Tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut

There are just no words to describe the pain and sorrow that the parents and friends in Newtown, Connecticut are feeling today. To harm innocent children in this way is a tragedy that exposes us all to a numbing sense of grief, anger and bewilderment as to what to do.

I have always been in favor of a no gun policy. I believe that private citizens should not be allowed to own guns, but that is not what I want to write about today.

There are some people living a life full of pain, misery and hatefulness. They manage through life one step in front of another, hardly noticed, accomplishing very little and when their time comes they'll pass on and make room for the next generation. It's a very sad situation, yet once in awhile, luck or a guardian angel will step in and turn their life into something so much more meaning full. Once in an extremely long while, we get the opposite, a loner who all of a sudden wants to become famous, punish the world, and make everyone suffer his pain.  With the economy at the breaking point and stress levels at such a high level, it seems that this is becoming an all too familiar event.  Mental health services have also been cut back to a great extent, and there are many in need who are unable to get assistance. Veterans, returning from the longest wars in our history, are suffering in profound ways and are also not getting the mental health services that they desperately need. Our prisons are filled with nonviolent drug offenders who are not being treated for their addictions but are in an endless no win cycle  of incarceration.

When will this all stop? Will we ever return to a time of compassion, community, and hope?

Last night we attended a holiday party sponsored by a small group of parents in support of our high school science research program. There was a discussion about canceling the event due to the tragedy in Connecticut but we held the event and had a very nice time. Every parent there had a child involved in an extensive research project. The connection between parents, all through our children, was such a beautiful thing. The understanding of the effort and commitment that the kids have made to their research was the common bond that made us appreciate, the kids, each other, and their teachers.

It's the connection with other people that counts, especially the ones we take for granted. Life is too short. It is at a time like this that we need to reset our priorities and make a commitment to reach out to others and lend a helping hand. In the holiday season the magnitude of this tragedy is just too much.

Don T