Milwaukee Strong? Let's Think of Another Word

I know what the word's for: A good cause. But there must be another one.

In the wake of last week's shootings, the phraseology "Milwaukee Strong" is popping up all over the community. This has become the norm after a tragedy takes place.

But is it the most appropriate word to use? I wonder.

Does "strong" signify what we should now be? "Strong" relates to 'tough'. Should we be "tough" right now? Or should we be something else?

Shouldn't we be mindful? Shouldn't we be just happy to be alive?

Because those who were shot and lost their lives would certainly be happy, happy to be around to say whether they were happy or not. I know, I know: They wouldn't have taken that into consideration, most likely, because nobody could have imagined such violence to have taken place. So existential thoughts would not have been uppermost on their minds.

But the word "strong" isn't necessarily what those of us left need. It's something else.

It's compassionate, first of all. Compassionate for those who lost loved ones.

It's reflective, too. Reflective of how quickly life can end for each one of us.

It's reflective of how someone with a gun can end the lives of people he barely knew, if at all, without reflecting himself about how their loved ones would react. There are a lot of unhappy people out there, some of them with guns. They won't turn their guns in any time soon.

Determination is a strong word. Shall we use that one?

But there's where a conversation can break out. I can say, quite definitively,  that we should be determined to stop this nonsense. Everyone can nod their heads at that.

It's where I begin with the stoppage that'll bring some people up short. I think all handguns should be licensed. I think they should never be used outside of one's property, not even with target practice. If you have to stop someone from entering your premises, they'll be close enough for you to hit them when you have to fire shots. In fact, the issue will probably be whether you'll have time to get the handgun to use on that person. The only issue, then, will be whether you'll have the wherewithal to use it--and there's no way to know that until it happens.

Does "strong" fit that description? Is that the same kind of "strong" that "Milwaukee Strong" connotes?

I doubt it. I'm sitting in a coffee shop as I write this. There's nothing to stop someone from entering with a gun and shooting up the whole place. He/she could easily shoot a dozen people, since there's only one way out. I don't think "strong" is the right way to deal with that.

And if we were "strong", what good would it do? Would being "strong" stop that person?

No. We have to find another word. "Determined" might be it, but I'd be open to another one. In any event, it has to be something that means we have to find a way that this never happens again.

If that means "strong", then okay. But "strong" is wearing out, too. It's wearing out because this kind of event is continuing to happen, and we just throw "strong" at it because we don't know what else to do.

And that's the saddest part of all.

Be well. Be careful. I'll see you down the road.


Mister Mark