The shooter always does seem to settle the argument, whether it’s valid or not. Looking on from afar, it is perhaps easier to at least try to be dispassionate and reasonable. But it also seems important to acknowledge something about ourselves, our country as a whole, and the political atmosphere we are all responsible for. Yet, for all our terrible deficiencies, we do have our virtues — and a credible self-regard. Morris is head of media at the SA Institute of Race Relations.