A more somber message

Like many of you I am sure, I was moved by the events of what occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown CT. last week. I am not sure if it was the fact that this incident involved children or if it is because of the impact of this sort of thing happening over and over again, but this one touched me very deeply. My thoughts have been on the community and with those families since Friday, I wish there was something we could all do. I wish there was a clear answer for how to rid our world of tragedies such as this one.

Albert Einstein said it best, “you can not solve a problem with the same type of thinking that created it”. So, how can we begin to take steps that would have an impact on the frequency of shootings in our culture? My answer, think differently. I don’t understand how some gun enthusiasts can advocate for more guns and less restrictions as the answer to how this culture can become safer. Wouldn’t that be using more of the same type of thinking that got us into this mess in the first place? Please understand, I am not advocating for gun restrictions or more gun laws. I admit that I have no idea what would be the solution to our current problems. However, one thing that I am quite confident in is that the same thinking about guns only serves to put us at risk of the same problems we are currently facing.

I hope that we as a culture, especially our elected officials, can find the courage and strength to think differently. I do not see another way out of this.

Please everyone, analyze your thinking and encourage others to do the same.

Here are a few questions to foster different thinking:

• What would a future look like with no gun violence?
• How would we know that the culture of guns and violence is changing in that direction?
• What would your role be in those changes becoming a reality?
• What personal skills do you possess that will play a role in you helping this future become our reality?
• What difference would it make to you to hand over a world like that to your children and grandchildren?

Thank you for allowing me to post a blog away from my usual types of writing about SFT but something inside of me needed to share these thoughts.