Released, today in 1962

"People generally see what they 

look for... and hear 

what they listen for."

--Judge Taylor, "To Kill a Mockingbird"

Here we go again. And again and again and aga...

Get used to it, America, the mass shootings in San Bernadino, California seems to be the new normal. We are a dysfunctional society and until our leaders and our people are willing to face up to it, we'll be revisiting these acts of terror again and again. 

TOO many damned guns; too much hatred; too much discord; too much distrust: too much unchecked violence; too much poverty; too much insanity and too few politicians, community leaders and religious leaders willing to do anything more than offer lip service offering too few viable answers--at least not ones that most people want to hear.

As I said, this is our new normal. You don't like it? Then do something about it. The cries of "oh, this is terrible. Oh, those poor poor people" just doesn't cut it anymore. Talk, talk, talk and next week... or the next, we'll be right here all over again.

I imagine my friends who are strong proponents of gun ownership groan every time *this* happens. I am sure they feel the hurt as the rest of us do.

I am sure they brace themselves for the inevitable "there are too many guns out there." They dig in their heels and say more strict gun laws and taking away certain guns is not the answer.

I don't want to hear, "oh, if only someone there had been armed, they would have shot the criminals." Sorry, that argument doesn't hold water and there is plenty of evidence to the contrary.

I am waiting for the inevitable "it's my god given right to own a gun. No one's going to take it away from me" and "it's my Second Amendment right."

I tire of it. I do not believe the amendment was intended for giving average citizens access to military-style weapons. I do not believe that asking for sensible background checks is unreasonable ... and I am not alone and this scares the hell out of some people.

Personally, I think our founding fathers would be hanging their heads in shame as our country descends into paralysis over gun control.

Okay, so we have tried it you gun proponents' way for far too many decades and what has it cost us?

More guns bought... just today, more deaths--14 dead, 18 wounded... more children killed, more children maimed, more dead adults, more, more, more ... your answers have left you with blood on your hands.

AND the gun industry is laughing all the way to the bank. And there are far too many of you suckers buying into their lies and we're all paying for it.

52 years

  

Today is the 52nd anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. For any of us who remember the day, it is one of those "where were you? moments" that haunt us all to this day.

My memory of this day was when Mrs. Newhouse, my first- grade teacher at Argos Elementary School, was called out into the hall. She returned moments later teary-eyed and crying as she told us the president had been killed. Our President.

For young children, the President was our hero. He was young, handsome, vibrant, energetic and lively. And sadly, we learned he was not impervious.

School, of course, was called off and we were sent home to our parents. When my sister and I got home from school it was clear to me, even at the age of six, that both my Mom and Dad were profoundly stunned by the president's assassination.

I remember that night sitting in bed praying that this was just a bad dream. It was worse than that.

The coming days were a national nightmare. Questions arose, "how could this happen? Why did this happen?" The funeral, the procession from the Capitol rotunda to Arlington National Cemetery.

Those days brought an end to an innocence to which I believe we have not recovered. The end of Camelot changed us all. I think we became more cynical, far less idealistic and more distrustful.

One has to wonder how our country would have fared differently if Martin, Bobby and John had not been gunned down before America's eyes.

Some believe Vietnam would never have happened under a Kennedy administration. Most believe Kennedy would have been re-elected the next year.

Nearly everyone harbors their own thoughts about Kennedy's assassination. Was Oswald part of a conspiracy? Was he a "lone wolf?" Castro, the Mafia, Kruschev, Johnson? one of Kennedy's secret service agents? Who killed John? Theories, to this day, bounce around the public consciousness. And so many, myself included, do not believe we have been told the whole story--or the truth.

In any case, few events have haunted a generation as has the death of our young president. Mr. President, we yearn for what might have been.

Stand tall, France

Food for thought: France IS our oldest ally. They offered colonial support when we stood against the King and became an independent nation.

The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States as a reaffirmation of our friendship.

We have had, at times, a contentious relationship. We've not always agreed, but tell me that you have not had a disagreement with a personal friend and saw that relationship continue and grow.

We had each other's back in WWI and WII. If we offer France our support, be it condolences or something more concrete, it is, you know, just something friends do. 

Stand tall, France. We're with you.