Orlando as a Rorschach test

The slaughter in Orlando was caused by (a) our failure to keep weapons of war out of the hands of terrorists, (b) President Obama's refusal to say "Islamic terrorism" and take ISIS seriously, or (c) hatred and intolerance toward the LGBT community. Take your pick, or provide a simplistic explanation of your own. One of the most disturbing aspects of the mass shootings that now strike us with nauseating regularity — whether perpetrated by ISIS-inspired lone wolves or disaffected losers seeking vengeance and glory — is what they reveal about our deeply polarized country. Each fresh horror is reduced to a Rorschach test, as the various ideological tribes see only confirmation of what they already believe, and filter out contradictory evidence and ideas. The need to be right trumps all.

Even before the bodies were removed from the Pulse bar in Orlando, Donald Trump was tweeting his thanks for the "congrats" he was receiving "for being right about radical Islamic terrorism." Democrats countered by renewing their call for a ban on assault weapons. In their public statements of sympathy, some Republicans omitted any mention that most of the dead and wounded were gay, lest they find themselves suddenly aligned with the LGBT community. Did anyone even pause to mourn, carefully consider what led to this attack, or reconsider their views? Just a week ago, civil libertarians were faulting the FBI for using "stings" to identify and arrest potential homegrown terrorists. Any second thoughts? Gun-rights absolutists continue to insist that banning military-style assault rifles and large magazines would achieve nothing, yet why did the mass murderers in Orlando, San Bernardino, Aurora, and Newtown deliberately choose these weapons? (Hint: to inflict maximum casualties.) If we are to respond effectively to the threats we face, we need more thought and more humility, and less partisan dogma. Certainty makes us stupid.

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