“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
1 comment:
I totally agree. Friend of mine who lives in the US says I should try to understand how deep the right to bear arms is for most Americans. But I can't, for the simple reason that you have said: how can it be more important than the safety of children.
I haven't watched any of the news on TV but my eyes welled up when I saw a picture in the paper of a memorial xmas tree with the names of the victims on ornaments...I realised that two of the children have the same names as my girls. That brought it home like nothing else.
Love and compassion to all those involved.
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