My thoughts, sympathy, and prayers go out to all who have been affected by the massacre, those in Newtownand around the country and the world. I can only imagine the sorrow these parents feel at the senseless loss oftheir sons and daughters. I grieve for the adults who lost their lives and for their families. Even among thosewho did not directly lose a loved one, the pain and ill effects of this tragedy are real.
The Newtown school massacre has affected many in many different ways. I believe others haveexperienced some of the same feelings that I have in the wake of this disaster: loss, anguish, anger, shame,and guilt. Also comfort and hope.
Loss. Twenty children and six innocent, courageous adults have lost their lives. Several families have lost loved ones.The whole community of Newtown has lost friends and associates. The community has further lost its belief in
the safety of schools. When things like this happen, schools all over the country lose. We all lose through havingto take security measures that remind children and youth every day that people cannot be trusted, sometimeseven their friends. We have lost an important piece of our belief in the American Way.
Many people, to varying degrees, have lost some of their faith in humanity or God. Personally, my faith inhumanity as a whole has been at a rather low level for many years, so, for me, this loss is not great.Furthermore, I have been wrestling for much of my life with questions like, "Where is God when disaster strikes?"As a result, my faith in God has not been strongly shaken by this event. I believe there are things God can and will helpwith in this disaster. I believe life and love and forgiveness are gifts from God. I believe that the material world is agift from God, and that we have been given free will to make of it what we can.
Anguish. From loss comes anguish and deep sadness. The process of healing will be long, difficult, and in many cases,only partial. I am saddened by this tragic event.
Anger. Anger is a frequent component of grief. This atrocity makes me angry. Angry with the shooter. Angry with hismother and father. Upset that it is so difficult to anticipate violence and prevent it. Angry that God does not step in
and prevent disasters. I am angry with gun producers and users, producers and consumers of violent books, television,movies and video games, and with parents who feed this diet of violence to their children.
Shame. This kind of atrocity makes me ashamed to be an American. I am ashamed that I do some thingsthat are closer to promoting violence than opposing it.
Guilt. I feel some personal guilt. All my life I have seen crimes committed using guns, yet I have done littleto address the problem. I have, until now, accepted violence as unavoidable, and accepted that the Second Amendment
guarantees the right to bear arms. This complacency has now changed.
Comfort. For me, faith in God, family bonds, and music are sources of comfort. I pray that you will findsimilar sources of strength and healing.
Hope. I hope that good will come from this loss. I hope there will be healing for those who have been harmed.I hope there will be forgiveness and not more violence in response to this tragedy. I hope the country will cometogether to reduce sources of violence. I hope that persons who are in some way close to violence will do what ishelpful in avoiding it.
I will do what I can to try to bring some of these hopes to fruition. I hope you will, too.