beyond thoughts and prayers.

I routinely teach kids grades k-12, and remain heart broken by gun violence in the US and the refusal of the members of the Republican party to offer more than thoughts and prayers and while they urge that we have more guns, not less. When I think of the children at Robb Elementary or at Sandy Hook, or the other places visited by senseless gun violence, I see the innocent faces of my own kids and pray that congressional inaction is brought to an immediate end. 

We've no excuses. They've no excuses. From Sandy Hook and Columbine on, nearly all Republicans have fought against any sort of restrictions on gun ownership. At the same time, while claiming that the problems are mental health related, they've offered no solutions or leadership in that direction. They wait for anger and despair to die down and then proceed as though nothing happened. 

The Republicans are not alone, as there are some Democrats still afraid of standing up for the safety of our kids.

In the past, the lead talking point was that in the face of horror we must wait and let the passions subside so as to not act in a rash manner. But how many more Sandy Hook and Robb Elementary School massacres must our nation endure as politicians offer "thoughts and prayers" and as they wait the angst to die down and they can skate forward untouched and having done nothing for the safety of our kids or for our society at large.

In March, 2020, schools across American were closed down to wait for the covid pandemic to be brought under better control. What will schools do in the face of the pandemic of gun violence? Perhaps our schools should be closed until congress finds the courage to act.

In the meantime, we continue teaching kids to make beautiful and useful things from wood. The project offered this week was to make eight sided pencil cups, which the kids were proud to take home and put to use.

Make, fix and create.... Assist others in living likewise.