Dear everyone,

The desensitization of murder and violence is a real concept. The news spreads the information around to the rest of us, but we internalize or become desensitized to the irrational event. This is especially true when Renee Nicole Good (her Mom named her Renee Nicole) was shot to death in the face by an ICE agent.  These events prepare us for the next audacious example of traditional injustice.   The more mass shootings and other killings happen, the more we expect others to happen as well.  This is wrong. Killing is wrong.    We need to stop this big picture downward spiral before it spins out of control. This is because the more it happens, the more it strangely becomes accepted as the norm, allowing its continuation.  This condition makes it acceptable in the minds of mass shooters and other killers.

I am compelled to address a profoundly disturbing trend that I believe is eroding the very fabric of our society: the pervasive desensitization to violence and murder. We are increasingly bombarded with narratives of tragic loss and systemic brutality, a relentless stream of information that, instead of fostering empathy, paradoxically dulls our collective moral compass.

This constant exposure, often through news cycles and various media, risks normalizing the unimaginable. When acts of egregious violence, such as mass shootings or disturbing incidents involving those in positions of authority, become almost commonplace, we begin to unconsciously adjust our expectations. The initial shock gives way to a grim anticipation, a dangerous acceptance that such horrors are an inevitable part of our reality. This intellectual and emotional detachment is a critical failure, allowing us to compartmentalize unspeakable acts rather than confront their profound implications.

Every life lost to violence represents an irretrievable tragedy, a fundamental injustice that demands our unwavering outrage and a collective commitment to prevention. The sanctity of human life should remain paramount, and any erosion of this principle signals a dangerous downward spiral for our civilization. We cannot afford to become spectators in this unfolding drama, passively consuming accounts of brutality until they lose their power to shock and galvanize us into action.

It is imperative that we, as individuals and as a society, consciously resist this insidious process of desensitization. We must reaffirm our commitment to holistic justice, empathy, and the unwavering belief that all acts of violence are unequivocally wrong. Breaking this cycle requires a renewed collective vigilance and a proactive effort to address the root causes and manifestations of violence in all its forms.

We have a moral obligation to halt this descent and cultivate a culture where human life is universally cherished and protected.

Sincerely,

Richard Thomas Simmons