Feeling proud today....
1. Of all the teens who participated in the school walkouts yesterday in support of increased gun control and other measures to make our schools and our society safer.
In the interest of safety we make everyone wear seat belts in their cars and go through rigorous security before boarding a plane, but we can't ban assault weapons, whose only purpose is to kill lots of people in a short amount of time? It's ridiculous. How sad that we adults have failed these kids.
Students who wanted to participate in the walkout left school at 10:00 and went to the soccer field where they sat in impressive silence for 17 minutes. Then many of them marched to nearby Pearl Street mall for a short rally in front of the old courthouse.
At the courthouse several students gave prepared speeches including one young woman whose hands shook so badly that I could see it all the way in the back of the crowd. Imagine mustering up the courage to address a group like this when you're just 15 or 16 or 17 years old.
I was also proud of my own red-haired teen who decided on his own that he wanted to join the walkout.
Not only a Democrat, but one who has broken away from the traditional democratic leadership. I'm encouraged to see voters thinking hard about what kind of America they want.
Here in deep blue Boulder we're also seeing this sort of creative thinking. The local Democratic group has put forth a traditional Democratic candidate for an open congressional seat in the coming mid-terms but Mark Williams, who describes himself as an "Independent Democrat," has stepped forward to challenge the anointed candidate. If traditional Democrats can't muster up a vision that captures voters, we need something new, and maybe folks like Mark can give it to us.
3. Of my son Paul who is having his head shaved today as part of the St. Baldrick's fundraising for cancer research. He is growing up to be a compassionate and caring young man and I'm proud of him.
Joining my friend LeeAnna's "I Like" Thursday, at Not Afraid of Color.
Thanks for this, Mary. The kids are serving as an inspiring example of what conscientious protest can be. Helps to make me more optimistic about the future.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness-shaving his head? That's scary but so cool. This was such a great post! I agree- the Dems need to be careful how they are going about the Blue Wave. I cannot wait for November to at least see changes in Congress. mary in Az
ReplyDeleteHow effective this will be. People do want to have a voice, and how brave for the girl to speak to such a large important gathering. I would have been terrified. It says how important living in safety is to everyone. Let it fall on the ears of those in control.
ReplyDeleteThree great things to be proud of! I definitely don't understand why we can't regulate those weapons the way those other dangerous things are regulated.
ReplyDeleteI was very interested to hear of the students doing this in different places. I do hope it will make people think. We had bomb scares in my high school when I was there. but somehow we knew it was kids trying it on. but it must be a really scary senario for kids in school in America now.
ReplyDeleteI am so impressed with these kids! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI'm also thankful for "the kids" today. My middle-schooler participated in the walkout at his school.
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