I wrote those words with bold permanent marker on the wall of my bedroom in June, 1968.
Somebody had just murdered Bobby Kennedy, and I was heartbroken with grief. I was 15 years old, and Bobby represented my future. I truly believed that life as I knew it was over.
Of course, life went on. I stayed as active as a teen could in the causes I held dear. Civil rights, for all- women, blacks, the disabled. When the powers that be lowered the voting age to 18, I was one of the first to vote. My voice mattered, and I was going to yell as loud as I could.
To those of you who can remember, 1968 was a terrible year. Way to many killings, riots, war and protesters being beaten. We never thought our society would survive.
But it did. I guess.
The '70's are a blur to me. Disco fried my brain and my three children occupied my time. But still- four dead in Ohio. A mini civil war was taking place, although nobody called it that. National guard troops were called in everywhere to crush the anti-war movement. Blacks were so tired of being pushed around and confined to a ghetto with no opportunities that they started to revolt. Serial killers were claiming their fifteen minute of fame. The country was 'going to hell in a handbasket' (as my mother would say).
Reagan whitewashed the country in the 80's. That's when the media decided to tone down the problems and trick the people into thinking all was well. Imagine how different those years would have been if the internet existed?
I can't believe it's 2015 and we haven't learned a damn thing.
Mass shootings are as common now as mass concerts. Cops are trigger happy. So the average Joe (apologies to those named Joe) can be trigger happy, too.
I'm just so tired of it. So sick that it's so commonplace. So angry that nothing will be done. So sad for the families, the school and the community that now have to recover from this tragedy.
Oh God! When will all the killing stop?