This was indeed a watershed event for me in terms of taking a stand on gun control. Up to now, I've pretended like it didn't matter what I thought; that it didn't matter to educate myself; that I needed to stay neutral. I no longer feel that way. I'll be educating myself so that I can speak intelligently about the need for stricter gun controls. I've read the Second Amendment pretty carefully and disagree with those who believe it verifies the right to own guns. Ownership of guns for personal use is a privilege, not a right. There are many many people in this nation who maintain responsible, reasonable gun ownership for purposes of personal recreation and hunting. They are holding up their end of the bargain in this privilege. But there's no reason an average citizen needs an assault rifle. Period.
In another arena related to the Newtown shooting: I applaud that some are recognizing the extent to which teachers and administrators will go to protect student. However, I don't believe there are many adults regardless of profession who wouldn't have done all they could to protect young children from such carnage. It wasn't because these heroes were teachers that children were saved as adults lost their lives--it was because they are human. We should applaud and uphold those qualities of human nature that collided with the opposite forces of human nature that day in Newton.
So now I come to my reflection on the season. It's been hard for me to feel happiness and joy throughout this season overshadowed by tragedy. I've been thinking about how excited we'd get at Christmas on Dennison Road and how much fun we had with Ryan and Amy while they still believed in the magic of Christmas Eve. Our suspension of disbelief injects excitement and joy to Christmas preparations. It is not reasonable to believe in Santa but it's lots more fun to support the story than to live as though it's not true.
It may not be reasonable to believe that human nature will overcome whatever evil is at the root of tragedies but I'll be suspending my disbelief in honor of the season. Merry Christmas all.
Helping with the lights 1960
1975
1 comment:
Not reasonable to believe in Santa???!!! Of course it's reasonable! I believe, I always will. I believe in the spirit of good, of doing something for someone else with no personal payoff. I know Santa may look different than we see in books. But he walks among us. We met him when Mary Jane was sick and gifts were left on MJs porch for the girls during Christmas, without a note. Just there to help make their holiday better.
I won't get into the whole gun control issue here. I have an opinion. I think we need to concentrate more on Mental Illness in our society if we want to stop the horror that Newtown went through. But that is a bigger issue than we can solve here.
In the mean time... BELIEVE! Believe in the good in humanity. It is there, I see it all the time. You just have to look for it.
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