Unless you live in a cave in Outer Mongolia and maybe even there, you are aware of the madness that took place in Newtown, Connecticut at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. Twenty eight children and adults, 20 of them children killed by a disturbed young man with the guns bought legally by his mother, the childrens first grader teacher who was also among the dead.
There were 20 children, most of them first graders. And there were 6 adults including teachers and principal. The numbers are staggering and bring on such pain that it is overwhelming to all, parents and non parents alike. When young children are involved, numbers are never just the numb inducing figures that happens when adults are involved. With adults, although we are sad, even devastated, we might think that perhaps at least they had some time to evolve, to grow into the person they could or wanted to be. They had a chance to experience some of the joys the world offers to adults and to show to the world the uniqueness that was theirs alone to offer.
But with children, their future stretches out before them, shiny and golden and oh so new. There is no tarnish on the promises of their lives yet to live and so many paths their lives could have taken. We can hope their days were full of laughter, and joy, of games played on the blacktop and pets to hug and family members who hugged and kissed them and told them stories at bedtime. Now that promise of gold, that child is gone, and all that is left is memory and an emptiness so profound that all is silent in grief and despair.
In a time of year that is associated with joy, love and peace, my mind turns towards a small town in Connecticut whose families should be celebrating with all of us, no matter the religion and are instead mourning the loss of their children. No more words, except that my heart goes out to all of you. As a parent, I grieve with you over the unthinkable and offer no platitudes. I am so sorry.
Reviews will go on, a list might be posted tomorrow. Yesterday at the end of the review for The Christmas Throwaway, I posted a list of GLBTQ shelters for homeless youth, There is little we can do for the families in Newtown, but there are still so many children in need. Give them a thought too if you will, they need our help too.
Here they are once more….
New York City, NY: The Ali Forney Center for LGBTQ Homeless Youth.
Chicago, IL The GLBT Chicago Shelter
National Coalition for the Homeless, write them at info@nationalhomeless.org
Covenant House, Washington, DC
Melanie Marshall, Scattered thoughts and rogue words……
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 