The tragedy that occurred on Friday is something that families should never have to deal with. My baby sister is ten. She is a fourth grader at tiny little Catholic school in our neighborhood. There are less than 20 children in her class and I've gotten to know them pretty well.
When I heard the initial reports, all I could think about was my sister. I thought about all the mornings that we have interacted before she goes to school. All the mornings that she groaned about having to be up early. Some mornings we would laugh about something silly. Other mornings she might be rushing to finish some homework (she's a bit of a procrastinator). Sometimes, she lets me do her hair. Ever since she was little, I will braid it or sneak bows in without her knowing. On rare mornings, when we both are in a good mood, I might get a hug.
I had seen her before she went to school that morning. Her hair was messy as she said goodbye with her backpack on her shoulder and guitar case in hand. When children go off to school, you assume that they will come home.
As I heard the news, I thought about those parents and families in Newtown with a child that will never come home. How many of them had giggled over breakfast? Who was tired and slept a little later than they should have? Which ones got bows put in their hair? Did they give their siblings and parents a hug before they left?
None of those parents thought they were seeing their children the last time. I also thought of the parents of the children who survived. Those parents knew those children who were lost as well. They might have even loved them like their own.
I'm not going to say anything about what could have been done to prevent it. Sandy Hook, the first responders, the teachers, the children are all heroes. I'm not going to say anything about what needs to be done in the future. We all know the issues surrounding this story.
What I would like to address is the game of telephone that the world is playing right now. The investigation is not complete, nor will it be anytime soon. Between Friday and today, so many details have been released that have come out to later be incorrect. How many times have you heard a story about a victim or the shooter that was later proved false? Today, Connecticut State Police LT. J. Paul Vance blamed social media for much of this issue. You can see his quote in the article below.
Don't get me wrong, I love social media. I believe that it has improved networking, connecting people, and allowing people to speak their mind. I wouldn't be able to share my thoughts on Twitter, Facebook, and even this blog. I can tweet at CNN or any other news network with my opinions instantly. In tragedy, social media can help the families feel love. People all over the world can grieve together. Messages of condolences can be shared for the family from all over the world. In the right hands, social media can be an incredible tool.
However, those individuals sharing false stories, spreading rumors, creating fake accounts, or bashing each other for their beliefs should not be tolerated. These families have lost so much. No kind words can bring their family members back. Hate and rumors that are untrue will do more damage and cause more grief for these families that already have too much. We need to stop sharing false information and start sharing love.
I just hope that people don't forget about this tragedy and move on like we've done with all the rest. There are issues involving violence happening every day all over the world. Innocent children and adults get their lives ripped from them before it's their time to go. Individuals are shot, abused, enslaved, sold, or worse every single day. People all over the world are forced to live in poverty and go hungry without any way out. We constantly turn a blind eye because it doesn't seem to affect us daily. Can we stop saying "I can't believe it happened here?"Are we ready to admit that every incident, every pain, every death is our responsibility?
I wish for safety and peace for all people. I wish that we could establish better values in our children so that they grow to know the difference between right and wrong. I pray for justice throughout the world. I cry for all the children that will go to bed in pain. My heart breaks for all the children who will wake up tomorrow afraid to go to school. Please stop spreading pain. Let these families grieve and let the police do their job. Use social media to spread love and hope, not rumors. In the words of The Beatles, "all you need is love."
Starting tomorrow, I hope that you can spread some love.
