Monday 17 December 2012

Loss of Innocence

Certain things they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone. I know that's impossible, but it's too bad anyway.”
Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger


The horrific events that happened at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown brought this quote to mind. I am not a fan of the novel at all but it does encapsulate how the main character feels about being forced to be more adult-like and mature. He grieves for the loss of his own innocence. The Newtown community who survived the attack last week are going to be faced with this too - forced in the most sickening way to face what a shite world they live in - that the facade of affluent America is hiding a broken society which has laws that make no sense to me. I cannot understand how despite the stats on people killed by guns, the Americans hold onto the Second Amendment - put it in a glass case and refuse to change it. The right to bear arms. What about the right to live without fear? Why did a primary school teacher feel the need to own 3 guns? If she had not had them, would her son, Adam Lanza,  have been able to commit the crimes?

So I shake my head. we have cried watching the events unfold and cried when we read the list of names of those that died empathising with the parents who lost their kids (both the children and adults). Over the weekend, my kiddo has put up with me suddenly grabbing her, kissing her and telling her I love her. I hope that she always knows that, no matter where she is or what happens in life. And I will always sing to her. 

Twinkle, twinkle, little star
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
How I wonder what you are!

Many kisses for  Charlotte, Daniel, Rachel, Olivia, Josephine, Ana, Dylan, Madeleine, Catherine, Chase, Jessie, James, Grace, Emilie, Jack, Noah, Caroline, Jessica, Avielle, Benjamin, Jessica and Allison