Shooting at Connecticut elementary school — Page 9

A tragic day. I just spent a week traveling with my perfect, bright-eyed, creative, beautiful, funny, strange 6-year old God-daughter and the thought of just her one, tiny life being snuffed out literally brings tears to my eyes. The idea of a community coping with 20 dead children is just more than I can imagine.

We would do well to think about the very real, individual lives lost when we read about Syrian/Egyptian/Israeli/Balkan soldiers killing children. Their lives are as full of promise and hope and potential as our children's.

Meanwhile...

There's an economic theory--originally framed in the context of consumer spending--known as "revealed preference", which holds that the best way to understand people's values is to observe their behavior--as opposed to listening to their words. That is to say: people may TELL you that they only eat organic vegetables and spring water, but you need to open their cabinets--full of Pringles and Sprite--to see the truth of how they actually spend their money.

Americans talk about their distaste for guns and desire for gun control, but their revealed preference is clearly a preference for the status quo. Greg Gibson's son was a victim of a mass killing, and he (the father) went on an anti-gun crusade. As he says in the op-ed piece that came on-line earlier today:

"I came to realize that, in essence, this is the way we in America want things to be. We want our freedom, and we want our firearms, and if we have to endure the occasional school shooting, so be it. A terrible shame, but hey — didn’t some guy in China just do the same thing with a knife?"






Why America Lets the Killings Continue

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Updated On: 12/14/12 at 11:52 PM

AMEN.

Beautiful. Thank you for posting that.


I am watching news coverage of the teacher who heroically protected children by locking them in the classroom bathroom. But more than that, she made sure that they knew they were loved, and that they would be ok and see Christmas. Despite her own terror, she selflessly protected those young souls.

I am sure there will be more stories of the many heros who protected the children today. I am so grateful for all of them, and offer prayers of thanks.

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It is very important we celebrate these people and spend time remembering those taken from us.
Funny thing is, I feel sorry for the gunman too. A very sick and twisted soul. As much as I believe we need to rethink our stance on gun control, we also need to rethink the way we treat mental illness, or rather NOT treat mental illness in this country.

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Wynbish, EXACTLY! I can not imagine that.What was it that possessed him? Was it planned or was it like the ending of The Terminal Man when the brain synapses just started all firing at once? Something went terribly wrong with this twisted, ill person.
They say he had "A personality disorder". Wasn't there anyone in his life who noticed this?

Not to seem trite but We Need To Talk About Kevin came to mind as these events unfolded. My heart really goes out to his older brother Ryan who was announced to be the shooter and interrogated. Not only has he lost his mother and father and brother but he has this stigma to live with the rest of his life.
There are so many victims in this very, very horrendous event. The entire country is in mourning.

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It's so hard to get anything done in this country when folks' reaction to something like this is so diametrically opposed. You have folks on the left crying our for gun control, while those on the right are calling for armed guards and metal detectors in every school. Putting aside the profiteers in the NRA lobby, there really are folks in this country who think the solution is for more guns, not fewer. Given how each side vilifies the other, as well as the passion surrounding this issue, our road to finding a solution will be challenging.

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And another friend, who lives 10 minutes from Newtown posted this, about bedtime with her 3 year-old daughter last night:

During her bedtime story/snuggle time, Piper said "Mommy, why are you crying? Mommies don't cry, babies cry! I didn't know Mommies had cries too" I couldn't explain to her that while I was partly crying out of pure joy that I was holding her in my arms, safe and sound for now, I was mostly crying for the 20 mommies and daddies that at this same moment were looking at empty beds, books that wouldn't be read aloud again, dolls and toys and stuffed animals that would never be played with again, smiles and giggles and snuggles that would never be shared again and my heart was broken in a thousand pieces for them. How do they survive? God Bless them.

She has updated that the community - and all surrounding communities - are reaching out to try to understand how to talk to their children, and help them feel secure in their homes, schools and communities. The fear must be managed.


...just wanted to share a couple of thoughts from friends of mine in the area. Although, this touches ALL of us as members of the larger community of people who care, believe in the goodness of the world, and have a heart.

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On some late news report last night, I heard that the shooter's mother had left her teaching position to stay home and care for her son. Other reports from those who knew him said that they weren't surprised at all that he committed the crime. All reports about him were negative as to his character. Usually when similar crimes occur, we hear comments like "He showed no signs of anything wrong", or "I'm shocked" or "He was the last person you'd expect", etc. etc.

Looks like there were red flags in this case.

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"Thanks to the few who actually supported me on here, it means the world. I never mean to anger anyone but as i say im passionate, Kad i think your outburst at me was totally unjust but i am used to it from you."

...What outburst? The only thing I directed to you in this thread was: "I know you mean well but I agree. The time for this debate is, indeed, now; but this thread is not the place."

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Suspecting that a troubled individual MIGHT be involved in this type of horror is very different then there being red flags that THIS specific thing was going to happen.

I've certainly had students that if someday they commit a crime (of any sort) that I could say the same thing -- that I'm not suprised it happened. (This includes a student that hightly suspect will become -- if he wasn't already -- a date rapist. We've talked to authorities, and there is NOTHING that can be done until a crime is committed.)Is there ANYTHING I could do about that now? Nope. No law official could take that kind of suspicion as a true threat, they certainly cannot watch the person forever because some or many of us see red flags that s/he might someday do something.

That is not to say that we might NOT hear of more specific red flags TO this crime, but right now I haven't heard of anything that could have, in reality, prevented this horrid event.

You cannot put a person into a mental institution (esp an adult) on suspicion. There needs to be instances that PROVE he or she is of harm to themselves/others -- presently -- not at some unsure time in the vague future.

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"Diversity" and "Multiculturalism" continue to unravel America. In a society where people love their dogs and hate their neighbors, it is surprising that there are not more Newtown, Connecticuts than there are. Police expect more money each year for showing up too late.

Moving my comments about this tragedy to the Wall of Love thread.
Let's keep THAT thread for pure thoughts related to this terrible tragedy.

This thread has taken a horrible turn.

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"I" cannot see that as a "red flag" description of a mass-murderer. Except, of course, after the fact. "

A red flag does NOT automatically mean that person is going to arm himself and go kill 26 people.It'snot cut and dry and simple as that. A red flag by definition is something, albeit vague, that there's something worth looking into. Too bad more people don't understand that.

His mother sure knew he needed to be looked after. Enough for her to leave her job to stay home with him.

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