HL contriversal person lol me lol....is that a good thing??

anyway on to more important things ANNO how this affecting your talks around schools....and more more more importantlie how this effecting you as a person?

their was another thread (national prayer day) and spekermom was commenting that personal connections make the pain of a thing more painfull when theirs some slight connection to a place or a person. I would agree with that. Its also kind of fitting heer with you in your line of work, so how is it affecting you in your workrole and as a person?

Ah, it's not affecting me as a person. Is that strange? Is it possible that I have hardened to all of this type of thing?

Unfortunately, and disappointing, personally, is that things like this don't seem to have any effect. Short term - and hour or so, maybe - but long term, enough damage to make change, not so much.

I do believe that we have accepted a certain amount of violence in our lives. After the initial shock, it's no big deal. I do think this is sad. Very sad.

yea desensitisasion to this stuff becouse of high or constant exposure to it.....one thing it last a lot longer with the people shot at or killed they be effected longer by such things.

i glad to know it aint effecting you too much its easie to get fearfull and overlie fearfull to such things at times. In that case then catiouse desensitasasion (sp) be prefriable eh!

yea i don't know the answere or have a clue about what people can do about reporters etc. reporting this stuff and doing it sensitivlie thats not out to sensasionalise a situasion but take it seriouslie....

its just a shame that this stuffs in the world and how the worlds opperating at the mommnt.

well not the world just some people in the world, if ya know what i mean.

I know what you mean.

Anno, it is scary and so sad. I just read this and... WOW! I wonder if we, as parents are doing enough to raise kids with principles and respect for life. I wonder why it is so easy for kids to get guns in their hands.

Video game violence, TV violence, etc., just make people hardened, to some point, to the reality of death.

People doing these things are "calling for attention". Why is it that we wait for things like these to pay attention to those around us? Are we as parents giving enough attention to our own? Are we setting good examples? Are we loving and caring enough?

I understand that parents do their best. And a good upbringing does not guarantee someone will not screw up, but... drugs, violence, abuse, sex, pornography among other things, are the "everyday occurance". Are we taking a stand against it in our homes and communities?

Are we, as adults, the kind of person a young one can approach with their concerns and needs? Do they know we care for them and about them? Can they talk to us freely, about anything on their mind?
I've seen cases, even in kids who are raised in a christian environment, kids who frequent church, etc., who are influenced by the music nowadays, and so many other things... that have thought of and/or tried to commit suicide ! Are we doing enough?

Po and Celtic, I read about Northern Ireland's Minister Paisley declaring his province is "starting upon the road to lasting peace". I can understand your scepticism. And I too wonder, why did it take so long? Hopefully peace will last with the 'big guys' backing it up. As for the gun law subject; I don't quite understand why we can't discuss it either…except for the fact we have all ready discussed it, and nobody was willing to change her opinion.

Anno, I never cease to wonder how the most shocking news reports seem to dwindle in forgetful land after the shortest time. If I had a child going to your school I would participate in a parent group involved with arms control. Is there such a group in the school?

Where is the energy we boomers had during the Vietnam War? Remember flower power and all that stuff? I see this energy in France. The people immediately take to the streets when they don't like what's happening.

I tend to want to leave rallying to the younger college generation. It is their future…after all we are already living in our future…but they all seem too comfortable or apathetic or what? Or am I giving myself a lecture?...I'm just as gulty as the rest of 'em.

Current Case: Rock Icon Phil Spector. Successful and crazy. He's currently on trial for murdering a beautiful woman who made the mistake of having a drink with him in his home.

We can try to raise our children right and then, some maniac comes along and takes their life from them.

Phil Spector has held a hand gun to more than the one he killed and they are testifying against him now. Why didn't someone report him? This woman's life might have been saved if they had. He possessed 19 guns in his home!!!!!

Anno
I did not reply due (I think) to me trying to absorb this.Certainly not because I did not care.I had no answers.
I worked in schools since 1979 saw a lot...coped a lot and feel things are now beyond my comprehension.
Mountain ash

songbird aye i agree with what you say and young in's are so inpresionable to so much...

i don't allow l to play with toy sowerds and guns (called marshmallows is this house)and he's just 3. he can waite a while before he descovers what thse marshmallows can do i also limit his tv viewing and be mindfull as to what he watches. I chatted with lola briflie about this tonight and about the influences the news has on the young ones....same preocess (kinda) with teenagers role models peer presure and the images set up by music peeps etc. i know as a youngsteer my fav musicions had more say over my mind than my parents did...What was it just me!!! lol...don't think its much diffrrent now onlie i am older and see the effects stuff has on kids and societie has gotten more violent and extreem in nearlie everieway.

di that stories shocking....and most of all they all comming forward to testifie now when its too late.

Anno, this totally freaks me out. Are you the guidance counselor for the school district? I imagine you are directly involved. Your consideration of who else has guns is a valid one. When soemthing liek this touches so close to home, it's unsettling to say the least. What is they school system doing to keep this from happening again?

Did you see the movie Freedom Writer? You should watch it. I bet you would love it. It's about kids and gangs, much deeper, but that's waht the bottom line is.

A couple years ago, a local teacher was killed at our mall (in the garage), Towson Town Center. It's a really nice mall in a suburb of Baltimore. It's walking distance from my home. My daughter and her boyfriend had been there that very same afternoon. So many people FREAKED about it. The mall made significant changes in security as a result. The bigest change was the lighting. It is now so bright in that garage, which is a good thing.

I recall being in the mall many times after the shooting and wondering how many kids had guns in their pockets. It's a horrendous thought.

How are you doing? Sometimes these things take a couple days to sink in.