My son and daughter will be 9 years old on January 28th, I relish in the fact that I, as I always do, will be spending their birthday celebration with them in New Mexico. Being a divorced father of twin children is a most difficult situation. Divorce, being hard enough, is not only about the dissolution of two people and their inability to share the institution of marriage but the effects of this to children is tragic in so many ways. To have their little worlds ripped upside down and in many cases, too young to really understand any of it. Regardless of this, it is my duty as a father to show them the love they deserve, to give them everything I can and to be a role model for them as they grow with time.
I write to you with a broken heart, so eloquently stated by our President in his memorial speech to the tragedy in Arizona. I have reflected upon Saturday's awful event with so many emotions circling my mind, from shock to anger, sadness to mourning, only now can I effectively write what I have felt and only now can I express those feelings as I understand them better.
Christina Taylor Green was a 9 year old girl with all the aspirations of any young child growing up in a world so confusing at times. Where divisive language, hurtful speech and unwarranted hate seem to be the way of the world. We live in a place where political gain far too often takes the place of common decency, where monetary power and greed often quell the goodness of a complete society and where the innocent bystander in the form of a 9 year old girl can be so viciously gunned down along with the deaths of 5 others and a final wounded score of 14. We may not have known her but she was taken from us all and at times the pain is so hard to bear, it leaves me speechless thinking of my own daughter and son. I realize that the connection between Christina and my daughter may not be anything but that of my own thoughts but it doesn't take away my ability to have a conscious mind, one that can easily compare the loss of a Christina Green to that of a Madeline Prescott. I'm a fortunate father, I still have my daughter and son today. When I see them next week, I will hug them with the passion and love they deserve because life does not come with guarantees and the places and times of individuals can end up in life and death situations, it doesn't change for me, you or anyone. I have heartfelt sadness as I drown the keyboard with tears for the parents of Christina Green and all the families that were directly affected by this tragic event. For me, it is more than just a question of why, more than a support for people I have never nor will ever meet, it brings the question of ones ability to understand that a society of people is more than that of yourself, family and direct neighbors, its more than a micro level of human understanding and respect. More than a 24 hour news cycle that is more effected by it's bottom line than the content and worthiness of real news. It is the fact that we are all connected in the reality of the times we live in, we are all the present and it directly reflects the past along with impacting the future for our children and the generations to follow.
I see the course we are on and it baffles me where people can disagree to the extent of such vile hate and vitriolic speech. Where our hurt and pain is projected onto others so easily, without one thought of the ramifications of such a coarse, I admit my own character flaws and would take back all the harm I have done if it were possible. Yes, we live in a world where tragedy is sure, where life and death will continue both naturally and through the hands of others. As good and bad are both part of our society, it doesn't mean that one person or group is more dedicated to one or the other...people can agree to disagree and still be good people, still care about each other and still be models for generations to come. Our children would want it that way, I am sure. We are there teachers and it is up to us to carry ourselves with integrity, with honor and give them the world they are so deserving of.
Is it possible, in such a destructive time, that we actually look at ourselves, look at our ability rather than our advantages? See the good in the bad and likewise? Its not an issue of religion, political affiliations, race, creed, motto, ideas or wealth. Its about being kind to one another, coming together in times when all you want to do is cry because a young girl, one who could easily have been yours, left this world much too early. There is something to be learned here, I will be looking inwards for the answers and outwards to lend a hand. I construct a question and ask it with the help of a great fallen statesman, Robert Kennedy.
Is it time to look outwards and say why or rather, a time to look inwards and say why not?