come on down to the Mermaid Cafe

   

                         If you have come here to help me, you are wasting our time


so much news
another mass shooting
this time in my state
by a man deemed a psycho

i watched his video, his pledge to kill
i heard him say that it was not fair
that he should not be a virgin while others had sex

i’ve heard others defend the generality of men
it’s isn’t all of us, all of them

and it’s not
it is not all men who might kill me
		   	might hurt me
but how can i tell which will

if you have come here to help me,
to tell me that it’s not all men
that are dangerous,
you are wasting your time

this is a fact that i am well aware of
but often the fact that permeates my being
is that some men are dangerous
           some will go on a shooting spree trying to kill all the beautiful women
  	while more might take me and hold me down, forcing me
	and some might try

if you’ve come here to tell me
that it’s because he had an illness
normal people don’t kill
i’ll tell you that you are wasting your time
because, i know this and you’re wrong

he has a diagnosis and a family
and neither of those are why he chose his path
i’ve a diagnosis, different, but real
and i have no intent to take others with me when i go
                no intent to hurt others

i have known people, students and friends
in similar situations
who did not, would not kill
do not vilify the diagnosis

and this man had a sense of entitlement that exceeds expectation
he spoke of how he deserved women and sex and care

and we all deserve care and love
but this was different
      he was full of anger and a belief that he was owed these things
		that he was owed these things by the women he saw

women are not yours for the taking
	not yours as objects

we have the right to say no
		and the right to say yes

we have the right to live in safety
		without fear that every man 
may be that one man

if you have come here to help me,
to correct me,
to tell me i’m wrong, or overreacting
you are wasting 
		    your time



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Typically, I leave the public reactions to tragedies to those who write more eloquently, to those who write more quickly, to those who have a say in the matter at hand...

I do have a say as a member of society. So do you.

It's time to get some real gun legislation in the United States. And some better mental health care, but this time he did have access, so that's not today's fight...

May all of those affected by gun violence find some peace in their lives. I am sorry for your loss and your pain. You have my condolences. 

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This was written for LJ Idol Season 9, Week 10. http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/741490.html?view=73836402#t73836402

Voting will be updated here later. VOTE HERE: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/743480.html

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