I want to make it clear that I am in no way, downplaying the alarming amount of shootings that occur in the US. Just that it was engrossing to see so many accounts of mass shootings in other countries, spanning decades.
Write your representatives and voice your opinions and concerns.
This reminds me of a question I’ve had for a while, but hopefully isn’t too offensive.
Is there a word for the feeling of “relief” that other people/places are going through the same shit I/we are? It’s not quite schadenfreude; there’s no joy to be had here. Just a sense of togetherness. All my problems aren’t uniquely mine, or even uniquely American (even if the degree may differ for certain issues).
Commiserate? Not quite right, but almost there. I get what you mean, though. Back in wide eyed “the democratic party is wonderful and flawless!” days as a teenager I used to think of Canada as this sort of perfected image of what the US could be. When I found out they had their own shit, and much of it just American shit imported north, I felt terrible knowing others were going through these same battles, but it made me feel less alone, if that makes sense.
Maybe not quite but being able to share and understand a common misfortune is pretty much what empathy is.