As spiritual seekers who have taken a hard look at human social life, we can begin to understand the depth of feeling that can drive an abusive man with a history of contempt for gays and liberals, as this shooter appears to have been.
But it is still shocking to see such hatred acted out and to recognize ourselves as its victims. Our Waltham church has been plagued by only minor vandalism due to our support of gay and lesbian marriage rights. And, thankfully, here in our city we are not alone in that social stand as Unitarian Universalist churches in other parts of the country often are. It is good to feel surrounded by friends in such emotion filled circumstance.
Most news reports focus on the shotgun-wielding intruder, but I find the churchmen who confronted him more worthy of contemplation — John Bohstedt, Terry Uselton, Jamie Parkey, and, especially, Greg McKendry (deceased) who was the quickest to action.
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I am told that at the public vigil held on Tuesday in support of our Knoxville parishioners the final song was so emotion packed that the crowd erupted in shouts and cheers for the young singers, applause and tears of gratitude for the community’s concern, as well as grief for the victims of such an outrage. Amen to that.
2 comments:
Greg McHendry was shot and was possibly dead before the shooter was overpowered. The third person who helped overcome the shooter was Jamie Parkey. On the evening of the shooting, Jamie told me that he noticed what look like a Nazi emblem on the shooter's belt buckle.
I attended that candleligt service the following evening at Second Presbyterian church. Over 1,000 people packed the sanctuary. The emotions released when the children went up front to sing "Tomorrow" defies description.
Thanks, Nathan. The Knoxville News Sentinel has in its latest reports stated that there were others who confronted the shooter. It's good to have his name.
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