Much like everyone else, I am struggling to process the tragedy in Newtown last Friday. Words are insufficient and I won’t try to make sense of this senseless nightmare. The loss of a single child is incomprehensible and inconsolable. The loss of many children is overwhelming. One can feel the collective sense of simultaneous shock, anger and profound sadness.
While the details are fuzzy at this moment, there’s no doubt in my mind that the teachers who perished gave their lives attempting to shield or save their children. Like our soldiers and firefighters and law enforcement officials who place themselves in harms way every day, one can’t truly understand what leadership and courage are, until called upon to act selflessly to help others.
For the families so tragically and needlessly impacted, may the thoughts and prayers of a nation…and much of the world provide the strength to carry on, one slow step at a time.
I agree that our thoughts and prayers should be with the families of the victims and the people of Newtown. We need also to begin to ask ourselves the hard questions of the role of guns and violence in our society. This is a complex issue, but it is time to start the conversation. It needs to be pursued with an attitude of compassion and unity as Americans, not political ideology, Research and facts should determine the right policy.
The conversatiion about the role of guns and violence has been raging for years, where have you been? How about discussing the role of guns and peace-keeping or guns and personal protection? I would rathe have had armed teachers in the school than a disarmed public. It never seems to register with those who favor more rigid (restrictive) gun laws that criminals couldn’t care less what laws are in effect. Criminals will always have guns, gun laws only make the public more vulnerable. Too bad the teacher weren’t armed maybe we would have only lost 1 or 2 children. Or maybe, knowing that the teachers were armed and ready the criminal might have had second thoughts and just stayed home.
Even we here in India were shocked to see such horrifying news on TV. May their souls rest in Peace. My mother had tears in her eyes when she learnt of that young lady teacher who saved many children by hiding them and getting killed herself. To all the American families, we feel your grief and we are with you in this.