Does it matter why?

I've been thinking about the events in Charleston this week. Our world can be so chaotic and violent. A room full of people who most likely show up for church every week, are shot down by someone they welcomed into their meeting.

I keep thinking of the words of a Nanci Griffith song: " It's a hard life, a hard life it's a very hard life, it's a hard life wherever you go. But, if we poison our children with hatred, then a hard life is all that they'll know.."

Does it matter why a person mass murders people? Is it easier to say they are not in their right mind? Is it scarier to think this young man was completely sane, knew exactly what he was doing, and had that much hatred inside of him? Does it matter if we call him deranged, mentally ill, or a terrorist?  Maybe all three apply. I don't know.

Is hatred just hatred no matter why? I don't have an answer for anything.

I do, however, remember a conversation with some friends from Brazil that enlightened me about the effects of our history. They did not understand why Americans are so quick to draw distinctions about race.They said to me, "This friend of mine, her parents are from China. She is Brazilian. And this person has black skin and he is Brazilian. And I am brown and I am Brazilian. My wife has blue eyes and she is also Brazilian. Why do you separate each other?"

It's a good question. I am sure there are lots of answers.