The Penn State scandal brings up questions about morality and behavior. One issue that has been largely ignored is that of evil and how it is not as rare as we would like to believe.

We adults are supposed to be the responsible ones. We have a duty to protect those who are dependent upon us for their welfare. Ensuring the safety of our children is a duty we all share.

It’s been ten years since terrorists attacked the United States. Much has happened since then, but some of the lessons we learned seem to be the wrong ones. Instead of continuing down our path filled with rage, perhaps it’s time to learn from the examples of others and actually deal with our feelings. Only then we can move forward.

With the UK’s Prime Minister reportedly considering ‘shutting off’ social media sites in an effort to stem the rising tide of riots and other violence in London and across the country, the UK government has seemingly acknowledged that merely enforcing the law doesn’t fit their job description. Throughout history, when governments have lacked the finesse to enforce the law, they have often asked for — or simply siezed — bigger and bigger sledgehammers to control bigger and bigger sets of behaviours.

Bullies and their victims are as much iconic figures in school life as rock stars and cowboys. Lately anti-bullying crusaders have spoken out against bullying in all its forms. As laudable as these measures are, I fear denunciation and zero-tolerance policies at schools do not address the difficult truths of bullying.

What happened in Tucson is no doubt a genuine tragedy. But it will be an even bigger calamity if we don’t learn from it and start attending to our systems of mental health care so that individuals with serious problems can secure help before disaster strikes.

My flashbacks are not what you see in movies. I don’t hit the ground and start screaming. I can function to a degree. You might never know I am having strings of thoughts strain through my brain sending a fear throughout my body that almost paralyzes me.