From a reader:
“I ask why and how our society has become so desensitized to violence and at the same time so addicted to it.”
We’re addicted to violence because that is what our country glorifies. See Diane’s experience at the movies for example.
Many here won’t like what I am going to say but I believe it needs to be said.
As I was listening to our president speak (and I thought he did a good job of it) of this tragedy (and it is the worst kind of tragedy, senseless killings of completely innocent children) my thoughts went to senseless killings of innocent children in the many illegal wars of aggression in which we choose to engage. And it occurred to me that our president probably doesn’t shed a tear for all the innocents he has had murdered through said immoral wars.
M. Albright believed that the 500,000 dead Iraqi children from the “economic” war waged upon that country in the 90s was “worth it” (and to believe that these sanctions prevents the dictators and their ilk from not harming the innocent all the more takes some specious thinking). Thousands and thousands of innocent children have been killed in the the various “theaters” of our immoral wars by the supposed “good” guys who represent our country. Please read “Is This Child Dead Enough for You?” at: http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/11/09/is-this-child-dead-enough-for-you/ to get an idea of these weekly tragedies spawned by this country.
If we refuse to look in the mirror at ourselves to see how our murderous international actions eventually come back to haunt us then we really shouldn’t be surprised when something like this happens. The amount of money we spend on creating the most violent and efficient killing machine that is the DOD could easily be spent for social goods. But as Country Joe and the Fish sang in “Feel Like I’m Fixing to Die Rag”, “there’s plenty of money to be made by supplying the army with its tools of trade”. If your not familiar with the song go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Soy3PHV3RiM
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Thank you for bringing this up. These conversations also NEED to be held and worked on, these discussions NEED to be had. I confess that at the moment I’m still to raw to do it myself, I am thankful that many others are raising this issue and not letting it be swept under the rug as the media has pretty much been doing.
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You shouldn’t need to apologize for your statement. I feel the exact same way. I don’t want to diminish what happened in CT, but children are being killed everyday, or abused, or threatened, or starved every day IN THIS COUNTRY and around the world. Children “disappear” into human trafficking. Children are abandoned. Children are caught in crossfire. Nearly 25% of the children in our own country live in poverty. These are sins that need to be addressed.
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This is an excellent point. I thought of this soon after hearing this disturbing news. I can honestly say I don’t know what I would have done if in that situation. Nothing in my life has really prepared me for that.
If you haven’t seen the beautiful opening to SNL from last night, I suggest you watch it. Most poignant and appropriate, it is hard to be self-serving after watching this simple and beautiful tribute.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/16/snl-silent-night-connecticut-shooting_n_2310590.html?utm_hp_ref=tw
I posted this update on my Facebook page as I think it is a dialogue we must have and it must include the point well-said by Diane.
Take a moment to be grateful for your children and your family. Take a moment to think about how to keep everyone safe and stop this insanity.
I need some clarification. Whose liberty are all of these tea party people and Right Wing affiliates talking about? Is it the killed and wounded at this horrific event? Who is concerned with their liberty? It seems these people can defend the liberty of not only unborn children, but also not even conceived children. So what are they doing about the already living children? Who is worried about their liberty? Liberty is a complex concept. We need a serious dialogue about it. It extends to all and has very little to do with the second amendment. Events such as this should not be happening. Our children have the right to feel and be safe at school. That is their liberty and it is our job to make it happen.
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Ruth,
Thank you for that clip. You could see the children fighting back the tears as they sang.
“When will we learn, when will we ever learn.”
Thank you Pete Seeger. I never realized in the 50+ years that I have been listening to this song the connectedness of the verses and how he takes us from “where have all the flowers gone” to the complete circle of which he sings-powerful very powerful-what non-informational text can provide::
WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE
words and music by Pete Seeger
performed by Pete Seeger and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the flowers gone?
Girls have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young girls gone?
Taken husbands every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone for soldiers every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Covered with flowers every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?
©1961 (Renewed) Fall River Music Inc
All Rights Reserved.
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Thank you Duane for reminding me of that old favorite song. I think some people never learn as observed by reading some of these posts. A horrific event like the one in Newtown happens and people immediately jump on it to seek support for abortion bans, religion back in schools and (ugh) teachers and administrators being armed. When will we ever learn?
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Ruth,
Thanks for the kind words. As a teacher I have to believe that eventually “we will learn”. Or else I would have to give up the profession that has given me the most satisfaction of all the jobs I’ve done (I didn’t start teaching until I was 38, almost 20 years ago).
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I like you, believe in the kids. It is our job to show them all of the options and that dreams really do come true. Best to you.
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Let me add this comment. We don’t cry those tears for the African American children in our community.
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I do, and maybe you believe some don’t. A life is a life. Every child’s life is valuable and represents the beginning of a journey. We need to cry for all of the children and instigate change for a better, safe life for all. Social/emotional wellness needs to be seriously integrated into the education of all children.
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Don’t forget about abortion, defenseless humans murdered every single day.
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You cannot equate that to those living, breathing children already contributing as a part of society and people’s families. Please don’t mix these issues. You do disservice to the impact of violence and mental illness.
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Reader #5 has an ugly truth for us to face. Why and how can we live fearlessly in the face of the many children’s death which we have participated in–in the name of the war on terror??? Far more than twenty and some as young and younger than the Newtown victims. Is it a necessary protective quality of humanity that we can only truly weep for those closest to us or most like ourselves? If we wept as deeply over every sensless killing–or even “sensible killing”–would be be incapable to taking actin on behalf of anything?? Is the “it couldn’t happen to us” a protective necessity or a dangerous denial of reality?? What do we do with our anger and grief?
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You and Ron Paul seem to agree about this. Perhaps the real love of violence is to be seen in the love of abortion, of really defenseless children, though “pre-born.”
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HF,
By the way, I grew up with Falstaff beer-local St. Louis beer-in the fridge (basement one) in the 60s, I’ll have to get myself some as I believe it is still brewed.
I’m assuming the “you” in your response is referring to me since I’m the one that wrote the original post. I’m not sure about what R. Paul would have to say about this, whatever the “this” is to which you are referring. Please clarify, and thanks!
I don’t know of anyone who professes a “love of abortion”. That’s an abomination of a thought only meant to demonize those who have to (for legitimate medical reasons) undergo said procedure. My wife of many years was a BSN who worked labor and delivery and then for an OB/GYN and I can say that I never, ever heard anyone involved in that medical field ever talk like what you suggest.
If you think, as a male, that you can determine the thoughts of those unfortunate women who have to undergo this procedure, then you are 100% wrong, ethically and morally. If you are a purported christian I feel sorry for you as you will surely burn in hell for your very un-christian like attitude (and I don’t believe in any of that heaven and hell crap to begin with). Is that a harsh condemnation on my part? Hell, yes, just to make a as damning of a statement as you have in stating that someone has a “love of abortion”. Do you belong to Westboro Baptist?
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