By: John Roberts-Zibbel
It was not the best of times. It was not the worst of times. As the sun rose in the west and a new day dawned on the land of the free, Kellyanne Conway, advisor to Mr. Donald Trump, told the world of The Bowling Green Massacre. We were once again reminded of the sacrifices we don’t make each day for our freedom. Today we were not attacked in a deliberate act of terror. Many lives were not massacred. Today we explore the heroes, that weren’t there, the lives that weren’t lost, and the unity that never happened between the two cities.
On the ground in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the debris from the massacre could not be seen up and down the street where the incident didn’t happen. Another bystander didn’t report that, “When it was over it was like it never happened.” Seth, who isn’t a real person, said, “Real people weren’t dying right in front of my eyes. They weren’t being massacred…right there…I don’t know how I’ll ever remember it.” According to Seth, The Bowling Green Massacre was “not something I have ever not seen before.” Hanna S, who doesn’t live in Bowling Green, Kentucky, was not there at the scene and didn’t have anything to report.
A few hours north in the town of Bowling Green, Ohio, citizens were also living out a similar fate. Terrorists were also not massacring citizens. After the Bowling Green Massacre, citizens in Ohio did not reach out to BG, Kentucky in prayer or aid. A longtime citizen of Bowling Green, Matt T, said, “This stuff makes me so mad. We don’t even make national news when stuff doesn’t happen here. Bowling Green Kentucky is always stealing our headlines. Well, this massacre didn’t happen here too!” Others in town felt similar to Matt. Marian, who doesn’t own a store in BG, Ohio said, “I would love to help the people in Kentucky, but just like them we aren’t dealing with the aftermath of this situation right now.”
Today, we mourn the lives that weren’t lost during the Bowling Green Massacre. We didn’t see it not coming. We didn’t know how to stop it from not happening. A candlelight vigil is not planned for The Bowling Green Massacre on Saturday night in the green space across from the police station.
When our country doesn’t face moments like these, I am reminded of the fake quote by Friedrich Nietzsche, “I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.” We will forgive, but we will never not forget.
