I like to think of myself as a writer. Words have always come easily. Often, it seems I couldn’t stop them even if I wanted to.
But today I have no words. Today, I must ask if someone, anyone, can give me the words. Help me.
How do I find the words?
How do I find the words to comfort the next parent of a child they sent off to school and had to pick up at the Medical Examiner’s office?
How do I find the words to comfort a seventeen-year-old girl whose biggest concern one moment was the color of her shirt and the next moment seeing her best friend’s blood staining the once perfect color?
How do I explain to a group of high-school seniors that their most memorable moment in school will be their terror at the sound of weapons firing, people screaming, and the coppery smell of blood and death?
How do I find the words to explain to the world how great America is when we let our children die for a concept no longer grounded in reality?
How do I find the words to make people understand our unwillingness to seek a solution to the violence that plagues this nation?
How do I find the words?
The truth is there are no words, no prayers, no political slogans, no constitutional arguments that will do this.
So, we have a choice.
We can either find the will to seek a solution or accept the reality it will happen, again and again and again, until we become so numb to the horror we no longer notice.
Then our lack of words, like our inertia in finding a solution, will say it all.
Beautiful, heartbreaking piece, Joe.
Great phrase, Joe “a concept no longer grounded in reality”.
every once in awhile..
Joe, Santa Fe is where I grew up and where I live now. I am sick to think that has happened in this quiet little place. With both extremes using this horrible incident to bolster their positions it seems to put the sensible and attainable solutions in the weeds. We learned and were resolute about finding a solution to airline safety after 9/11. School safety is doable and is owed to students and parents.
I just hope this is enough. Thanks for reading my blog