Cumbria Gun Rampage Raises Deeper Questions
Administrator on June 3rd, 2010
On Wednesday 2 June 2010, Derrick Bird was found dead in Boot – shortly after crashing his car near the River Esk. Before his death, he had been on a gun rampage in west Cumbria, England. His shooting rampage had spanned about 25 miles and resulting in 12 people losing their lives and at least 25 being injured. Those who are emotionally scarred by this tragic incident will be in hundreds.
The people indiscriminately targeted included two women in their 60s, a cyclist and a farmer’s son who was killed as he trimmed hedges in a field.
The whole country is mourning. The Queen said she was “deeply shocked” by the shootings in Cumbria and shared the country’s “grief and horror”. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families of those who haev lost their loved ones.
The circumstances and the gravity of this shooting rampage demand that a full and comprehensive investigation takes place. Over the coming weeks, Police and other authorities would be trying to understand what has happened, speak to people about Bird, his life, what had gone on in the last few days, what might have turned him into a killer.
One of the key questions is what might have caused Derrick Bird to act in the way he did. Were these grudge killings? Was he motiviated by malice and anger? Was he pushed to the edge? Ultimately, none of these answers would justify taking innocent lives. However, we can reflect on these questions and circumstances and learn lessons to make our lives better and healthier.
So far it is suggested that Mr Bird had been involved in a dispute with his family over a will. He had been teased and bullied by others. He was kind of rejected by the society at large. Bird must have had underlying resentment and anger and he wanted to display his anger, resentment, exasperation; choler, bile, spleen, indignation, fury and rage.
Anger, fury and rage tends to result in violence. In anger, one explodes and envelopes others in that explosion. This is obviously an extreme and unjustified act of anger that has resulted in the whole nations heart bleeding for the loss of innocent lives. Some people who fly into rages have low self-esteem, and use their anger as a way to manipulate others and feel powerful. Perhaps that was true in the case of Bird.
A consultant forensic clinical psychologist Ged Bailes has said:
‘It’s almost like a final act – as if the world is going to look at me and take notice,’ he added. ‘He’s thinking, “If I’m going to be a failure, I’m going to be a spectacular failure, I’m really going to vent my anger and I’m going to go out in a blaze of glory”.’
It seems pertinent to remind ourselves of the Islamic perspective on anger management as in the current global economic, political and social climate, there are many angry souls throughout the world who may get fired up very quickly.
When first God created humans, He created many emotions and desires within each person. These include positive qualities such as recognizing truth and expressing it, love and compassion. Then there are some negative qualities such as hate and anger, with resultant violence and dejection.
During anger, one losses control of oneself and commits those actions which one would regret in a state of normality. It could be hurting oneself, family and friends, neighbours and strangers, physically or verbally abusing people, during the dejection phase of anger, one can even commit suicide.
Due to our inability to control anger, we not only physically and emotionally hurt ourselves but affect the lives of many people around us -our children, our spouses, our parents, our relatives, our friends, colleagues, neighbours, pets, environment…. and the list goes on.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) said:
“A strong person is not the person who throws his adversaries to the ground. A strong person is the one who contains himself when he is angry”.
One of the key “weapons” that the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) has given to Muslims to deal with anger, rage, fury is ta’wwudh [i.e. "audhu billahi minashaytan nirajeem". ] This cure was given by the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) when a man showed anger in a situation where he was in front of the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said “I know something that if he says it, his anger will go away and this is “audhu billahi minashaytan nirajeem.” What does this have to do with curing anger? Since anger comes from shaytan, you should seek refuge with Allah from the accursed satan.
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) gave us the medicine for that saying:
“Shake hands and rancour will disappear. Give gifts to each other and love each other and enmity will disappear”.
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) has given very handy tips advising us that when angry, one should try to change his body position. If a person is standing up, he/she should sit down, and if he/she is sitting down, should stand up. If this didn’t work, then the angry person should go and wash and get prepared for praying.
It is also fundamental to Islamic belief that a person does not lose hope in Allah irrespective of whatever his circumstances may be. Having a firm belief that things will get better is important in Islam. Therefore enduring tests and trials of life with a smiling face and a content heart are signs of one’s strong belief.
June 3rd, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Controlling Anger is one of many issues that this tragic incident raises.