fisknp wrote a five rec (as of the time this posts, surely we can do better!) diary earlier today that I really appreciated, a reply, of sorts, to the Stoneman Douglas students. If you did not read it, please do. Tonight.
Yes, I understand that Top Comments is (and should be!) about comments, but the dialogue in our society takes all forms. At this time, I am much more concerned about the dialogue and the broader conversation than about whether it came in a comment or a diary or a tweet or FB posting.
More below.
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fisknp described a dialogue with her daughter dating back to Sandy Hook, and events and considerations since that time. fisknp clearly articulated the distress of being the parent of a child vulnerable to attacks like these horrific school shootings.
In the beginning she tried to shield her daughter from responsibility to make this fight. Now, she notes that her daughter is the same age as SEVEN of the deceased Parkland students (most honorably, she named them in the diary). She considers it a failure that this is still happening. And claims her efforts in the interim represent a failure.
So now, when my daughter offers to help, I don’t say: “No; it’s not your job.” I say: “Yes; I need you” and that I’m sorry it’s come to this.
At least one element of the realization that our children have a critically important role to play (even as non-voters!) has come from the efforts of Cameron Kasky, and Carly (tweet that absolutely rebutted Tomi Lahren’s unconscionable tweet - tweet included in fisknp’s diary, I am not duplicating it) and Emma Gonzalez (not cited by fisknp, but in durrati’s rec-list diary today).
Simply, they have taken on a role that could not be filled by any adult or group of adults. They are embracing their voices, their power and their futures.They have the backs of those lost at Sandy Hook and Parkland and all of the other places that should have never happened.
fisknp closed with my favorite ‘comment’ of her diary, and the ‘essay’ portion of Top Comments tonight will close the same way.
So, Stoneman Douglas students: welcome to the fight, those of you who are able to join (not all of you are at the moment … some of you may never be able ... and that’s okay). But I’m no longer going to tell you what I’d like to tell you as a Mom (which will always be to worry about kid- not adult-stuff). Instead, I’m going to say: tell me how to help. And then I’ll do it, with all my love.
Love to fisknp’s daughter, to those lost and injured, to Cameron Kasky, to Carly and Emma Gonzalez … and to ALL of those standing up to effect the changes we haven’t yet been able to achieve.
On to tonight’s comments.
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From MikeTheLiberal:
I'd like to nominate this comment by derleider that suggests a different approach to influencing the gun debate in today’s society.
From BeninSC:
In this comment, mikepridmore makes a point very similar to fisknp’s, with appreciation for the contributions of our young citizens, in durrati’s terrific diary, linked above.
Then, Orinoco follows it up with a super insightful paraphrase of a Jerome a Paris quotation.
Finally, with this comment, first-time Daily Kos commenter, Budd Doar, reinforces tonight’s theme, of the hope and inspiration these young citizens bring to the table.
Top Mojo ala mik!
For Thursday, February 16, 2018, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on the subject.
Top Pictures
2018-02-17, courtesy of jotter!