Praying for New Town, CT

[scottchoc]

Dec 14, 2012 14:28:17 GMT -6 CHB said:

I in no way want to politicize this tragedy and I don't want to force my religious beliefs on anyone but I need to get this off of my chest.

I believe today's events is a snapshot of our society. These incidents are becoming more and more prevalent and I believe it all stems in part to the removal of God from our society. Now days Christians are basically told they should be ashamed to show their faith. You can't say prayers in schools or at school events. You can't even wear religious shirts to school. I also believe how liberal our parenting has become plays a major role. You can't spank your kid anymore without fear of being thrown in jail. You basically can't make a kid do anything he/she doesn't want to because you are being mean. Just look at youth sports for an example. You can't make kids run anymore and every has to get a participation trophy. Think back to when we were kids. There were morning prayers and the pledge of allegiance. You didn't act out in school because the principles and sometimes teachers could paddle you. Try that now and watch what happen. Or to stay with the sports example, if I messed up at practice or disrespected the coach I ran foul poles till I could take anymore. I also didn't get glorified for just showing up.

Sorry for my rant but the events today have saddened me and when sad I usually get angry. If you don't agree with me I am ok with that because I believe all of you are good people and don't condone what happened regardless your personal beliefs.

I also would like to say I am so thankful that I have gotten to spend the last 3 days with my daughter. Obviously I wish she wasn't sick but it has given us an opportunity to bond like never before. We were already close but spending 72 straight hours without a break (other than sleep) together is a blessing. I will most likely have 1-2 two more nights with just the two of us and I plan on making every minute count.

There may be some truth to that chb, but this kind of tragedy has been happening for a long time. Several of them from the 90's come to mind immediately. I think the extensive media coverage that has been prevalent over the last 20 years or so might be a contributor - crazy people see what other crazy people do and how much attention they get. You also hear the argument about violence on tv and in video games. Who really knows? I just know that I will never understand how anyone could do anything like this. I read a couple of the articles earlier today and decided that I couldn't read any more - too upsetting, particularly when thinking about one's own kids and loved ones.

[CHB]

Dec 14, 2012 15:06:16 GMT -6 scottchoc said:

Dec 14, 2012 14:28:17 GMT -6 CHB said:

I in no way want to politicize this tragedy and I don't want to force my religious beliefs on anyone but I need to get this off of my chest.

I believe today's events is a snapshot of our society. These incidents are becoming more and more prevalent and I believe it all stems in part to the removal of God from our society. Now days Christians are basically told they should be ashamed to show their faith. You can't say prayers in schools or at school events. You can't even wear religious shirts to school. I also believe how liberal our parenting has become plays a major role. You can't spank your kid anymore without fear of being thrown in jail. You basically can't make a kid do anything he/she doesn't want to because you are being mean. Just look at youth sports for an example. You can't make kids run anymore and every has to get a participation trophy. Think back to when we were kids. There were morning prayers and the pledge of allegiance. You didn't act out in school because the principles and sometimes teachers could paddle you. Try that now and watch what happen. Or to stay with the sports example, if I messed up at practice or disrespected the coach I ran foul poles till I could take anymore. I also didn't get glorified for just showing up.

Sorry for my rant but the events today have saddened me and when sad I usually get angry. If you don't agree with me I am ok with that because I believe all of you are good people and don't condone what happened regardless your personal beliefs.

I also would like to say I am so thankful that I have gotten to spend the last 3 days with my daughter. Obviously I wish she wasn't sick but it has given us an opportunity to bond like never before. We were already close but spending 72 straight hours without a break (other than sleep) together is a blessing. I will most likely have 1-2 two more nights with just the two of us and I plan on making every minute count.

There may be some truth to that chb, but this kind of tragedy has been happening for a long time. Several of them from the 90's come to mind immediately. I think the extensive media coverage that has been prevalent over the last 20 years or so might be a contributor - crazy people see what other crazy people do and how much attention they get. You also hear the argument about violence on tv and in video games. Who really knows? I just know that I will never understand how anyone could do anything like this. I read a couple of the articles earlier today and decided that I couldn't read any more - too upsetting, particularly when thinking about one's own kids and loved ones.

I agree with your points and this is why parenting is even more important today than ever. Our society allows more now than ever before. I was allowed to watch horror and violent movies. My generation basically started the video game craze and my generation basically made hip hop/rap (sometimes blamed for the violence) popular, but most in my generation are good people. I believe it was because of my points in my first post.

[E-Bro]

I certainly respect your position chb, but I do disagree. Certainly not a conclusion I can draw from this event alone.

Looking specifically at what you're saying, I'm thinking about when you say remember back to when we were children and had morning prayer and said the pledge of allegiance...I don't know exactly how old you are, but I do not believe you are much older than I am. It was a 24 year old who did this today who probably grew up with those same customs you talk of. The killers from Columbine are basically part of that same generation as well. The killer at Virginia Tech also.

I don't have an explanation for what happened today other than some people are clearly not okay and sometimes exude this in the most tragic way possible.

[CHB]

Dec 14, 2012 15:11:02 GMT -6 E-Bro said:

I certainly respect your position chb, but I do disagree. Certainly not a conclusion I can draw from this event alone.

Looking specifically at what you're saying, I'm thinking about when you say remember back to when we were children and had morning prayer and said the pledge of allegiance...I don't know exactly how old you are, but I do not believe you are much older than I am. It was a 24 year old who did this today who probably grew up with those same customs you talk of. The killers from Columbine are basically part of that same generation as well. The killer at Virginia Tech also.

I don't have an explanation for what happened today other than some people are clearly not okay and sometimes exude this in the most tragic way possible.

I respect your opinion was well.

I'm not talking about this one event because there are certainly exceptions to the rule. I was trying to convey my thoughts towards society as a whole.

[CHB]

I'm going to try and refrain from commenting any more. Like I said I don't want to start any arguments. Now is not the time. I also don't want to say something I will regret because I am angry and what happened. As I said I think everyone on here (certainly the many I have met) are great people who don't condone these types of actions and many of us have varying beliefs.

God bless all involved in this tragedy and all that will be affected in some way. God bless us all.

[E-Bro]

I ain't mad at ya, chb. Maybe this discussion needs to be put on hold for a few days, but certainly points worth discussing whether I agree or not.

[Jet]

I know there a lot of discussion that will be generated on gun control/Second Amendment and faith in the schoolhouse. It will get heated across our nation, and that's OK. Today is not the day for those discussions.

One thing I think needs to be said, whether it applies in this matter or not (because we don't know the true home situation of the shooter, but is plainly applicable across our society), and it touches on both sides of the two issues above: we need more engaged parenting. Know your kids. Know your kids' friends. Know your kids' activities. Be their parent, not their buddy, nor their enabler. Being there for them is not handing them a $20 and sending them out the door. Being there for them sometimes means telling them no. Being there for them sometimes means you don't look the other way. Love them. Discipline them as appropriate. That's not a red or blue issue. It's an everybody issue.

[bb4au]

Amen Brother Jet. I've said that a lot recently.

[bubbs]

I'm not sure where to put this, other than here.

The only reason I even bring it to the table is to say, "it's not just here."

[aumom]

Brother Jet, please continue to preach that sermon.

My heart hurts.

[CHB]

Every time I look at my daughter I can't get out of my head what those poor kids went through today. I don't understand how you can kill someone in cold blood and killing a kindergartner is even more unfathomable.

This truly is breaking my heart.

[War Eagle Girl]

Dec 14, 2012 15:35:17 GMT -6 Jet said:

One thing I think needs to be said, whether it applies in this matter or not (because we don't know the true home situation of the shooter, but is plainly applicable across our society), and it touches on both sides of the two issues above: we need more engaged parenting. Know your kids. Know your kids' friends. Know your kids' activities. Be their parent, not their buddy, nor their enabler. Being there for them is not handing them a $20 and sending them out the door. Being there for them sometimes means telling them no. Being there for them sometimes means you don't look the other way. Love them. Discipline them as appropriate. That's not a red or blue issue. It's an everybody issue.

I was out of the loop most of the day so I really haven't seen the news yet. But what Jet said was most important in our house. When our teenage kids didn't want us chaperoning church teen retreats ~ guess what~ we went anyway! They could always count on us to be around. Sometimes I think they really wanted us there but didn't want their friends to know. They have been finding out in their young adulthood how irresponsible a lot of their acquaintances were raised.

Very, very sad situation today. May God comfort those who are grieving.

[CHB]

Jet and WEG, you are both great parents and we need more of you around. I know from talking with Cincy and meeting her family that she is as well. From comments on here I believe FSJ and ehyou are as well. I'm sure there are others on here. We all get it. I wish the rest of the world could learn from the parents on this board.

[artvandelay NP]

been in the woods all day and got home to see this. I will remember this, God is good all the time and all the time God is good. only someone in the clutches of pure evil could do something like this.

[fsj]

I asked Abbie tonight if they have drills where they get in the back of the room and turn off the lights and lock the doors and she said they do. Best I can tell is that they do this about once a month based on the number of times she's said they've done the drill. What an indictment of the current world we live in that this must be done.

Keeping kids safe has to be our number one priority as a society. We are failing miserably.

I also think of the arguments discussions we have each morning about what she's going to wear to school and then I think of these parents who won't get to have those discussions anymore.

Heartbreaking.