It Doesn't Mean Anything

In the past decade or so, we have become an nation of symbols for causes.  These symbols might come in the form of ribbons or wristbands (think LiveStrong, for cancer awareness), or even something as simple as a color (think pink, for breast cancer awareness).

People often show off many different symbols for many different causes, but they all have one thing in common:  They don't often help the cause.

I've always thought the best example of this is people who put magnetic 'I Support Our Troops' ribbons on their vehicles.  This got to be a big deal while Americans were fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it was all very nice, but it didn't do a single thing for the soldier or his/her family.  Not one thing.  But hey, that vehicle is supporting the troops, right?

Another more recent example are the various symbols to show support for the families (or is it the victims?) of the Newtown, CT shooting.  Yes, it was a terrible tragedy, but prayers and ribbons aren't going to do anything for either the families or the victims.  If people really want to do something that matters, they need to speak out publicly against a crazy gun culture that allows the sale of semi-automatic weapons.  That will not completely stop these types of killings, but it would at least save some lives, and maybe at least one good thing can come from those deaths.

Full disclosure - I've been a long-time wearer of the yellow LiveStrong wristband, a symbol for cancer awareness, the one that started the entire wristband craze.  While I wear it to remind me of those I know who had/have cancer, I also actually do something about it by donating every year to the American Cancer Society.  I get a kick out of all the people who simply stopped wearing it once it lost it's cache', and again this year once Lance Armstrong fell from grace.  Do they suddenly not care about cancer?  Or maybe they only care when the cause or its leader is popular?

So if you wear red or pink or purple, or a ribbon or a wristband or a magnet, stop for a moment and ask yourself:  Are you truly making things better for those you say you support, or are you really just pretending, as a way to make yourself look better?

Words Now That There Are Words

Now that we've had a week to absorb the mass murder of children and teachers at a Connecticut grade elementary school, as well as a week to listen to the pundits and politicians, let's just agree on one thing:

It will probably happen again.

Regardless of all of the talk about doing more in the area of mental health, it's almost certain that America won't do anything.  It isn't even a priority in a good economy; it surely won't be one now.  Short of imprisoning everyone currently on a mind-altering prescription drug, what could be done to absolutely ensure someone won't do something crazy?

Regardless of all of the talk about gun control and banning assault weapons, it's almost certain that America will stay the same.  Did you happen to see the NRA presser today, where they called for an armed guard at every school, which they would help train free of charge?!  Ladies and gentlemen, I give you another sign of the apocalypse, ironically on the same day many Mayan-worshipers predicted!

Regardless of all of the talk about how we'll never forget this, it's almost certain that America will slowly file this into the recesses of our collective minds, along with all of the other senseless mass killings by mentally unstable people.  We eventually will go days, then weeks, then months without thinking about it.  That's how human beings roll, excepting those directly affected.

My wife is a teacher, and despite all of the safeguards in place, a person would have no difficulty obtaining access inside the school.  Even if the system was foolproof, the windows would have to be bulletproof, so crazies like the Connecticut killer couldn't just shoot them out and enter that way.

Let's get real - the loss of freedoms to which Americans would have to agree, in order to absolutely prevent further school shootings, is something our dysfunctional, polarized culture is not willing to accept.  And if we aren't willing or able to do something while this multiple-child killing is on our collective consciousness, we aren't ever going to do it.

So, another school shooting is bound to happen again.  Not sure when, but it will, and that's the brutal reality for those with children, and for those who teach them.

Words When There Are No Words

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

ON SCHOOL SHOOTING IN NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

3:15 P.M. EST

This afternoon, I spoke with Governor Malloy and FBI Director Mueller.  I offered Governor Malloy my condolences on behalf of the nation, and made it clear he will have every single resource that he needs to investigate this heinous crime, care for the victims, counsel their families.

We’ve endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years.  And each time I learn the news I react not as a President, but as anybody else would — as a parent.  And that was especially true today.  I know there’s not a parent in America who doesn’t feel the same overwhelming grief that I do.

The majority of those who died today were children — beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old.  They had their entire lives ahead of them — birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own.  Among the fallen were also teachers — men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children fulfill their dreams.

So our hearts are broken today — for the parents and grandparents, sisters and brothers of these little children, and for the families of the adults who were lost.  Our hearts are broken for the parents of the survivors as well, for as blessed as they are to have their children home tonight, they know that their children’s innocence has been torn away from them too early, and there are no words that will ease their pain.

As a country, we have been through this too many times.  Whether it’s an elementary school in Newtown, or a shopping mall in Oregon, or a temple in Wisconsin, or a movie theater in Aurora, or a street corner in Chicago — these neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these children are our children.  And we're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.

This evening, Michelle and I will do what I know every parent in America will do, which is hug our children a little tighter and we’ll tell them that we love them, and we’ll remind each other how deeply we love one another.  But there are families in Connecticut who cannot do that tonight.  And they need all of us right now.  In the hard days to come, that community needs us to be at our best as Americans.  And I will do everything in my power as President to help.

Because while nothing can fill the space of a lost child or loved one, all of us can extend a hand to those in need — to remind them that we are there for them, that we are praying for them, that the love they felt for those they lost endures not just in their memories but also in ours.

May God bless the memory of the victims and, in the words of Scripture, heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds.

END           

3:20 P.M. EST

Best Song Lyrics (Part XI)

In my previous ten (X) posts on this topic, I haven't included one (I) country music artist.  It hasn't been because I don't think that genre has great songwriting - there is no question that some of it is great.  It's just that, I don't regularly listen to country music, aside from the pop/rock crossover hits on the radio.

So I'm going to give a nod to country music in this post.  Probably should have done that sooner, because while it wasn't true decades ago, country music now seems to consistently have more meaningful lyrics than rock music.

I'm sure there are lots of contemporary country artists that routinely put out great lyrics.  That said, I'm going to go with an artist that was very popular when I was younger, Garth Brooks.  He may have been too commercial, but his songs seemed to have meaning.  (Full disclosure: I do have an old Garth Brooks CD that I never listen to.)

So let's go with the great, Friends In Low Places:

Blame it all on my roots, I showed up in boots
And ruined your black tie affair
The last one to know, the last one to show
I was the last one you thought you'd see there
And I saw the surprise, and the fear in his eyes
When I took his glass of champagne
And I toasted you, said honey, we may be through
But you'll never hear me complain 

'Cause I've got friends in low places
Where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away
And I'll be okay
I'm not big on social graces
Think I'll slip on down to the oasis
Oh, I've got friends in low places

Well, I guess I was wrong, I just don't belong
But then, I've been there before
Everything's all right, I'll just say goodnight
And I'll show myself to the door
Hey, I didn't mean, to cause a big scene
Just give me an hour and then
Well, I'll be as high, as that ivory tower
That you're livin' in

'Cause I've got friends in low places
Where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away
And I'll be okay
I'm not big on social graces
Think I'll slip on down to the oasis
Oh, I've got friends in low places

The Meaning Of Christmas (Cards) Redux

Post-Thanksgiving week begets my annual rite of deep thought over this year's holiday letter.  Last year,  I wrote about how this is a task I willingly take up, while not hiding my disdain for those who make virtually no effort.

This year, I've realized the near-deadbeat Christmas card senders don't deserve all the disdain.  I need to reserve some of it for another group - the total-deadbeat Christmas card senders, and those who send cards to them.

Yes, in the past week I've come across a couple of families that say they enjoy getting Christmas cards, but don't send any themselves.  I don't understand how either of those things happens.

I'm happy to send out holiday greetings, but there is definitely a quid pro quo.  If I don't get even a lame Christmas card over a two year period, the non-sender isn't going to get one from me.

Yeah, I know, the whole Christmas card ritual should not be a burden, nor a contest. However, for those who choose not partake of it, even in a minimal way, you're missing an opportunity to share information about your family with non-Facebook people who might care.