Most of you that follow my blog know that sometimes I can get personal with my remarks. As a father of two young boys who go to school every day I have always been aware and personally affected by the litany of school shootings that rock our American culture. In the past I have tried to take action – writing my congressman, participating in dialogues and even writing a song to help support the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation.
But today is a new day. After the Parkland shootings students from that school have been vocal and active in calling for Congress to take action. Just recently the State of Florida passed new regulations in regards to gun laws in their state. This was in direct defiance of the NRA and their agenda and was signed by a Governor who has always been opposed to such measures. This is progress.
Now there is something you can do. You can walk. Yes, the same students who called for action after the Parkland shootings have helped to spark a national movement of protest. Students across the country are walking out of school for 17 minutes to show Congress that the problems in the schools are real and need immediate action. It has already started.
You can show your support by walking at 10am too. For 17 minutes get up from your desk and walk outside. Say hi to your neighbors who are also walking. Stand in solidarity with your co-workers as we tell Congress that this problem needs to be solved. Our kids, our children’s lives depend on this. On action.
Take a walk.
My "Bersonal" View 
With all due respect, I don’t think a walkout en masse is the solution to the problem. This only serves to teach young people (or older people for that matter) to rebel against authority when they don’t get their way. This is how riots and other violent demonstrations get started because the people involved feel free to express their feelings publicly and most of these “children” aren’t mature enough emotionally to make rational decisions about complex life matters. School aged “children” should be taught the right way to respond to offenses (and they should be punished when they respond the wrong way.) The adults who have influence on children, (parents, teachers, counselors, etc) should guide their children (okay, young adults in some cases) to choose a mature spokesperson for their group and take their issues rationally to the authorities involved to present their case. This teaches respect and honor for those in charge. Now we have lost perhaps a whole day or more of proper education in the schools throughout the nation (and beyond) through these “walkouts” in exchange for the lesson of how to stage a mass demonstration. This is not a good thing and I find it hard to believe that the walkout idea came from the kids in the first place. Enough said! Thanks for the opportunity to respond.
I disagree with your point of view but respect your right to voice it. I think the idea of “children should be seen and not heard” is old school thinking. Most of these protesters were well informed, had a true perspective and had the support of school officials to “walk for 17 minutes.” Hardly a disruption to the school day. Perhaps you think a fire drill is also a disruption?
Protest is an American right. Students with a point of view should be applauded for exercising that right.
Great post! Great song!
Sent from my iPhone