...on the events of this week.
I’ve got a lot rattling around in my head this week. I have a 2 1/2 year old son, and frankly, when I hear or think about the shooting in CT it makes me nauseous. So I am trying my damnedest not to see the photos and stories of those poor kids that are being plastered all over FB. We canceled cable in exchange for a streaming device so we arent forced to watch things on tv we dont want to see, including skewed news stories. But they still find their way into my brain. I’d like to put my opinions out there on a few matters, to get it of my chest, and I’d like to preface by saying IT’S POSSIBLE THAT MY OPINION IS WRONG.

-First I’d like to address what I feel is most important here. ANGER DOESNT MAKE ANYTHING BETTER. This applies to any situation or circumstance, including the ones that I’m about to comment on below. It amazed me when a few years ago a man killed a group of amish children in a classroom and they publicly forgave him. They FORGAVE him!?! Anger is contagious. To them, sadness was acceptable, but anger was not. Those people that did the killings this week, they were angry. I dont know about what and I dont want to know. But they disagreed with someone, or someone hurt them and they retaliated in a very wrong way. I find internet “trolls” to be more and more prevalent daily. I like the saying,” Don’t feed the trolls.” Getting angry at them or trying to insult them, it wont help. I know I’m just repeating the Dalai Lama here, but showing those people compassion is the only real chance you have to make the situation better. There has been a major swing in schools the past few years on anti-bullying, and hopefully soon we’ll see the effects of it. But bullying the bullies is equally damaging. None of us know how much negativity was given to that bully before he started taking it out on someone else.* Being mean to someone, regardless of why, won’t make that person any nicer* If someone had shown these killers kindness and compassion, there is a very great possibility they might have made wiser choices. That internet troll youre seeing on FB, you could be the the voice that makes or breaks him.

-On gun control- Don’t plant your feet. This doesnt have to be a yes or no issue, if you/we are willing to hear each other out, we can reach an EFFECTIVE compromise. And it bares repeating… Don’t get angry at the people who disagree! You wont ever get your point across or change someones mind with anger. They will instantly become defensive and your arguing will become pointless. If you try to hear them out, respectfully, perhaps they will do the same for you.

-Finally, please stop watching any form of news in the United States. They paint jaded pictures of despair. They only show one tiny side of this great big world, and thats the side that will leave you filled with negativity and disappointment. If you want to know whats happening in the world, try a neutral platform, like BBC (thats just a suggestion)

We are all quick to point fingers, at individuals or even at society as a whole. But we are all part of that society, and the most effective way to change things is to start with ourselves.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Lead by example. Acknowledge your own faults and let others do the same for themselves. Clearly you can’t force others to be better people, but you can help them see the merit in doing it for themselves.