Why do we replace places where bad things happen with memorials? And should we instead rebuild what was destroyed or damaged instead?
I have heard of the possibility that the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs Texas where 25 people were killed by a deranged gunman might be torn down and replaced with a memorial garden. Well I respectively disagree with this idea, by tearing down instead of rebuilding the church they are letting the opportunity to heal pass them by. Per an article posted by USA Today, “The pastor expressed his desire that perhaps the best way forward is to have the church demolished and replaced with a prayer garden,” Oldham said. But Oldham added that parishioners haven’t “had a chance to fully deal with the grief and then come together to make a decision.”
A couple of day ago I tweeted the following, #TexasChurchMassacre I hear that they want to tear down First Baptist Church, in my opinion (with no disrespect intended) I would honor the victims by rebuilding the church. And would want the services to continue there to show that the human spirit cannot be dimmed. #RIP. This was my reaction upon hearing of the possibility of tearing down the church, instead of rebuilding it.
By rebuilding instead of taking down the building they could better honor those who died. By tearing down the building and creating a prayer garden they would be avoiding the harsh truth that death is very much a part of life and is something that has to be faced. To do the easy thing is to not to see the world as it really is and to face death is to celebrate the wonderful gift that we have been given. Life is a gift that is very precious and death is part of the circle of life and can not be separated from it without denying that it does not exist. When the World Trade Center was rebuilt against the backdrop of those who did not want anything but a memorial to those who died, I rejoiced in the fact that we stood up to the terrorists and loudly stated that we will not cower before you and we will defy you with every fiber of our being.
Somehow our society has too often chosen the easier path of acquiescence instead of looking at what has happened and face the fact that we can not change the past. But we must realize that we can surely shape our future by not avoiding anything that causes hurt feelings or can make us feel mentally inadequate to deal with what has happened. Avoidance does not help, it only weakens our resolve.
In closing we must stop avoiding death and instead embrace it as part of life or this country will sometime in the near future just become one big memorial garden to death.
That is my opinion- Jumpin Jersey Mike
