I have watched the tragedy in Florida closely over the last
few days. As the politicians who happily took millions from the NRA have said,
this is a tragedy no parent or child should ever endure. Children should always
feel safe, especially while learning. Teachers should feel secure in their jobs.
Administrative staff shouldn’t have to go to work thinking about how they would
most likely encounter a shooter first. Eight-year old children shouldn’t be
afraid to wear their light up shoes to school because they’d make them a target
for a shooter. There should be no fear associated with school. Yet in America
there is. There is great fear in every community, every day, by parents’ and
children alike.
Now, I could start a big debate on Gun reform but I’m not
going to. As long as the NRA is buying our politicians off there will be little
change. But for argument’s sake, let me break down some of the campaign contributions
received from the NRA to our leaders…
Top NRA Campaign Contributions
I’d like to add that Donald Trump has received $30+ million
from the NRA, Paul Ryan has received more than $171,977, and Mitch McConnell
has received more than $771,175. If you are wondering how influential these donations are- "In 2014, the NRA had a nearly perfect track record in its top races. In the ten races the NRA spent nearly a million dollars or more – eight Senate races and two House races – the candidate the NRA backed candidate won in every race except one."
Another point worthy of
mentioning is that almost a week after this tragic shooting that took 17 lives
in 6 minutes Florida officials voted down a bill that would make assault rifles
illegal, instead voting pornography as a public health issue. It seems to me
that they had the real public health issue at hand and failed our children with
their vote. Many survivors of the shooting sat and watched as they voted down
the bill. They didn’t go silently into the night though. They spoke out against
it.
With that said, I want to talk about the students not the politicians.
These remarkable individuals that have taken this tragedy and turned it into an
opportunity to say, “NOT ONE MORE! WE WANT CHANGE NOW!” These amazing human beings
that are using their voice for the change that some of the adults in their life
have fallen silent on over the years.
These are the children most of us raised telling them daily
that they had a voice and could do anything with that voice. They are showing
us now that they heard us and understood all along. They are proving that teenagers aren't just Tipe-pod eating delinquents. They are showing us exactly
how strong they are in the face of evil. They are destined to go down in
history. They are what our future looks like and I couldn’t be prouder.
The world first took notice of the students’ voice’s in this
with a speech given at a rally by a Miss Emma Gonzalez, a survivor and Senior
at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (sight of the recent school shooting.)
Emma’s voice was heard loud and clear as she called “BS” on the ability of the
mentally ill to obtain a gun and the lack of progress in keeping our student’s
safe. She spoke loudly and proudly as she declared, “NOT ONE MORE!”
 |
| Picture Courtesy of Lalo Alcaraz |
Days later students held a lay-in in front of the White
House. Protesting for gun control reform. In typical conservative fashion,
these kids were attacked for their protest. Many adults wishing death on them,
one in particular asking where a suicide bomber is when you need them. Another
saying that we should take a bulldozer and push the children off a cliff. This
has not silenced them. Not long after the lay-in protest students across the
country walked out of their classrooms and marched the streets of their towns
in protest for the same. They are protesting for the right to be safe in their
schools, for a ban on assault rifles; and you know what, according to a MSNBC poll out on Feb. 20, 2018, 67% of Americans agree with what these children are
asking for.
These victims turned advocates have been woken up. They are currently planning a
mass walk out in April. These young adults are amazing and show how much good
parenting and exceptional teaching can help a person make the right decisions. How the
right influences in a young person’s life can lead to an uprising that nobody
can ignore. This country is going to change. The question is, in what direction
do we go from here?
I saw it said recently online that when your leaders act
like children and your children act like leaders, you know change is coming… I’ll
tell you one thing- I sure do feel the change and I embrace it for all it’s beauty,
stolen innocence, and knowledge. Don't disregard these young people, don't disregard our future. They will make our laws one day. I, personally, can't wait for that day.
Want to read more from Brooke?
Sources:
No comments:
Post a Comment