I was up almost all night thinking about this slaughter, crying, angry, bereft, thinking about my retired parents, who collectively taught in public schools for close to 70 years.
I just need to share my thoughts here, though I’m not sure how to best translate them to words. But I’m trying. Apologies in advance if things come out jumbled or awkward.
I thought about the generations of students they taught, led, counseled, mentored, and loved like their own children.
I thought about the teachers in Florida who died and were wounded protecting their “kids.” And I cried for the survivors, several who spoke to media and shared their horror on social media. They are all so articulate, so brave, so angry and confused and sad and horrified and wounded.
So much focus is on the 17 who died. I thank god they’re at peace. I think about them and wonder, “What will be their legacy? They are more than murdered children.”
The wounded — the survivors, their families, their friends, brothers, sisters, parents, teachers, coworkers, first responders, longterm care providers — their battle has just begun. The trajectories of their lives are forever affected.
I say, let’s listen to them. Really listen. They need us. Our support. Our protection.
When a high school student and survivor speaks about his little sister, a freshman, who lost two friends in the slaughter, he is unable to protect her, and adults have failed all of them.
My heart breaks.
We talk about how to best prevent these attacks.
We can and should enforce the laws we have (background checks, doctors being allowed to ask patients if they have access to lethal weapons, both of which are admittedly poorly enforced in Florida) and change the ones that don’t work.
There’s no excuse not too, imo. We owe it to the survivors and the massacred. There are too many already. Let’s stop this. Now.
To quote a survivor:
“Sadly, my sister, she’s a freshman and she had two of her best friends die. And that’s not acceptable. That is something we should not let happen in this country, especially when we’re going to school. It’s something we really need to take a look at. The fact that this is the 18th school shooting, and this is only February, it’s a testament to where this country has come, and how far. We need to dig out of this hole. We need to step out of it and take a look back and realize, there is something seriously wrong here. And some of our policy makers, and some people need to look in the mirror and take some action. Because ideas are great, but ideas stay ideas and children die.”
https://www.google.com/amp/uproxx.com/news/alisyn-camerota-florida-school-shooting-survivors/amp/
I will act to protect our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Kids and families and communities aren’t acceptable costs in the fight to protect our freedoms.
