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| These beautiful lives are lost. The gifts they embodied are also lost to all of us. Most of us are to blame for this carnage. We can do beter. |
Like most people, I am trying to make sense of the heartbreaking, hateful, deadly massacre at a Texas elementary school. To see the pictures of the beautiful children killed is crushing. I was a teacher for 34 years--I know how earnest, loving, and good children are. I also know that so many in our culture have let children and families down leading to deadly massacres like this. What can we do to counter such terror?
Accountability
Many are to blame for this massacre and they must be held accountable. If you are to blame and you care, you will change your ways. Right now, the following people are to blame:
- The gunman--bottom line, don't kill.
- The gunman's family--we have to do what we can to love and care for our children and other loved ones. If our children are showing signs of violence, mental illness, hate, and harm, we have to get help and notify the authorities.
- Neighbors--if neighbors see signs of hate and harm, they must report that to authorities
- Schools--school staffs have to be tenacious about getting help and monitoring the behavior of students who fall far from the mean--children who display signs of criminal, hateful, hurtful behavior. Schools also have to operate in ways that promote best possible, nurturing, kind, and caring learning communities.
- Classmates--when classmates see signs of hate and harm amongst their peers, they must speak up. As we learned from Sandy Hook, if you see something, say something.
- Law enforcement--law enforcement have to find ways to identify, help, and restrain those who are showing signs of criminal, hateful, deadly behavior.
- The NRA--the NRA has put profit ahead of saving and enriching lives. There's no reason that any civilian should own an assault rifle--those should be outlawed. As for other guns, there should be sensible laws and regulations so that guns do not get in the hands of the wrong people.
- Gun salespersons--guns should not be sold to people who cannot use them responsibly.
- Politicians/Government Leaders: Politicians and government officials that take money from the NRA and that do not work for sensible gun legislation/policies are to blame. Vote those leaders out of office; remove them from your organizations.
- Voters--voters that vote for politicians that take NRA money and do not stand up for sensible gun legislation are to blame.
- Investors that profit from the sale of deadly guns need to re-look at their investments and make change.
- Those that are silent and complacent in the face of gun deaths--if you stay silent, you are also to blame. You must speak up and work for change in any way that you can. Silence is support for NRA and gun abuse.
So many in America are to blame for the murder of these beautiful, innocent children.
What can we do instead?
Immediately
- Stop supporting politicians and leaders who take money from NRA. Don't vote for Cruz, Abbott, Trump, DeSantis and so many more who are pro-gun NRA candidates--candidates that obstruct gun regulations that saves lives.
- Stop supporting politicians and leaders who refuse to advocate for what children and families need to be healthy--do not support the politicians who vote against supports that lift children and families from poverty, create safe, inviting, successful schools, preserve natural resources, provide accessible health care and nutritious foods and work for the greater good.
- Turn off Fox News and other media channels that promote gun violence in any way.
- Vote for candidates who will promote sensible gun regulation and laws
- Support adequate funding for schools and communities--funding that provides the resources that children and families need to be healthy and happy. For example, many children today suffer, but the number of counselors and other staff in schools is too small to meet the needs that exist.
- Support media regulation that protects free speech but does not radicalize people in hateful, hurtful ways.
- Write to government officials in favor of safe gun regulations and laws, support for families, children and schools, and legislation that promotes safer, healthier, happier communities everywhere in the country.
- Live and work with love, not hate.
- Do not support leaders anywhere that promote divide, hate, prejudice and harm.
- Foster natural beauty, love, camaraderie, and care where ever you are and with whatever you do.
This is a sad day in the United States. All over the world, children's lives are harmed and hurt because people don't do enough to protect and nurture children. We can do better and we must.