I hesitate posting this, but I think it may be pertinent.
Much has still to be revealed about the frightening events that occurred in Colleyville over the weekend, so what I say here is somewhat speculative regarding the details. One thing is clear, however - that the current highly polarized mood in America is greatly influencing our varied reactions to this episode.
As I understand it, the gunman was a mentally ill person, albeit an individually radicalized one. It does not seem that he was part of any specifically organized plan with local and/or international connections. In fact, the opposite seems to be the case, namely, that he was a problematic outlier within his own family, who are not Islamists.
This being the case it is alarming, though predictable, to see the usual suspects distorting the situation to make it out to be something it is not - from Fox News commentary waxing hysterical about international conspiracies, to unscrupulous hungry reporters on both sides of the political spectrum spinning with all kinds of imaginative fantasies, to "left-wing" Moslem radicals and sympathizers using the story to further their own agendas.
Here, most people I believe see this as an opportunity to affirm our common humanity and celebrate the fact that none of the hostages were physically hurt, not as an excuse to point fingers and shout.
