I spent much of my day in shock.
"Another one?"
It almost seems unreal at this point, but yet, here we are - another mass shooting, and yet, another one inside the sanctimonious and innocent walls of a school in our country.
I've gone down this road with these words of thought before. And I'm pretty sure you've heard, read, and thought the same exact rhetoric we often are exposed to after these happenings. The complacency and inaction, and more so, our numbness to the reality and seriousness of the matter has reached heights that it's difficult to truly wrap the mind around.
But again, here we are.
For me, I spent parts of my day consoling one of my students who is from the Parkland area, and of course, leading thoughtful discussions on the situation with other students. I attempt to always lead the discourse in a thoughtful and fair manner, but today's was different - everyone agreed. Something should be done.
I've said it before, and sadly, I'll do so again, my faith on any type of serious gun-control reform was lost after the inaction following Sandy Hook. That was my final straw - the very last event in which I knew America had a sickening and serious problem.
Because that's exactly what this is. A clear and gross problem. An upwards rate of twenty shootings in thirty-five days is again, mind numbing. America has a very serious problem.
Again, I'm weary of sharing thoughts on gun control as well as the political power structure upheld by gun-groups and such. It's just crazy. And truthfully, I've done it, you've done, we've all done it.
My heart breaks for the parents left in shatters. That's what kills me tonight, and really why I wanted to pen some thoughts.
My prayers also go to those educators who saved countless lives and will go without notice of their heroics. And of course, my anger and frustration is with our nation who is once again stuck in this hollow hallway of debating the role guns should have in our society.
My prayers also go to those educators who saved countless lives and will go without notice of their heroics. And of course, my anger and frustration is with our nation who is once again stuck in this hollow hallway of debating the role guns should have in our society.
Today, a student asked me my thoughts on gun-rights, and in the midst of my weariness on the topic, combined with how each of these shootings have snuffed out any understandings or flexibility I have remaining for the discourse of the topic, I could only mutter the following:
"Honestly? Yo, I'm just so sick of this shit."
I am. And I'm sure you are too.