Many of my fellow bloggers participated in a day of silence yesterday
in honor of the Sandy Hook victims, and while I too am keeping them in my heart
and thoughts this week, it is also my personal choice not to be silent. This is because
I believe that what we need in the wake of this tragedy, like so many others
that have come before, is not merely remembrances, thoughts, words and prayers,
but genuine action.
I strongly believe that the increasing prevalence of events
like this one is a multi-faceted crisis that needs to be addressed in a
comprehensive manner. Easy access to guns, the state of our mental health system,
exposure to violence within our culture and the way some young men are
socialized surely all play a role in contributing to these types of atrocities. No
one factor acts alone, and therefore, there is no "easy fix."
So, while I do think that tougher gun control laws
and an improved mental health support system would be positive steps in the
right direction, I also think that until we get serious about examining all of
the interlinked causes and committing as many resources to solving
this epidemic as we do to fighting other evils in the world, nothing will change.
Thoughts and memorials are beautiful things, but only action
has the power to save lives.
100% agree with you. I think it is true when they say that most of us follow blogs that we have something in common with :)
ReplyDeleteIn response to your comment, breastfeeding doesn't always equate to not getting your period, some women still get it even if they BF but often times you don't (at least not right away). I'm still BFing but have cut back a lot so I think that's why I finally got it.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you, lady.
ReplyDeleteI saw a cold dog last year outside in negative degree weather and asked my mom what I should do. "Pray."
I called the Humane Society and then prayed hard. The dog was never outside again when I saw the yard.
We must take action and be commemorative.
My husband and I feel the same - the thoughts and prayers are nice, but something needs to be done. Great post.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post Heather...individual action as well as government action is required!
ReplyDeleteI love you too Heather!! I agree that it's not just one area that we need to look at, but I think that this has been going on for far too long for them not to have an answer already on how to stop this, or for them not to have armed guards at schools. There are armed guards and even police officers at schools in bad neighborhoods, but most of the horrific things like this that have happened have been in small town America where teens get bullied because they don't fit in and then they snap. We need to start helping each other more, helping these kids who are loners, who are sick, but we also need to protect ourselves and our kids against violence like this. I live too close to the city and have lived in the city where violence happens every day and I just believe that I should have the right to carry to protect myself, I've seen and heard too many stories.
ReplyDeleteWe all have our own voice, our own personalities and this is what makes this world a great place. We can all share our feelings and beliefs and not be put down for it. xoxo
action is important. i do hope that the correct action and care are taken.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. New have the right to bear arms in this country but something needs to be done for gun control. It has been on the agenda for a long time but all talk no action.
ReplyDeleteWell said Heather, action has the power to save lives. This was a terrible tragedy, one that we should strike to not repeat ever again.
ReplyDeleteSending my prayer to all those involve in it some way or another.
Kev and I have spent a lot of time in the past few days talking about what we can do as parents to hope that our boys never want to lash out violently. We are praying that we g get it right!
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