I've been asleep for awhile, but when I woke up today (@ 4pm- I work nite shift), I was jolted awake by the breaking news of the tragedy in Newtown, CT. After the shock had worn off, I contacted my children to tell them I loved them and put my heart back in my chest, I went to the same old place! What place is that? The place I always go when I hear of another senseless massacre in this country. Why? Why? Why? How much more tragedy is necessary for the powers that be to be moved to action on two main issues: 1. Gun control and 2. Mental illness treatment, that is parity for getting care just like you would for cancer or diabetes. These are complicated issues. But that doesn't mean ignore them.
I'm so tired of hearing the rhetoric that I have turned a deaf ear to it all. Today, though, I need to scream. I need to scream for the children we are charged to protect. We fall short in so many ways. I have been asleep, for a long time, trying to ignore the din of the talking heads. But I woke up today and I can't go back to sleep. Now is the time for action, not rhetoric, and as has been said before, it's gotta start with me.