Back long before cell phones, computers, and even cars there was a tiny island that was at war with itself. In this war there were trained soldiers that even modern armies try to emulate. They fought without fear of death, for they believed that they were already dead and must win their battle in order to win back their lives. I speek of course of the samurai.

But what do they have to do with apathy you ask… absolutely nothing.. and that’s the point. They were the polar opposite of apathy. They were taught that there were rules.. a code. The Hagakure, outlining the rules and virtues of bushido. They were taught to never hesitate, to act according to their code without thought or consideration of personal safety.

Now that we have established a baseline for what is not apathy, let’s look at the most extreme examples of apathy from today’s society. That of the shooter. We have had a rash of shootings in this country. Some guy walks into a business or movie theater and opens fire. And in almost all cases what happens.. people run, try to hide.. and in almost every case the guy just walks through the rooms killing. I recognize these as horrible tragedies and my heart goes out to the victims families, but what I cant seem to wrap my head around is that in all but a few of these shootings the perpetrator was unopposed by those he was shooting. Now dont get angry and say “they were scared they were going to die! Of course they ran and hid!” Stop for a moment and put yourself in that position. There is a man with a gun who you know for a fact will kill you all if given the chance… run? Maybe you will get away.. but if you run he may see you and kill you anyway. Hide? Are you willing to bet your life that he cant find you? Because if he does you will have zero chance of surviving. This is my point. When you know for shure you will die if you dont stop the attacker and you lie to yourself that “maybe he will not see you” your throwing away not only your life.. but the life of everyone else that is too deeply apathetic to act even in the defense of their own life. Is this how little we value life? We love to talk about the sacredness of life.. but when it’s our turn to act? We do nothing.

You have no idea how sad this makes me. People that could have lived full healthy lives.. dead… because not one person was willing to die to stop it.. even if they were about to be killed anyway.

Just recently there was an event that put hope back in my heart. A school shooting, the worst kind of violence. Children who should never see that kind of destruction and cruelty suddenly thrust into it. And what happened? 3 students.. rushed the shooter. Two were shot. One brave soul lost his life far too soon. The shooter was subdued untill authoritys could arrive. But here is the hope.. stop and think.. how many lives were saved? How many children will see their families again? Here were three people.. not even adults… who recognized the cost of inaction. One paid the highest cost. A child did what grown men and ladys refused to do. We say that he was extraordinary, and I agree.. but the question now becomes… why are we so apathetic that we will not act to save our own life.. let alone the lives of others.

I refuse to be the lamb led to slaughter. I will fight to win back my life. I will spend my life if necessary to save others. For when there is a man with a gun who is bent on killing… I am already dead.

All it takes is 3 children to stop a gunman. Why can’t adults do better. I hope beyond hope no one is ever put into the situation where you have to make that choice. But if you are.. remeber.. children did it. How could we do any less?

Best wishes -SirHanz