I didn't know I'd be writing this post today.
That's because I didn't know I'd be going to visit the memorials
at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
That's because I didn't know I'd be going to visit the memorials
at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
I don't spout politics on my blog,
and I usually keep things pretty light.
But some things need to be said.
But some things need to be said.
Some things need to be shown.
When I first heard about the shooting
at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL,
I felt many things, but shock wasn't one of them.
Shock is reserved for the unexpected.
But unfortunately, mass shootings happen too frequently
to qualify as shocking.
I felt saddened, heartbroken, and angry.
I felt hopeless.
School shootings......mass shootings........
they've become a fact of life.
If the massacre of 20 elementary school children
didn't move the needle towards change,
would anything?
And then the Parkland students mobilized,
using their voices.........their grief.........their anger........
and for the first time, there is a flicker of hope that
SOMETHING WILL CHANGE.
SOMETHING WILL CHANGE.
Right now, I am in Florida, just 15 miles from Parkland.
I noticed on Facebook that some of my friends who live in this area
were going to the school to visit the memorials to the students.
I told Mr. Goo Shoes about it,
and we both knew we had to go.
I noticed on Facebook that some of my friends who live in this area
were going to the school to visit the memorials to the students.
I told Mr. Goo Shoes about it,
and we both knew we had to go.
Yesterday, we went to pay our respects to the victims,
their families and friends.
We went to show our support for the students
who are relentless in their demand for change.
Standing outside the school, it drove home the fact
that this could be Any High School, in Anywhere, USA.
In fact, I know several people
who know someone who goes or went to MSD HS.
This one hit so very close to home.
Some students from the school were there yesterday.
We could tell from the t-shirts they were wearing.
They looked exactly like your kids' friends, or mine,
They looked exactly like your kids' friends, or mine,
only these kids will never be the same.
There were 17 markers for each of the victims,
with their names, ages, photos, and written tributes
from friends and family;
piled high with flowers, cards, balloons, stuffed animals and more.
Posters lined the fences around the school......
Posters about death, rather than posters about school spirit.
Posters about death, rather than posters about school spirit.
There are no words to describe what it felt like to be there.
This shouldn't be.
This is all wrong.
Something has to change.
Maybe this time, it will.
This shouldn't be.
This is all wrong.
Something has to change.
Maybe this time, it will.
#NeverAgain
#MSDstrong
