Orlando. No longer in our thoughts will it be held as just the city where the most “magical place on earth” dwells. As of last week, it has now become a place where one of the most horrific acts of violence and terrorism has occurred. And this tragic event will forever be etched into our memories.
What happened in Orlando was horrendous. Words cannot describe the pain that is still being felt today by the families and friends of those killed and wounded. We should pray for them and the churches around the Orlando area seeking to be present in the midst of the pain.
The tragedy in Orlando has reminded everyone of how broken our world really is. Newscasters, politicians, and even late night talk show hosts have continued to convey the seriousness of this beastly act of terrorism. Everyone is outraged. Things are truly messed up in our world.
But as tragic as the Orlando event is, it is not the only thing that has occurred this past week that shows how broken our world is. In California, a Stanford swimmer, Brock Turner, was given only a six-month jail sentence for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. Many are outraged by just a slap on the hand, but what makes it worse is the letter Brock’s dad wrote to Judge Aaron Persky before his son’s sentencing.
In the letter, Dan A. Turner, Brock’s dad, said that since his son was found guilty of sexual assault, he isn’t eating much and is full of worry and anxiety. It’s “a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action out of his 20 plus years of life,” he argued.
“20 minutes of action!” For the dad, it was just a small mistake. Should it cost his son his future? How could a dad see such a crime as just a few minutes of “action.” Part of the answer could be related to what is known as “rape culture” It is predominately found on college campuses in which date rape becomes something that can be deemed as acceptable. The fact that we have something called “rape culture” is heart breaking. And with the rise of pornography and attitudes of self-entitlement, things look bleak. Our world is broken!
We are broken over the hate crime that occurred in Orlando and we want justice to be served. But I find it a bit funny that in other areas of our culture we are not as concerned about justice being handed out. For me, this is a true sign of our brokenness and our need of a Savior. Thanks be to God that we have one in Him!
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