Disappointed

This picture is part of a series I took of my son playing along the shore of the Mediterranean last spring. I love it because he was blissfully unaware of me photographing him, and it captures him simply enjoying a moment in time. I am glad that he has a sense of innocence and is generally unaware of the serious issues that we adults face. I see that the assault weapons ban has essentially bitten the dust so to speak. We no longer have a government that is for the people and by the people, what we now have is a government for special interest groups and by special interest groups (NRA). I am sad that my son and every other child in this country is not safe at school, on the playground or simply walking down the street. Their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is secondary to the right of selfish individuals who demand ownership of military assault type weapons and who refuse any sort of dialogue on gun control. I want to be crystal clear on this I believe and support the 2nd Amendment however, I do believe that we need to control what types of weapons a person can own and the size of the magazines that are sold. Many of my family members own guns, and have made it clear that they would be more than willing to live with a ban on certain types of weapons, if it would make our society safer. I think a great first step would be an extensive background check system that links date on such things as mental health records, history of substance abuse, domestic violence and criminal background. Even if we could accomplish that piece then maybe some lives would be saved. Perhaps we need to look at people renewing their gun license after a period of time as they do in some countries. Finally, a huge piece of this is our failings as a society to deal with mental health issues. We need to look at how we treat people and how to address their ongoing care. I know I am repeating what many have said since Newtown, but it needs to be said over and over until we can reach some sort of compromise. I would hate for those 20 children to have died for nothing, and worse yet, to witness another incident where children die at the hands of someone who should never had access to guns.

Pay It forward

So, I was on my way to work Friday morning at about 6 am when I went through the Tim Horton's drive thru. I was teaching an orientation class at work that day and figured that I'd pick up some donuts for everyone and a coffee for myself. I ordered, and then drove up to the window where the young woman told me that my order was paid for by the person in front of me. My order was about $8 and I have to admit that it really made my day. I was told by the girls at the drive thru that the person who paid for my order said to "pay it forward."

I waited by the window for the next person and just my luck no one came! So, tomorrow I am working on a volunteer project with my work and I am determined to pay it forward so that someone else can feel like I did that morning. It was a small gesture, but it made my day. It reminded me that there are nice people in this world who do decent things for no reason other than to be kind. So, even though no one reads this blog and I simply do it to put my thoughts into writing, I wish this person the best as their gesture made me remember how important it is to stop and do something for some one else.

3 Months Ago

Let us remember what happened on December 14, 2012 at Sandy Hook and keep the victims and their families in our thoughts and prayers.

Still in Shock

So, tomorrow will be three months since the Sandy Hook massacre, and I still feel such a crushing sense of despair over the loss of the 20 children and 6 teachers that I still cry over their horrible deaths. I often wonder if I am a bit crazy and if anyone else feels this way. I watch the politicians make feeble attempts at best to try to pass some sort of watered down gun control and I am getting increasingly more frustrated by the lack of real action. Why are we afraid to stand up to the NRA? I do not think that the 2nd Amendment should be over turned however, I do believe that we need to have a strict background check system and a limit to which types of guns an individual can own. Just because we have the right to bear arms does not mean that every person is of sound mind to do so. I want to know why the right to bear arms supersedes the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that those 26 will not get to enjoy because they were murdered by a young man who had free access to guns.  When will we decide that our children and families are more important that letting people have unlimited access to guns? I expected more from this country. We are a nation of people who get things done and who have been able to work together to achieve great things yet, our children are getting gunned down in school, at home, in the streets and on their playgrounds. Please lets try to listen to each other and find some common ground.

A whole Year

March 8th marked the one year anniversary of my cousin Marc's death. I wanted to post this picture of my daughter, Karina in Jerusalem last spring by the candle that we lit in Marc's memory. I think of my Aunt and Uncle and of his wife and three small children and hope that they can find peace. As for me, I am sad that our close knit family lost someone who never failed to entertain with his stories and sharp wit. We miss you Marc and hope you are at peace.