The news of the terrible shooting and the death of so many in Newtown, Connecticut, has shocked people everywhere. As parents, we find the news particularly appalling, wondering how any parent can bear such a loss. It looks — after several shootings of children in America — that gun control is back on the political agenda there in a way that it hasn’t been for a long time.
Stories like this leave us all with a sense of helplessness. They dredge up memories of Dunblane and prompt us to ask ourselves: Are things worse than ever before? Is there something about our time that gives rise to this behaviour by a few disturbed individuals? Can we as a group or society stop them? Is it possible to spot the people who will become perpetrators before they reach their breaking point, so they don’t hurt others or themselves?
I’ve been astonished at the dignity and composure of the families and the community in Newtown. The stories of bravery and sacrifice from the teachers and administrators at the school, the quick thinking by staff to protect the children, the little boy who told his teacher not to worry because “I know karate” — reading about it has been overwhelming at times.
America and the wider world will be doing some soul-searching on the issues this tragedy brings up: gun control, mental health support, social media, inaccurate news. Parents will trade suggestions on how to tell their children what’s happened.
In the meantime, I’ve been contemplating and taking solace in a quote an American friend shared on Facebook (that social media, it’s a part of our lives now). It quotes Mr Rogers, one of America’s most famous children’s TV presenters and one known for his gentle manner and life-affirming messages:
About Jennifer Howze
Jennifer Howze is the co-founder of BritMums. She blogs about travel, family and London life at Jenography.net. Previously, she wrote the Alpha Mummy blog at The Times and as a journalist has contributed to The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Wall Street Journal, Travel & Leisure, Budget Travel, CNN.com, Allure, SELF and Premiere, among others. She won The Maggie Award from the Planned Parenthood Federation of America for a health article in Seventeen magazine.
Every time I hear or read about this, it brings tears to my eyes. Those poor kids, how scared they must have been.
The one story that really touched me was the little girl who ‘played dead’ whilst her classmates were being killed.
Something needs to be done in America regarding gun control. It just cant go on, how many more lives must be lost before they finally do something.
Laura x
Laura, Thanks for commenting. I come from a family of gun owners and have always loved shooting for sport or hunting. People still enjoy those kind of sports here in the UK but the stricter laws means guns just aren’t a part of everyday life i the same way.
Such a beautiful post. I’ve seen that quote a few places now and it is definitely a message I want to instill in my children when bad things happen. It’s often in the darkest moments that people’s true colours shine and I think the stories of bravery and kindness happening as a result of this attrocity reflect more on mankind than the story of an unhappy and unwell man who did something unthinkable.
Lucy, It’s the first time I’ve heard it and it displays such at optimistic view of people: acknowledging that bad things do happen, sometimes perpetrated by people, but that there are many others doing selfless acts and helping others. The fact that some of these teachers likely knew they would be killed yet still acted to save the children in their care…it’s humbling.
Having lived in both the UK and US for many years, I’ve written about this on my blog, from an expat perspective. I feel safer in the UK http://www.amodernmother.com/2012/12/guns-i-feel-safer-living-in-the-uk.html
Susanna, Enlightening post on your blog. Gun ownership is so political in the U.S. I don’t connect gun ownership or rejection of it with religion but many in America do, which can complicate issues as does connection of gun ownership with the wishes of the Founding Fathers (a misreading of the intent). I’ll be watching the issue develop in the U.S.