AI's Promethean Moment
"The real question is not whether machines think but whether men do."
—B.F. Skinner
No one would have ever called Anthony Dwayne McRae a saint.
In 2019, police arrested him for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit—a felony. He later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for possessing a loaded firearm. For the crime, he spent 18 months on probation.
I wish that McRae’s story ended there.
The conviction did not preclude him from purchasing more guns upon his release.
All Hell Breaks Loose
On February 13, 2023, the 43-year-old entered a building on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing and opened fire. McRae then moved to another building and continued shooting. On that horrible day, he murdered three people and injured five more. After police confronted him, McRae turned the gun on himself and took his life.
Welcome to America in 2023.
MSU officials immediately canceled classes for the remainder of the week. Students and their supporters predictably protested against gun violence. Progressive lawmakers once again promised gun-control reforms.
The folks at Vanderbilt University’s College of Education and Human Development wanted to do something more than offer the hackneyed “hearts and prayers” refrain on social media. Two days later, its Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) emailed the whole Peabody community. Here is the message in its entirety:
It'll only take a moment.
