I was writing in my office when my friend Sue Silverstein, a Bishop Maginn High School teacher, texted me.
“Oh, my God,” she wrote. “I am sick. Fourteen babies, I don’t understand.”
I didn’t know what she was referring to, so I texted her back, asking what she meant. “An elementary school in Texas,” she wrote. “14 babies between 2nd and 4th grade and a teacher.”
And, it turns out, a grandmother.
” I just can’t even fathom it anymore,” she said.
“Oh, Sue,” I answered, “I think I need to meditate or pray… I have no words.”
“You just keep doing good,” she wrote. “It’s the only weapon that we have.”
Sue, who teaches children daily and loves them all, is correct. I will keep on doing good and more good and invite anyone who wishes to come along. This is the only weapon we have, perhaps the most powerful of them all.
“I will,” I wrote, “you too.”
And we will.
I’m going to shut down the blog for 24 hours in honor of these and the hundreds and thousands of children and adults who have been killed by this dreadful plague of ignorance and cruelty in America. If there is a God or Gods, we will awaken and save and protect our children.
I will keep on doing good, and I have no words to add to the heartsick feeling I know all of you have. Like Sue, I can’t fathom it.
As of Wednesday, the death toll has risen sharply. I don’t want today to be normal, just another day when children were slaughtered at their school desks and we pretended nothing had happened.
I’ll be back on Thursday to resume my work and move forward. I’ll start by bringing three new pairs of underpants to a resident at the Mansion who only has one team.
Tonight and tomorrow, I will meditate, pray, swim in solitude with my beloved friend and partner, and walk with my dog.
I wish you and the families peace, healing, and compassion.
Just sad beyond comprehension.
God bless all the families affected.
Jon, I don’t know how to say this in a meaningful way that expresses how deeply I honour your decision to close down the blog for a day because of this horrible occurrence with these children being killed. I am left without words. I trust you may write about the issue of gun violence and the anger that has pervaded this world. When Sandy Hook happened, I made a wall quilt to honour the victims. This quilt, The Fallen Child, toured the United States in exhibits. This tragedy impacted on me as my first husband died of a gunshot wound himself. I know how it feels to be a survivor of such things. But this isn’t about me, it’s about all those parents who have lost their beloved children to gun violence. and then to have that crank spread blasphemous information on the internet that this was a staged event, that the children were not really dead after all. Free speech is one thing, but the internet spreads dnagerous and venomous information misinformation that spreads like wildfire amongst those whose minds are inflicted with hatred and a wish to destroy others. I honour your closure.
Sandy Proudfoot, Canada
I wish we could all take a day to shut down and make a statement of how unacceptable this is.
So hope you get to see and hug your daughter and especially your granddaughter now.
And it was in Texas which make it so personal for me. I know someone who’s grandchildren go to that school and am afraid to call her.
If you care about these tragedies, VOTE! Too many Americans don’t vote. Find out who your legislators are and their position on gun control, and vote! I don’t want you to have to give up your precious gun, but those babies are even more precious. Take your pick.
The proliferation and love of guns in this country makes it easy to commit murder. But this is about more than just tighter gun control. What made this young man think that the best thing he could do with his life was to kill a bunch of children along with a teacher or two? Was he truly insane or just another angry confused loner with no love in his life and no future? Was nobody around to check up on him? I’m sure we’ll learn more as this story unfolds. I agree about the importance of voting for legislators who aren’t beholden to the NRA. I can’t imagine what it’s like to kiss your child goodbye as they head off to school and then to never see them again. I remember when President George H W Bush made the comment about America striving to become “a kinder more gentler nation”. I’d say we’re not even close!
19 children and 2 teachers now. Most of those killed were of Mexican descent as was the shooter. Social media has become a place to plan their murders. This shooter and the one a few days ago are both 18. 50 Republicans are keeping background checks from becoming law. I feel so helpless to do anything.