It shouldn’t take tragedy to elicit change. After yesterday’s horrific tragedy, yet another school shooting, you once again see all the news, all the social media posts. “We need change”. “Something needs to be done”. And my favorite, “thoughts and prayers”. Social media statuses will be updated. Profile pictures changed. The same posts shared over and over. Parents will post about being blessed, not taking anything for granted, hugging their children tighter. This will go on for a couple news cycles and once again the country will move on. And you know who the new advocates are going to be? The 19 sets of parents mourning their young children. The families of the the two teachers. How do I know this? I know this because 1800 children die of cancer every year (47 diagnosed every day) and yet the ones who advocate for more funding, more research, are the parents of cancer warriors. I am not comparing cancer to a school shooting. I am just speaking from my experience as a parent who lost a child, who is fighting for a different kind of change. This is about fostering real change rather than empty promises. Instead of just making a post, commenting with a broken heart emoji or crying face, DO SOMETHING! Start a petition, send letters, push for safer schools, anything. Not just in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy but all the time. Don’t leave it to the parents who will be grieving for the rest of their lives. They need help.
As a bereaved parent I am so heartbroken for these parents who lost children to something that could have been prevented. And I am angry on their behalf that there is not enough outrage in between these tragedies to actually cause some sort of visible change. I’m sick of the platitudes. The common theme is that something needs to be done. But when? Too late for too many. Actual action needs to be taken before the next tragedy. Because it will happen again. And it may just be your child next time.
Thank you for your hard work in trying to foster change in the memory of Ariella and others.
I think so many don’t take action because it all feels so futile. But if everyone takes action, actual change can occur.
I totally agree we must do something! I don’t think passing firearms laws will accomplish much however I do think we need to secure our schools. We need security beefed up so that there is only one guarded access point during school hours. We need security cameras with LIVE monitoring in the hallways, playgrounds and by all access points. Maybe even cameras in each classroom. We need any 911 call from a school to be responded to immediately, maybe we need to train officers for that. There are ways to secure our schools. We need to do it and now!! Gun control won’t do it although I’m not opposed to some new regulations. We need to spend the money to secure our schools now.