I was very proud of this nation's school children yesterday. Nearly one million of them took part in March for our Lives, school-sanctioned peaceful protests, voicing their First Amendment rights in regards to gun violence.
At 10 .a.m., students nationwide emptied out their classrooms to gather in remembrance of the 17 students killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida a month earlier.
In the days immediately after the shooting, students stood up to voice their dismay and displeasure that Congress has done absolutely nothing to stem the gun violence gripping our nation. Shooting after shooting, and nothing more than "you have our thoughts and prayers."
So, yesterday as promised, the students (teachers too) mobilized to assemble voicing their anger and their fears.
Naysayers will say students just wanted to skip class, and I'm sure some did, but not most. Some will say they felt bullied into doing joining the protests... again, some may have, but not most. Some will say the political "left" are taking advantage of this situation. Maybe, maybe not, but I give our youth more credit than the cynics.
Some will simply say kids just do not understand how things work. I offer just the opposite. I think, for too long, we adults have failed our kids, and now out of utter frustration--and anger--are pointing it out to us.
What amazed me most is that these young people involved themselves in a great teaching moment, a lesson in American civics. Many of these young men and women are (or will be) old enough to exercise their right to vote this year--and many more will be in the next few years.
Yesterday at their March for our Lives rallies, our youth made their message quite clear by saying "enough is enough."
Think. Nearly one million voices. I wonder if our elected leaders are listening.
If they're not, they had better start. And soon.
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