A Rant: Another School Shooting
It is 9:36 AM on a Friday, May 18, 2018, and I am home watching the news. The news is talking about yet another school shooting at Santa Fe High School near Galveston, Texas. We have yet to know the details. An expert in Homeland Security, called this an epidemic, and he is right. If this were a disease, killing us all, we would be panicking lining up for any cure or treatment we could use to save our children. If we limited it to a particular source, we would try to control it. (Think HIV and condoms, we learned that a virus caused it and we figured out condoms provided some type of protection.) My local news just announced that there are 8 dead. They are quoting CNN and showing a listing of all the school shooting since the beginning of the year. They are quoting that on average there has been one school shooting a week since January 1, 2018. They just stated the shooter used a shotgun, not a military-style weapon. So this rant will not be about banning an AR-15 or any other style of weapon. I have come to a different conclusion: It's just US. We are sick. We love killing. Fictional killing is not enough, we like shedding blood for any reason. Hell, we make up our reasons. Our history shows us how sick we are, even when some of us try to end our sickness, others want it to continue. I have known this, but as idealist, I can be naive to believe others do not like causing death.
Your buffoon President just "tweeted" about the shooting. Of course, it lacked compassion and any real human tone. Your Vice President is actually addressing the Nation, though I am not a fan of his, at least he has a backbone to address us after another tragedy. Oh, wait, now, after your VP has spoken, your buffoon has decided to speak on this tragedy with his limited vocabulary. "Very," "god," and "sad" are a majority of the words, poorly strung together, and it lasts for a minute. And his heavy breathing, as if he is uncomfortable being in the position of power as a leader of a Nation or anything where he has to appear human, makes it even worse. Your Vice President was at least a little more comforting in his words and posture. Why you all like your buffoon is still a mystery to me, and frankly, I no longer care for the reasons why.
All I can hear are the kids, High School kids, crying and scared on the news. I am crying with them. My selfishness brings me to think about my sons. No different than the other school shootings, especially since 2012. All I can say is that if the deaths of twenty (20) first graders cannot bring this country together for sensible gun reform, then I almost want to give up that we can come together on any issue. We cannot come together to keep our children and schools safe. We cannot come together to stop the people who are to protect us from shooting unarmed/nonthreatening Americans. We cannot come together to end endless wars and prevent starting new ones. We cannot come together to solve much of anything, even when it's a majority of us wanting the same things.
Instead, we argue if the death of our children is a price we pay for "freedom". Then we argue if the death of our soldiers and innocent civilians, including their children are the price of "freedom". What is this "freedom?" Let's talk about this "freedom" to kill. We have "freedom" to kill, human beings have always had this freedom, with or without a 2nd Amendment. But what about a "freedom" not to be slaughtered? What about our children? What about my children? When the 9/11 attacks happened, we were so willing to give up our "freedoms" for security? But gun reform? It gets translated as: "They want to take our guns!" and usually only our Democratic leaders get accused of such wild notions in social media memes. For the last time, no one in power or most gun reform groups are calling to ban all guns. No Democratic politician has ever threatened that in the past 30 years, that I know of, even after a President was shot. Please don't believe the memes.
After every shooting/massacre, I am left asking you "2nd Amendment with no restrictions" folks, some which are otherwise known as NRA members, what is your fucking answer? I will never ask this again. More guns are not the answer. Blaming video games, really? Mental Health? We are all a little crazy, it's going to get worse as more of these happen. Anxiety and depression is a given when growing up, but this will put those conditions appear on steroids for this new generation, never mind being a parent of these children. Maybe it is the pharmaceuticals for these ailments these kids could be on? I try to be a parent willing to listen, as well as talk. This goes for bullying. But this cannot be it, alone. We must do something, but we aren't. No coming together to solve this, meanwhile our children pay this price of "freedom". For our tax breaks. For our intolerance.
Here is a crazy conspiracy, Americans seem to love them: A lot of Americans with political and monetary power seem to be against public schools, they want to privatize the whole system. They don't like paying taxes. (Who in the hell does?) So these same people, who also might have investments in weapons of war, don't want to pay taxes to educate us "takers". So they feed us the "2nd Amendment" rights bullshit through the mainstream and social media every time one of these shootings happen. They feed it through organizations, like the NRA, to keep up the rhetoric. Our public schools become unsafe in our minds. Some of us, that are suckers, will fall for this and stop sending our children out of fear. The schools start close, and the rhetoric steps up that privately run schools are safer. We see this in "fear" working in other communities, already. "Fear" is a good marketing tool. I mean look how well it's worked for the promotion of endless in the "War Against Terror". An expert on the news just stated that some schools can't afford the extra security. Of course, as the world's richest nation, we can't afford to pay teachers a fair wage, and we have them buy their own school supplies for their classrooms. So the fear is working, as the powerful let our schools fail. Their failure to want to do anything is just part of the master plan to create a population of uneducated serfs. Never mind that the rising levels of anxiety and depression will also be good for their pharmaceutical stocks. Fear works.
So, their message of fear is such: "Fuck Socialism! Right? Because public schools are a form of socialism, and we can't have that! Fuck human rights. Human rights are for libtards! We want to keep seeing our children dying, as much as we like seeing other Nations' children doing the same. So if it means ending socialism, we must get rid of the public schools because they are not safe, and there is not enough money to protect the children, let alone educate them. Maybe we can buy more guns instead, put them in the schools! What? You don't want that? Well then privatize the schools, and if you can't afford it, home school! Make the women stay home, so it will provide more jobs for the men, because our birth rates are low, and that's why our kids are dying because the women are not home, and they're getting abortions and are on birth control, and the kids are just playing violent video games or watching violent movies, and we all need to go to church, a Christian church, (Muslims are terrorists, and we really don't like Jews, well maybe not the Catholics either) because prayer (again Christian) is not in schools. Our children are dying because we are not praying to the Christian God. We all must pray to God for the victims of today's (fill in the date) shooting. God is good for fear, but you must fear God first. But let's discuss something more important, our tax breaks, not for you all of course, but for us job creators!"
Anyone creative enough: Please pass this conspiracy forward on a Facebook or Twitter meme, because that seems to be where Americans get their news, information, and opinions from these days. They seemed to have voted for their political leaders that way, by believing memes. They also use radio, internet, or television personalities to think for them, they put the messages in bullet points and easy language for them to understand. Wait, maybe I can start a "InfoWars" type shit on the internet, then maybe you will believe the bullshit that I am saying. If I say it crazy enough, oh, wait, I am a woman, and I am not a blond, so you won't listen to me. Maybe I can pitch this to MSNBC, "leftists" love conspiracy theories as much as the right wingers. I am just ranting and angry today. Grief does this to me.
The reason who should read opinions is to GET you thinking, not do the thinking for you. If you agree with everything someone tells you, you are doing it wrong. Always be willing to read opposing opinions on issues you follow. Don't be afraid about your head exploding. It's ok if it does. Mine does every day, including when I am reading or listening to people I tend to agree with most of the time.
With all this said, I will write no more on these shootings, only about solutions. It is time for action. I did not choose to give my sons life only for them to die in a school shooting. I don't think any mother disagrees with this feeling. Going to school should not be a risk for any child in this Nation in any community. Our children should not be gunned down by any one, especially our police. They should not fear public spaces. The right to live and be educated are human rights. It's that simple. (And please no more "pro-life" shit, I no longer have any patience for it, not when I see children dying from gunshots on my local and national news too frequently, never mind the lack of "outrage" for the Palestinian children dying at the Gaza/Israeli border. In today's world, I now realize the "pro-life" movement generally has/is about controlling those of us with a uterus.)
This same expert, that stated about the affordability of security at schools, has just suggested that we should have a plan for our children, talking to them from kindergarten to college senior about their new reality. One suggestion is to come up with a text code to let parents know that they are safe if this new reality happens. My 11-year-old son just received a phone for his birthday, this is not one of the reasons why we gave this to him. I guess it is now.
I am done asking for answers. You all just follow what your herders tell you. Never thinking for yourselves. Meanwhile, I am going to be selfish, as it is my sons that could face these dangers. Unfortunately, I am not a selfish person. I will only talk to parents who want the same, including those who are responsible gun owners. I want a Nation, a good Nation, a compassionate Nation, a just Nation, and decent Nation that rights the wrongs of the past and present. According to social media, I guess this makes me a "liberal," "leftist," "libtard," "commie," "socialist," "a bitch" or "cunt". I am all those things, especially the bitch part, ask my siblings. However, I will never let go of my idealism. Maybe my idealism is my greatest weakness or my strength. I will continue to fight and join others who want the best for our world.
Just as a reminder, the summer will give us some type of reprieve from these school shootings. Maybe we can come together. I doubt it. Unfortunately, in some communities in our nation, a hot summer does not give some of us the same. Actually, it can be more anxious for some mothers and fathers. They will fear for their children going outside to play, sitting in the yard, or being on playground, to be shot by anyone with a gun, the badge is optional. For me, I am fortunate enough that I will only worry about it in movie theaters and schools. I will take the summer planning with my sons, just like I do about natural disasters. As I stated before, this seems to be the new reality. I do not say that I accept this reality. I will not accept it. I will fight it through writing or marching feet.
But as I plan my summer vacation and such, I will also plan to keep my sons alive for the next school year, as I imagine the people in Syria or Yemen must do every day. I will protest, along with my sons and other mothers, and stand with my fellow citizens who have faced this type of violence often and rarely. I will march for sensible gun reform, education funding, mental health services, ending poverty, and for peace. I will continue to shed tears for the parents who lost their children today. I am truly sorry that this happened. When I kiss my sons, when and if they come home from school today, I will kiss them crying, as I did in February, and tell them what happened after they ask me what is wrong. I will feel selfish today for this as I did six years ago, when the children were slaughtered in Connecticut. Or every time I hear another child is dead from a gunshot in a community close to mine. I cannot standby while this and other violence happens. I am done. It's time for change. Real change. I must do something. We must do something to end our sickness.
It's time to stop writing, my children will be home from school soon. I have been writing and editing this since I turned on my local news at 9:36 AM, it is now 3:23 PM, only to stop and cry. I will be kissing them thankful they are home safe, once again. For those parents in Texas right now, I am sorry this has happened again. I can't know your pain, but I hope you accept my sympathies for what it's worth.
Your buffoon President just "tweeted" about the shooting. Of course, it lacked compassion and any real human tone. Your Vice President is actually addressing the Nation, though I am not a fan of his, at least he has a backbone to address us after another tragedy. Oh, wait, now, after your VP has spoken, your buffoon has decided to speak on this tragedy with his limited vocabulary. "Very," "god," and "sad" are a majority of the words, poorly strung together, and it lasts for a minute. And his heavy breathing, as if he is uncomfortable being in the position of power as a leader of a Nation or anything where he has to appear human, makes it even worse. Your Vice President was at least a little more comforting in his words and posture. Why you all like your buffoon is still a mystery to me, and frankly, I no longer care for the reasons why.
All I can hear are the kids, High School kids, crying and scared on the news. I am crying with them. My selfishness brings me to think about my sons. No different than the other school shootings, especially since 2012. All I can say is that if the deaths of twenty (20) first graders cannot bring this country together for sensible gun reform, then I almost want to give up that we can come together on any issue. We cannot come together to keep our children and schools safe. We cannot come together to stop the people who are to protect us from shooting unarmed/nonthreatening Americans. We cannot come together to end endless wars and prevent starting new ones. We cannot come together to solve much of anything, even when it's a majority of us wanting the same things.
Instead, we argue if the death of our children is a price we pay for "freedom". Then we argue if the death of our soldiers and innocent civilians, including their children are the price of "freedom". What is this "freedom?" Let's talk about this "freedom" to kill. We have "freedom" to kill, human beings have always had this freedom, with or without a 2nd Amendment. But what about a "freedom" not to be slaughtered? What about our children? What about my children? When the 9/11 attacks happened, we were so willing to give up our "freedoms" for security? But gun reform? It gets translated as: "They want to take our guns!" and usually only our Democratic leaders get accused of such wild notions in social media memes. For the last time, no one in power or most gun reform groups are calling to ban all guns. No Democratic politician has ever threatened that in the past 30 years, that I know of, even after a President was shot. Please don't believe the memes.
After every shooting/massacre, I am left asking you "2nd Amendment with no restrictions" folks, some which are otherwise known as NRA members, what is your fucking answer? I will never ask this again. More guns are not the answer. Blaming video games, really? Mental Health? We are all a little crazy, it's going to get worse as more of these happen. Anxiety and depression is a given when growing up, but this will put those conditions appear on steroids for this new generation, never mind being a parent of these children. Maybe it is the pharmaceuticals for these ailments these kids could be on? I try to be a parent willing to listen, as well as talk. This goes for bullying. But this cannot be it, alone. We must do something, but we aren't. No coming together to solve this, meanwhile our children pay this price of "freedom". For our tax breaks. For our intolerance.
Here is a crazy conspiracy, Americans seem to love them: A lot of Americans with political and monetary power seem to be against public schools, they want to privatize the whole system. They don't like paying taxes. (Who in the hell does?) So these same people, who also might have investments in weapons of war, don't want to pay taxes to educate us "takers". So they feed us the "2nd Amendment" rights bullshit through the mainstream and social media every time one of these shootings happen. They feed it through organizations, like the NRA, to keep up the rhetoric. Our public schools become unsafe in our minds. Some of us, that are suckers, will fall for this and stop sending our children out of fear. The schools start close, and the rhetoric steps up that privately run schools are safer. We see this in "fear" working in other communities, already. "Fear" is a good marketing tool. I mean look how well it's worked for the promotion of endless in the "War Against Terror". An expert on the news just stated that some schools can't afford the extra security. Of course, as the world's richest nation, we can't afford to pay teachers a fair wage, and we have them buy their own school supplies for their classrooms. So the fear is working, as the powerful let our schools fail. Their failure to want to do anything is just part of the master plan to create a population of uneducated serfs. Never mind that the rising levels of anxiety and depression will also be good for their pharmaceutical stocks. Fear works.
So, their message of fear is such: "Fuck Socialism! Right? Because public schools are a form of socialism, and we can't have that! Fuck human rights. Human rights are for libtards! We want to keep seeing our children dying, as much as we like seeing other Nations' children doing the same. So if it means ending socialism, we must get rid of the public schools because they are not safe, and there is not enough money to protect the children, let alone educate them. Maybe we can buy more guns instead, put them in the schools! What? You don't want that? Well then privatize the schools, and if you can't afford it, home school! Make the women stay home, so it will provide more jobs for the men, because our birth rates are low, and that's why our kids are dying because the women are not home, and they're getting abortions and are on birth control, and the kids are just playing violent video games or watching violent movies, and we all need to go to church, a Christian church, (Muslims are terrorists, and we really don't like Jews, well maybe not the Catholics either) because prayer (again Christian) is not in schools. Our children are dying because we are not praying to the Christian God. We all must pray to God for the victims of today's (fill in the date) shooting. God is good for fear, but you must fear God first. But let's discuss something more important, our tax breaks, not for you all of course, but for us job creators!"
Anyone creative enough: Please pass this conspiracy forward on a Facebook or Twitter meme, because that seems to be where Americans get their news, information, and opinions from these days. They seemed to have voted for their political leaders that way, by believing memes. They also use radio, internet, or television personalities to think for them, they put the messages in bullet points and easy language for them to understand. Wait, maybe I can start a "InfoWars" type shit on the internet, then maybe you will believe the bullshit that I am saying. If I say it crazy enough, oh, wait, I am a woman, and I am not a blond, so you won't listen to me. Maybe I can pitch this to MSNBC, "leftists" love conspiracy theories as much as the right wingers. I am just ranting and angry today. Grief does this to me.
The reason who should read opinions is to GET you thinking, not do the thinking for you. If you agree with everything someone tells you, you are doing it wrong. Always be willing to read opposing opinions on issues you follow. Don't be afraid about your head exploding. It's ok if it does. Mine does every day, including when I am reading or listening to people I tend to agree with most of the time.
With all this said, I will write no more on these shootings, only about solutions. It is time for action. I did not choose to give my sons life only for them to die in a school shooting. I don't think any mother disagrees with this feeling. Going to school should not be a risk for any child in this Nation in any community. Our children should not be gunned down by any one, especially our police. They should not fear public spaces. The right to live and be educated are human rights. It's that simple. (And please no more "pro-life" shit, I no longer have any patience for it, not when I see children dying from gunshots on my local and national news too frequently, never mind the lack of "outrage" for the Palestinian children dying at the Gaza/Israeli border. In today's world, I now realize the "pro-life" movement generally has/is about controlling those of us with a uterus.)
This same expert, that stated about the affordability of security at schools, has just suggested that we should have a plan for our children, talking to them from kindergarten to college senior about their new reality. One suggestion is to come up with a text code to let parents know that they are safe if this new reality happens. My 11-year-old son just received a phone for his birthday, this is not one of the reasons why we gave this to him. I guess it is now.
I am done asking for answers. You all just follow what your herders tell you. Never thinking for yourselves. Meanwhile, I am going to be selfish, as it is my sons that could face these dangers. Unfortunately, I am not a selfish person. I will only talk to parents who want the same, including those who are responsible gun owners. I want a Nation, a good Nation, a compassionate Nation, a just Nation, and decent Nation that rights the wrongs of the past and present. According to social media, I guess this makes me a "liberal," "leftist," "libtard," "commie," "socialist," "a bitch" or "cunt". I am all those things, especially the bitch part, ask my siblings. However, I will never let go of my idealism. Maybe my idealism is my greatest weakness or my strength. I will continue to fight and join others who want the best for our world.
Just as a reminder, the summer will give us some type of reprieve from these school shootings. Maybe we can come together. I doubt it. Unfortunately, in some communities in our nation, a hot summer does not give some of us the same. Actually, it can be more anxious for some mothers and fathers. They will fear for their children going outside to play, sitting in the yard, or being on playground, to be shot by anyone with a gun, the badge is optional. For me, I am fortunate enough that I will only worry about it in movie theaters and schools. I will take the summer planning with my sons, just like I do about natural disasters. As I stated before, this seems to be the new reality. I do not say that I accept this reality. I will not accept it. I will fight it through writing or marching feet.
But as I plan my summer vacation and such, I will also plan to keep my sons alive for the next school year, as I imagine the people in Syria or Yemen must do every day. I will protest, along with my sons and other mothers, and stand with my fellow citizens who have faced this type of violence often and rarely. I will march for sensible gun reform, education funding, mental health services, ending poverty, and for peace. I will continue to shed tears for the parents who lost their children today. I am truly sorry that this happened. When I kiss my sons, when and if they come home from school today, I will kiss them crying, as I did in February, and tell them what happened after they ask me what is wrong. I will feel selfish today for this as I did six years ago, when the children were slaughtered in Connecticut. Or every time I hear another child is dead from a gunshot in a community close to mine. I cannot standby while this and other violence happens. I am done. It's time for change. Real change. I must do something. We must do something to end our sickness.
It's time to stop writing, my children will be home from school soon. I have been writing and editing this since I turned on my local news at 9:36 AM, it is now 3:23 PM, only to stop and cry. I will be kissing them thankful they are home safe, once again. For those parents in Texas right now, I am sorry this has happened again. I can't know your pain, but I hope you accept my sympathies for what it's worth.
