I've had Newtown Connecticut and Sandy Hook Elementary School on my mind since Friday afternoon.
I feel completely shaken by the loss of these innocent lives, the way in which this event unfolded. I'm horrified at the world we live in and inspired by the courage and compassion I've seen broadcasted nonstop over the news networks. It breaks my heart that we so often need these stark reminders to bring us all together.
I wish we could be so loving and giving all the time. I feel profound sadness whenever I look at my family's Christmas tree because I know that some families will have to face this holiday season with a terrible loss on their shoulders. I feel immense respect and sympathy for the first responders who walked into a first grade classroom and saw the worst imaginable scenario come to life. Its been a lot for me to take in, and I'm still struggling with how to make sense of it all.
I don't want to step into treacherous territory and spew opinions without a better understanding of the circumstances, but I am hopeful that this event will begin a dialogue about guns, violence and mental illness in this country. We still have such a long way to go. I don't want the names of these kids or their teachers fade as quickly as those from Virginia Tech did, or even those lost in Aurora. We owe them a lot more than a few days of attention--they deserve to have change realized on their behalf. I hope that we can make this possible, whether its through laws, reform, or how we raise our children as a community.
We still have a long way to go.