Times Are-A-Changin’

I graduated from high school in 2011. While I was in school, there were still buttons on our phones, and Instagram didn’t exist. It wasn’t long ago; but man, the world seems so changed. While I was in school, we only had a lockdown drill once every other year, and they were only in high school. Back then, there was only Columbine. When we had these drills, we would exhaust our teachers of what-if’s. While the conversations were always serious and enlightening, they were hardly realistically frightening. The world was different then.

I don’t really want to go down a path in which this post becomes a rant of my frustration with the lack of response to our country’s evolution. I will say that as a former teacher, I empathize with all teachers. As a nanny, I empathize with parents. As a human being, I empathize with terror. It’s difficult for me to wrap my mind around the fact that horrible things continue to happen, and despite the precedent set in other parts of the world, our regulations remain the same. People keep dying, and it’s just too much frustration, sadness, and anger to delve into so often. Like the way I reacted after the first, second, third, or fourth time a mass shooting stole life. So, I only want to say this:

I am so proud and encouraged by the students who are fighting for their security. These young people are rising up to fight for something that shouldn’t need fighting for. It’s clear that this is a new response attracting some attention. While it’s not much, our deranged commander and chief is moving to ban bump stocks. Coming from someone who can’t seem to condemn nazis and racists, I’m slightly encouraged by this. Yes, we need more change, but I think that with the energy of children, and the collected rage of adults, we all might have had enough. I’m feeling like we might FINALLY start to see some changes. Who knows, maybe I’m misguided and naive to think that this time will be different; but, honestly, in the past week, I’ve noticed more constructive action than what’s followed any previous shooting.

I’ll leave it at that. Let’s try and stay fired up to fight the good fight. That is all. Happy Wednesday, y’all.

-M