Well, here we are again — editorial time. I’m at my computer for my weekly game of “Kevin’s opinion matters?”.
You all watch, read, and listen to the news, you know what happened recently — another school shooting, more kids died, adults died, and the shooter died.
Goodness, we’ve reached the point where these things have typical elements to them.
Speaking from pure emotion, I agree with Steve Kerr (head coach of the professional basketball team the Golden State Warriors) when he, very expressively at a press conference prior to a playoff game said, “I’m so tired of getting up here and offering condolences to the devastated families that are out there . . . I’m tired of the moments of silence. Enough.”
I’m not going to argue for a good number of the proposed solutions to this, partly because I really don’t know how effective any of them would be, but also because I don’t feel like getting into any debates/arguments/etc. You have your opinions and I have mine.
Stop for a second
Following this recent tragedy in Texas, many people — using these words and other words — are begging those who can do something to “do something”.
At this point, I’ll be happy if all “sides” can come together and admit there’s a problem.
We have failed as a people and as a country if parents or other guardians have to look at their children in the eyes every day and say “There is a chance you’ll get shot at school today”.
Alright, let’s get this out of the way now. Yes, I know we’re all going to die someday. I could die today, be it by auto crash, undetected health defect, shooting, or whatever may come my way.
Is that really how we want to live as a people — to have to tell children that they might die today at school?
I’m not smart enough to come up with a perfect solution, but can we please just stop for a second and admit we have a problem in this country.
There are TOO MANY SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND TOO MANY KIDS DYING AS A RESULT OF THEM.
We’re better than this
I’d have a lot more respect for our leaders right now if they kept the politics out the way and looked at this as a tragically brought-on time of unity.
Each and every person that can “do something” should be thinking “never again”.
Maybe it’s not fair to those who were affected by the shootings we now know as just “Columbine,” “Sandy Hook,” and “Parkland” since any thoughts of “never again” turned into “again,” but we’ve got to get it right eventually.
I refuse to believe there is 100 percent absolutely no way to stop these.
People make it their life’s work to make “no more war” and “no more abortion” a reality, why not “no more these?”
If there aren’t enough bright, energetic, and spirited people that can make this priority one in their lives, then we have a problem.
If school shootings are an intellectual problem, solve it intellectually.
If they are a spiritual problem, solve it spiritually.
If they are a legislative problem, solve it legislatively.
We’re getting closer to that territory of not “if” they will happen, but “when”.
We have to do better. We owe it to the children of this country.
As long as the risk of dying in a shooting at school exists, they’ll never be fully able to live up to and reach their potentials.
Can we really handle more of these without reacting in a bad way?
Thank you for reading.
I’m praying for you.
I’m praying for everyone affected by these terrible events.