2 dead, 7 hurt in a shooting at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, in Knoxville. (A second victim succumbed to her injuries this evening.)
“Just make sure you let people know that Greg McKendry is a hero, an absolute hero.”
This is incredibly upsetting to me. A UU church in a southern town, just a mile away from a major university… Put it this way: one woman’s question, “Who would have thought, here in Knoxville?” could far too easily have been, well… literally closer to home.
Update:
I think what scares me most at this point is the possibility that this wasn’t random— that it was targeted. We’re such an easygoing (for the most part) and nonviolent religion, I think that we don’t quite know how to react when something like this happens. Not that anyone does, of course, but I can’t shake the feeling that an incident like this is just so antithetical to everything that is fundamentally UU. The possibility that it’s an attack on the idea of UUism, or some part thereof, is just too disturbing to think about right now.
I have to stop watching the news, at least for a little while.
Update 2:
Sinkford has issued a statement.
A tragedy such as this makes us acutely conscious of the beauty and fragility of our lives and those of our loved ones. I am especially saddened by this intrusion of violence into a worship service involving children and youth. I know that many people, both in Knoxville and around the country, are struggling with shock and grief right now. I pray that those so affected will find strength and comfort.
It is shocking. It hits me so much harder when I can relate to it. Yes I was sitting in my little UU church Sunday morning. I, like you, hope it is not a hate crime. Sometimes when we decide to speak up on a controversial issue (peace seems the most controversial!) we will discuss whether our church might be a target. So far the worst I have seen was some graffiti, and it is hard to tell if that was targeted.
What always stands out to me in these tragedies is the heroes. The man who blocked others and got killed. Other attendees who tackled the gunman. Many lives were saved.
Comment by Claire — July 28, 2008 @ 11:14 am