
Yes Claudine, I will sign AVAAZ Petition. This is a stain on humanity. And human beings also abuse animals who are powerless as were the victims of the Orando massacre. They were confined to a room and crawling to an exit made them obvious targets. It meant they were alive.
I will do all one ordinary human being can do.
Love, Micheline
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Michelle, I know you will, I love you too…
claudine
LikeLike
I will Claudine. Love indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Orlando — Micheline’s Blog – musnadjia423wordpress
I thank you for posting my comments and images. All lives must be protected. These were innocent people, our brothers and our sisters. Best regards.
LikeLike
Such a terrible loss, sadness enormous. I think Obama did the right thing by not naming the perpetrator or suspected perpetrator – he does not deserve the dignity of being named.
LikeLike
I agree, the killer does not deserve the dignity of being named.
President Obama weighs his words carefully. At the moment, we do not know whether or not ISIL directed the suspected perpetrator to kill innocent citizens. It has claimed responsibility for the killings which is consistent with the behaviour of terrorist organizations. They want ‘victories.’ It’s yet another tragedy. Take care Ina.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So sad.A lot of people on this world has loose all respect for life.
LikeLike
It’s unbelievable. Life is sacred. Yet people kill. It is incredibly sad. We must combat this violence. Thank you so much for writing. Micheline
LikeLike
The loss of so many innocent lives is already a tragedy, the political recuperation of this tragedy by right wing conservatives makes it only worse. Especially when you know their stance on lgbt rights
LikeLike
You’re quite right. Donald Trump picked up the ball and ran with it, both eyes closed and mindlessly. No, extremists among conservatives may not recognize L.G.B.T. rights and they have little sympathy for Mexicans and other immigrants from Latin America. Many were at the Pulse. Fortunately, President Obama is still at the helm. Ironically, it may be that the Orlando Massacre will damage right-wing extremists. Donald Trump was too quick to blame Muslims. How can people trust Donald Trump. It is obvious that Donald Trump did not wait and see before condeemning Islam. This may rattle people. My best to you. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m sorry but I find that saying ALL conservatives don’t have a heart for the LGBT community is just as inflammatory and extremist in thinking and does nothing to bring people together.
LikeLike
I hope you understand that I disagree with you respectfully. Here is your answer to someone’s comment. “No, the conservatives do not recognize lgbt rights and they have little sympathy for Mexicans and other immigrants from Latin America.”
I think liberals are just as in danger of not respecting people–especially their right to disagree or have differing opinions about things. It’s a very broad thing to say that conservatives have no sympathy for Mexicans–and untrue. I wonder about all the Latin Americans who have spent years lawfully trying to become citizens. I also understand the desperation many Latin Americans feel fleeing their corrupt and crumbling countries, having spent some time doing missions work in Nicaragua, but the rule of law–not the heart–is the only way to real safety for anyone. Many Mexicans flee because Mexico is lawless and run by corrupt cartels. In the US the 1st and 2nd amendments are there to protect people from bad government — examples of tyranny past and present are so many and so obvious.
Some of this discussion is like reading The Emperor’s New Clothes. The last couple of mass shootings have been done by people who openly proclaim their allegiance to a set of values that include taking sex slaves, stoning women and killing gay people.
Anyway all this to say that categorizing all conservatives (or liberals) as one-dimensional evil villains who are unsympathetic to the human plight is not reality and only serves to keep people at odds.
Immigration law until recently was seen as the right of sovereign nations. The destabilization of the Middle East and the poverty in Mexico can and should be partly attributed to our political leaders (in the US both parties have bloodied hands), but that does not mean the US people should give up their sovereignty in the name of political correctness. It’s so much more complicated than just saying we should hug Islamic radicals and then they’ll play nice. That has never worked. Does this mean we should go to war to kill Muslims? Definitely not. We might begin by putting aside party allegiances and realizing that people on the left and the right both have valid points even if we may disagree with each other. Disrupting evens with violence, shutting down free sheech and name-calling (on both sides to me shows a lowered civility and maybe a lowered education even.
I have very close family members who are gay. I may not agree with everything they believe (just as I don’t agree with everything anyone else believes) but I still love them and want them to have the same freedom to pursue life, liberty and happiness.
Saying all of this with love~
Adrienne
LikeLike
Adrienne, I think my answer to you was not sent. I agree with you that we should “bring people together,” which requires acceptance of otherness. For extremists, this is very difficult. They will hear what they want to hear and will see what they want to see.
The Orlando Massacre was very complex. Some viewed it as an attack on Muslims, some as an attack on the LGBT and others as an attack on immigrants from Mexico and Latin American countries. And Mr Trump attacked President Obama for not naming the attackers.
Again, you mentioned key elements: “lowered civility and maybe a lowered education.” We need more poets and much more love. Micheline
LikeLike
Leave it to a poet to get it right! 🙂
Not he the threatening texts who deals
Is highest ‘mong the preachers,
But he who feels the woes and weals
Of all God’s wandering creatures.
He doth good work whose heart can find
The spirit ‘neath the letter;
Who makes his kind of happier mind,
Leaves wiser men and better.
Dear Bard and Brother! let who may
Against thy faults be railing,
(Though far, I pray, from us be they
That never had a failing!)
–James Russell Lowell.
Love and regards~
A
LikeLike
Dear Adrienne,
Leave it to poets to get it right.
Love,
Micheline
LikeLike
Adrienne, You are of course absolutely right. One cannot say all conservatives. Where did I write all conservatives. I can’t find the sentence. Love, Micheline P.S. I found it. It was in a comment. The wording was “conservatives.” It is now “extremists among conservatives.”
LikeLike
LOL. You are a sweetheart!
LikeLike
So are you, Adrienne. LOL to you too. Micheline
LikeLike
I will immediately grasp your rss feed as I can not
to find your email subscription link or e-newsletter service.
Do you’ve any? Kindly allow me recognize so that I may just subscribe.
Thanks.
LikeLike
The email subscription is at the top, left. Thank you. 🙂
LikeLike