Did anyone else see : https://sports.yahoo.com/enough-steve-kerr-gives-emotional-004229304.html
I was moved to tears by his truths.
This is not original to me, I am quoting someone on Twitter. "The survivors of the Robb Elementary School massacre will be scarred for life, not because of a book that they read in school or from wearing masks. It's because they saw their classmates' dying from a gunshot wound on the floor of their classroom." So true. I feel for you educators who are trying to make a difference in children's lives while risking your own.
I teach 6th grade, and today I broke down crying thinking about the situation we are currently in. My kids are the cutest and sweetest in the world, and I can’t imagine- like my mind just can’t go there, but tears were flowing thinking about how our society keeps allowing this. Over and over. My hope is that they will be the change.
How many people think that all of the outrage over school shootings will finally change things?
Not me.
Why should Republicans ever stand up to the gun totting fanatics in their ranks? They didn't do it with Sandyhook, so why should young children in Texas mean anything? Already, I am hearing about how Democrats are "politicizing" the issue and that limiting guns will not stop the fanatics, blah, blah, blah, blah.
Honestly, this latest tragedy won't change anything. Why should it? Democrats will try desperately to rally support for some sort of common-sense gun control (ban of assault rifles, age limits and background checks on those who buy guns, etc.). Republicans will simply block it.
Personally, I believe that one of the reasons that Republicans are so "anti-abortion" is because they want a population of people who are so poor and uneducated that they become accustomed to any abuses imposed on them by the wealthy white male patriarchal society. A large population of uneducated and poor girls would make fine targets for them to abuse and rape at their leisure. After all, a poor, uneducated girl is often the best target for these predators to target, because they have the least power and are taught early to believe that any misery inflicted on them is somehow their fault. And frankly, looking at people like Trump, Roy Moore, and Gaetz, some on them simply like them young. But in order to protect their power, they gain the affection of these violent, gun totting domestic terrorists and continue to stir them up to threaten Democrats, but sometimes innocent people are caught in the crossfire because an entire generation has been bred to believe that gun violence is acceptable so long as liberals don't take guns away.
In all honesty, there is only one that the situation in this country will ever change. One, Democrats win a supermajority and destroy the abuses that Republicans have imposed on us for decades. But that won't happen due to the gerrymandering and because Democrats are not willing to use Republican tactics against them. Democrats need to start calling Republicans "baby-shooters" to counter Republicans calling Democrats "baby killers" for so many years. They need to say Republicans are the "Pro-Rape" party as opposed to the "pro-life" party. But Democrats still act civil to those who don't deserve civility. So I don't see this happening.
I wish Democrats would get mean or, at the very least, smart. Democrats can point out that business and property owners have a right to say whether or not they want guns or gun carriers on their property. Courts can do this, so why can't home and business owners do this? What about our rights to live and work in a gun-free zone. You want to keep your guns, then keep them at home! Why do you need to carry them around everywhere? If you want a right to carry a gun outside your home, you should get a license!
ARRRH!!!! Why am I even getting worked up? Nothing is ever going to change. So long as Republicans can go to sleep and cradle their assault rifles with them, what do they care about a million or so dead children?
@allyn I feel you and what you said is salient. I do want to disagree by saying that things will change, we just have to keep working toward it. When I get anxious I keep reminding myself of Jeanne's predictions from years ago that 2028 is when things really settle down. It is a process and I am also frustrated at the pace, but we cannot lose faith in it. That said I also agree we need to fight back more, the other cheek has been turned too much.
@lovendures Wow that was really good. As was the press conference right after. I hope it gets news. The bs on "why are you making it political" when it is political by its very nature is appalling. So yeah that was awesome. Good on him and I hope he wins election.
From Twitter https://twitter.com/WUTangKids/status/1529419158236155905
Some of the NRA $ on the Republican side of the US Senate: (tho I'd like to see Dems as well)
Mitt Romney - $13,647,676
Joni Ernst - $3,124,773
Rob Portman - $3,063,327
Todd Young - $2,897,582
Tom Cotton - $1,968,714
Pat Toomey - $1,475,448
Marsha Blackburn - $1,306,130
MoscowMitch - $1,267,139
@maggieci Congress members with the most contributions from gun rights groups / NRA contributions to Sen Ted Cruz (R) Tx $442k ,Rep.Steve Scalise (R) LA ,$396k, Sen John Cornyn (R)Tx $340k, Sen Lindsey Graham (R) SC 284k, Sen Mitch McConnell (R) Ky 247k , Rep Devin Nunes (R)CA 228k, Sen Ron Johnson (R) WI 223k, Rep Kevin McCarthy (R) CA 220k
This is comprised of Lifetime contributions to members' campaign or leadership PAC for the 117th Congress as of May 25, 2022
I awaken today to learn that the cops waited 40 minutes - 40 minutes - almost an entire class period.
I didn’t think my heart could be in any more pieces but here we are. The “good guys with guns” did not in fact save lives.
https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-texas-school-shooting-44a7cfb990feaa6ffe482483df6e4683
Broken. Fractured. Numb. Angry. Terrified. Exhausted. Pick a word - add to the list. I’m all of it.
what is wrong with us?
@dannyboy It sickens and terrifies me to say this but.... I think it's because they are wanting to start having a volunteer armed "militia" stationed at the doors. A group of veterans and others...which local talk embraces with each report of a school shooting. Once again a lot of talk but no real thoughts of imposing any laws that might impact the accessibility of arms nor empowered mental health options. That boy did not exist in a vacuum, there were signs all along that were cries for attention/help. I am uneasy with the thought of it all. Heather Cox Richardson had an point summation : https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/may-24-2022?s=r
If you have not seen watch Steve Kerr's impassioned speech... I think he speaks for many of us...touched by gun violence in our lives. He lost his father to it at age 18. I can't help but feel that we are being called upon in this darkest points in our history to hold a vision, bring forth a new way of being as a society. One in which parties are not as important as people, one in which elected leaders are fit for the job of carrying out the unified wishes of the people they lead for the betterment of life for ourselves and our planet.
I hold that vision in meditations daily even as I grieve and release the pain of living and wading in these "dark waters"
Sending you a big hug, seeing us sitting down and talking while sitting on a bale of hay in the backyard where a raised bed garden is being created sharing a cup of coffee or tea as the morning sun dries the dew and the birds sing their morning songs and we breathe in the fresh cool air as our Mother Earth embraces and comforts us. A few moments of Peace , in these moments, as we reach out and hold hands with all of us ..wading through these waters. Just for a moment.."Peace, be still.."
I can't help but feel that we are being called upon in this darkest points in our history to hold a vision, bring forth a new way of being as a society. One in which parties are not as important as people, one in which elected leaders are fit for the job of carrying out the unified wishes of the people they lead for the betterment of life for ourselves and our planet.
I hold that vision in meditations daily even as I grieve and release the pain of living and wading in these "dark waters"
Sending you a big hug, seeing us sitting down and talking while sitting on a bale of hay in the backyard where a raised bed garden is being created sharing a cup of coffee or tea as the morning sun dries the dew and the birds sing their morning songs and we breathe in the fresh cool air as our Mother Earth embraces and comforts us. A few moments of Peace , in these moments, as we reach out and hold hands with all of us ..wading through these waters. Just for a moment.."Peace, be still.."
@journeywithme2 As with recent posts by @lovendures, I thank you for this post and articulation of how to hold our heads above these "dark waters" as we are all gasping for air right now. I so appreciate you reiterating that vision of what we are called to right now. I am compartmentalizing much of what is happening right now, but feel a bit numb as well. It helps me to read these words from you and others.
Tagging @sistermoon as well thinking of a post from earlier about how much despair the current situation is causing. Also, there was an interesting post about astrological influences by @gbs yesterday:
I don't know much about astrology, but this struck me as significant. We must hold steady as best we can, reconnect in moments of peace (in nature or wherever we can, as you described above) and keep that vision clear in our minds. Much love to us all!
After reading @gbs astrology post, this quote came back to me. Since Pluto is making some hard passes at us right now, I think this is a good quote. It reminds me to keep empathy, even when I am angry at the hatred being shown. 😢 For whatever reason it seems important that I share this.
I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.
@april I mean when all you are, and all you know, is hate what is left when that is gone. Those who have given themselves to hate don't know anything else. Yeah in time they can find other things, like love, but in an immediate sense they will be like an empty shell. A pain filled shell.
Many of us will do anything to not experience pain. We will run or fight to avoid it. But in order to heal, to move forward, we must experience that pain. Like lancing an abscess, we must feel the pain to let go of the toxin. (At least that is what I have learned recently).
I am glad this quote may have given a small insight. I pray it helps all of us move back towards the light and away from the toxin that is hate.
@maggieci Marco Rubio, Florida: $3,303,355 should be added to your list. He is the sixth highest. He also is my Senator. Ron Desantis just loosened gun laws in Florida too. He received money as well. He is mean spirited and wants to take away Social Emotional Learning in schools. So, I guess he wants them to not cope with their emotions and then fully arm them. It sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Oh wait, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas... it did happen and will happen again and again and again. I just want to get away from these crazy people.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for that quote!
You followed your intuition and posted something which is ringing true for many, myself included. I am in awe once again how connected we are in this community and how spirit flows through us. (Old me would have said appears to flow through us, but I know this IS a truth, not a "possible" truth.)
I just wanted to say "hi" and let you know how nice it is to see you here again with us. Thank you for popping in and thank you for your information from Florida. Lots of love to you and all our community members who are living in red controls states who have governors. state legislatures and U.S. congressmen and senators who have gone off the rails.
Hang in there everyone! November is coming, people are waking. Those already woken are finding their voice and are becoming tall strong trees with deep powerful roots.
We are growing a healthy powerful life-force of a forest. Breathe in that forest air. Feel the shade and damp moss, hear the rivers and babbling brooks. Smell the pine, flowers and leaves. Observe the birds and wildlife.
Our forest is growing. You are growing. You are getting stronger, your understanding is expanding like the life rings of a tree. A lot is taking place in this life ring year, but it is making for one beautiful tree, one glorious forrest filled with strong, knowledgeable, loving, incredible trees and all the creatures who grace the forest with their own beauty and radiance.
Those already woken are finding their voice and are becoming tall strong trees with deep powerful roots.
We are growing a healthy powerful life-force of a forest. Breathe in that forest air. Feel the shade and damp moss, hear the rivers and babbling brooks. Smell the pine, flowers and leaves. Observe the birds and wildlife.
Our forest is growing. You are growing. You are getting stronger, your understanding is expanding like the life rings of a tree. A lot is taking place in this life ring year, but it is making for one beautiful tree, one glorious forrest filled with strong, knowledgeable, loving, incredible trees and all the creatures who grace the forest with their own beauty and radiance.
@lovendures This is so beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes! I love your description of what we are doing -- growing, getting stronger in this "life ring" year. Wonderful!
And so the wave of new threats are occurring. The high School in the the district where my daughter was was put on lock-down today, the second to last day of school due to a possible threat. The High School and middle School in the district she will be working at next year were put on lockdown as well for similar reasons as was this district to the East of her home. Some were direct threats, some were hit lists, some were realistic looking but actually fake guns. There was an arrest of a person with a gun on a H.S. north of Dallas today. Arrests were made of 2 people who had planned to carryout a shooting at a school in the Donna ISD also in Texas. Other threats and arrests have occurred in AZ, CA and other states across the nation.
The good news? Students and other individuals are seeing and hearing things and speaking up. Thank goodness they are saying something!!! They are brave and beautiful!