Today I was going to write about the amazing week Ehren and I just had but I found it hard to focus on that with the news that we are hearing today...
I am so heartsick I can't begin to explain the feeling. My heart goes to all the families affected by this tragedy, whose roots have spread farther than we can ever know. I am sorry for the mothers and fathers that will bury their children (young and old children alike), the children that will bury their parents, the souls that have lost their significant others, the innocent young who have lost best friends, for the terrified who had to run for their lives from a place that is meant to be safe and secure, and for everyone who has been stricken in their hearts by this staggering calamity. People all over the world are mourning for the families in Connecticut.
Early this morning Ehren and I were calmly preparing for a drive to a peaceful beach town when we discovered that a few hours earlier, while we slept, there were families experiencing absolute devastation. About 20 minutes later we heard the news that a man had injured or stabbed 22 children outside a primary school in China. Luckily none of his victims have died.
This day is truly a day of mourning for planet earth. When did we arrive in a place where adults mass murder the innocent, the ones who are our very future. I have felt for a long time that, especially in the United States, we have forgotten it is our job as human beings to care for one another. We have forgotten in our haste to get rich and possess the most that we can not and will not survive without each other.
I hope the events of the last 24 hours will force the human race to think about the direction we are headed and whether or not they are truly happy with it. Are we happy to know that we will get multitudes of gifts this holiday season while others starve? Are we pleased having a 10,000 square foot home when their are people with families who are homeless? Are you content watching the 8 year old climb onto her school bus outside the homeless shelter? Would you be happier to know you have made a real difference in some one's life by volunteering time, energy, money, food, etc,etc,etc? Let's find it in ourselves to be enhance the world around us by improving the kind of person we are. Let's be sure to treat others with respect and love. If bullying and harassment were replaced with love and helpfulness, people may cease resorting to the appalling actions they may see as the only solution, or even the fair solution.
Last but not least... I normally try not to post political beliefs on social media as I feel it is inappropriate but in this case I will make an exception. If you don't agree with me that is your right, but I beg you all to re-think and re-evaluate your beliefs on this subject. Guns are harmful; they are scary; they are dangerous. And I firmly believe they are useless in most situations.
This information is from Nationmaster.com
-39.5% of homicides in the United States are committed with handguns
- There are just under 10,000 deaths from hand guns/year
The thing that is hardest for me to comprehend in this situation is how someone, who is mentally disturbed enough to murder at least 20 primary school children, was able to get their hands on a gun. Knowing that it is possible just reconfirms my beliefs that gun control is too weak in the United States. I hope, that for the sake of the families in Connecticut, and for all the people who have lost loved ones to gun violence, we can change that.
Love you all and hope you can be the change you want to see in the world.
In the words of the greatest singer of all times, Missy Higgins...
There is a choice.
You can follow the leader,
Or use your voice.
Cuz this will just keep up,
Until we make a loud noise,
And the hidden ones speak up.
Lindsay
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