Open thread for Saturday, December 15th: Death is not the end edition
I am going to have a very busy weekend so I thought I would post the open thread on Saturday instead of Sunday this week. Please feel free to post links to interesting articles and to discuss whatever issues may arise during the day, although there is probably only one issue on people’s minds today.
I would like to offer my totally inadequate but heartfelt sympathy and condolences to all the family members and friends of those who died in the tragic shooting in Connecticut yesterday, it is truly incomprehensible to me that such evil could exist in the world. There is nothing that any of us can say to ease the pain of those who are suffering today but I offer Nick Cave’s version of a Bob Dylan song entitled ‘Death is Not the End,’ it may not be much consolation at this point but I don’t know what else to say. We all share in their grief even though we can’t possibly understand what these people are going through.
When you’re sad and when you’re lonely
And you haven’t got a friend
Just remember that death is not the end
And all that you held sacred
Falls down and does not mend
Just remember that death is not the end
Not the end, not the end
Just remember that death is not the end
When you’re standing on the crossroads
That you cannot comprehend
Just remember that death is not the end
And all your dreams have vanished
And you don’t know what’s up the bend
Just remember that death is not the end
Not the end, not the end
Just remember that death is not the end
When the storm clouds gather round you
And heavy rains descend
Just remember that death is not the end
And there’s no-one there to comfort you
With a helping hand to lend
Just remember that death is not the end
Not the end, not the end
Just remember that death is not the end
For the tree of life is growing
Where the spirit never dies
And the bright light of salvation
Up in dark and empty skies
When the cities are on fire
With the burning flesh of men
Just remember that death is not the end
When you search in vain to find
Some law-abiding citizen
Just remember that death is not the end
Not the end, not the end
Just remember that death is not the end
Not the end, not the end
Just remember that death is not the end
America's Watchtower 
Thanks for posting this Steve. This is just so heart breaking. Again my thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Newtown community. Now is the season to weep and mourn.
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Words really cannot express the proper feelings when something like this happens. Truly a sad day.
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Is Big Pharma the cause?
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/12/are-the-new-generation-of-anti-depressant-medications-contributing-to-school-shootings.html
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Makes you wonder, doesn’t it, Jim? I take only 1 drug, for BP, wish I could get off of it, but can not find anything else that will work. However, I will not fall into step with going on the cholesterol drugs, shots for flu, shots for shingles, shots for pnemonia, you get the picture. I guess at a certain age, they want us all drugged. What else do you suppose is “in addition” to the actual drug/shot? Now, we are seeing more and more vaccines for babies, I am against the majority of those as well…too many side effects there. With Obamacare, are they going to be able to start forcing us to take the meds and take the shots? I am thinking that is their plan…so much for the great medical care, huh?
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I don’t doubt that that is part of it at all, I am working on a post I hope to have up later on today that covers everything I think contributes to this type of crime.
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This story is really starting to hit home now. It turns out that Adam Lanza’s mother grew up and went to school right here in Kingston, New Hampshire and her brother is actually a police officer here. She moved to Connecticut when Adam was six years old, to think that if they hadn’t moved this could have happened at the school my son rode his bike to all those years ago (he is the same age as Adam Lanza) really makes a person realize how lucky he is.
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It doesn’t take much to have a personal attachment to something, does it, Steve. I know that there will be much more that comes out, so to take a stance on what transpired at this point, is jumping the gun. I also feel that there is alot that we will never be told about what happened. As usual, we are on a need to know basis. To politicize this in the name of taking guns from law abiding citizens will be WRONG, but I think that is the road this administration will be taking. In my opinion, that will be even more dangerous when WE no longer can protect ourselves. I read on another blog “gun spree zone”, instead of “gun free zone” and I was thinking they were not far from wrong, when you advertise no guns, what would you think the outcome would be for someone that is wanting to commit a crime? I am beginning to hate the ways of politics!!
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“I am beginning to hate the ways of politics!!” What took you so long lou? The guns used in this crime were taken from a law abiding citizen, and then used by a nutcase.
Let’s start the debate. How to make our streets safer, and keep the 2nd amendment intact. I don’t want to give up my guns either.
Just remember what Jessee Jackson said. “For kids growing up in the hood, prison is a step up.” Deal with that, and deal with gun violence at the same time I say. Even if a kid tries, and does well in school, and overcomes huge obstacles, there is still no good jobs for kids. They all went to China.
Then make mental health services available without a billion pounds of paperwork.
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Obama was going to go after guns in his second term anyway, in my opinion, and this provides them with the perfect opportunity to possibly gain some support with the American people. Isn’t it interesting that it always seems to be the law abiding citizens that are the ones punished for the actions of criminals?
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There is no doubt that the mother was not responsible enough with her weapons by keeping them where they could be used although I doubt she would have ever thought her son was capable of something like this.
Your comment actually ties into the post I am writing on this issue, I am going to try to post it later tonight.
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I look forward to it Steve. I just want solutions, not to attack anyone. Everyone should be working together to address this problem, instead of using it as a political football like everything else. Let’s all find ways to reduce or eliminate this nightmare so many families are living day after day.
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Anonymous, it would be much appreciated if you put a name. As for my political views, I have issues with BOTH parties,,,just more of the Democratic side lately. The Republicans are just going at a slower pace, but still moving in the same direction of taking us tothe point of being controlled. I do NOT think that stricter laws will do a thing for stopping these senseless killings. All you have to do is look at Chicago and the nightly murders/shootings. They are a “gun free zone”….for what that is worth. Rahm thinks we should pattern the rest of the USA after Chicago??? That is so stupid, I can’t begin to tell you what I think of his comment. I lived in East St. Louis, Il. most of my life, I know what I am saying when I tell you that Illinois is NOT a model state for anything and Chicago is NOT a model city! I firmly believe that teachers, who are trusted with OUR children should have all means necessary for protection in the event of what we just witnessed. I can not believe that they would not have used weapons to protect those children because they used their bodies, the only thing they had available to do just that. It makes me sick to hear the political jerks coming out now wanting to ban this weapon or take ALL of the guns away….that will NOT WORK, so tell me, just who the hell are THEY to make that kind of demand? It is coming from both parties. When the AG comes out talking about this tragedy,,,why did he not bring up F&F or Benghazi??? He is up to his eyeballs in that corruption. When he takes responsibility for those 2 messes, then I might listen to what he has to say, but until then, he has no credibility….at ALL.
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I hope I do not let you down Anonymous but I do not provide any answers because I have none at this point, but my post is going to look at the breakdown of the family structure and the loosening of morals in this country over the years coupled with the sour economy and the sense of hopelessness I think many people are feeling.
I have definitely stepped out of my comfort zone on this post and at this point I feel I have built it up to the point where it will be a let down but I did put a lot of effort into the post.
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I’m with you Lou, I am fed up with both parties in general but I always tend to lead towards the Republicans but my New Year’s resolution is going to be to try to be a more bipartisan watchdog because the whole of Washington DC is corrupted and needs to be changed. I am through with that whole “lesser of two evils” crap!
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I found this posted to my Facebook acct. I do not agree very often with Morgan Freeman, but I liked what he had to say here:
Morgan Freeman’s brilliant take on what happened yesterday :
“You want to know why. This may sound cynical, but here’s why.
It’s because of the way the media reports it. Flip on the news and watch how we treat the Batman theater shooter and the Oregon mall shooter like celebrities. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris are household names, but do you know the name of a single *victim* of Columbine?
Disturbed people who would otherwise just off themselves in their basements see the news and want to top it by doing something worse, and going out in a memorable way. Why a grade school? Why children? Because he’ll be remembered as a horrible monster, instead of a sad nobody.
CNN’s article says that if the body count “holds up”, this will rank as the second deadliest shooting behind Virginia Tech, as if statistics somehow make one shooting worse than another. Then they post a video interview of third-graders for all the details of what they saw and heard while the shootings were happening. Fox News has plastered the killer’s face on all their reports for hours. Any articles or news stories yet that focus on the victims and ignore the killer’s identity? None that I’ve seen yet. Because they don’t sell. So congratulations, sensationalist media, you’ve just lit the fire for someone to top this and knock off a day care center or a maternity ward next.
You can help by forgetting you ever read this man’s name, and remembering the name of at least one victim. You can help by donating to mental health research instead of pointing to gun control as the problem. You can help by turning off the news.”
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That is a great point Lou, and while I think Morgan Freeman is a great actor I rarely agree with what he says, this was one of the times I agree with him.
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Pro Gun Rights Senators All Refuse To Go On Meet The Press
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/12/16/pro-gun-rights-senators-declined-meet-the-press-invite/
What does it say about a politician when they are askered to talk about what they support?
The tide is turning.
Time something for once starts getting done. What, who knows, but doing nothing is no longer an option…..
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I saw this story earlier today and while I understand why they didn’t want to talk about this issue today it shows me they are cowards who are more interested in doing what is best for themselves than standing up for something we thought they believed in. In the end all they really believe in is getting reelected.
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Initial report has been released on the Benghazi investigation today. Supposedly a lot of harsh words for the Secretary of states “office”, but apparently no words immediately directed at Hillary. Still, it’s missing answers, This from the report. “The five-member board said U.S. intelligence provided no “specific tactical warning” of the attack and that there was “little understanding of militias in Benghazi and the threat they posed to U.S. interests” in the eastern Libyan city, where the central government has little influence.” Leaving me to ask, what has that got to do with several requests from Benghazi, from the people that are there and *do* know, even Stevens himself just 4 hours prior to the attack, asking for more security, only to be denied. Why aren’t we asking the right questions… still?
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From what I read this report confirms there was no protest prior to the attack and it also confirms that Washington was a ble to get updates real time so the question still remains, “why was no help sent in when this attack lasted for seven hours.” There are still many questions which need to be answered and I look forward to finding out what else is in this report.
Isn’t it interesting that Hillary just happened to get sick and won’t be able to testify?
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Sit back and listen to the beautiful music and watch this master weave his skills practiced over the years with his kites. It is truly amazing. Enjoy!
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I have to admit that that was amazing! I had no idea there were kite artists out there. Thanks for lightening things up a bit Lou, I really needed that today. I have been pretty down about the state of things this last week.
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Ya, I know what you mean. I watched that a couple times, just because of the peaceful feeling it gave me. I was amazed at what he could do. I was also suprised that most people walked on by and did not watch him. I would think it took years of practice, I mean, most have trouble with one kite. At any rate, yep, I thought it might lighten up the week, it has been a miserable one, hasn’t it? We had the nasty 58 mph winds that came thru here last night with luckily just a bit of snow, but we have icing, so that can be pretty bad. I have not been outside yet this morning, but -1 wind chill, so imagine it will not be easy to get my car door open. Hope you are all coping with what is headed your way out east.
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Phillip, I heard you got about 19 inches up around Chicago, stay safe.
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Steve, I know you are tired of the “fiscal cliff”, but here is a great article about the vote to shoot down Plan B. Thought you might want to at least read about it, but not do an article. At least I am reassured that there are a few conservatives left in the house that have principles and can not be bought.
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/12/21/reagans-house-heroes-stop-plan
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Thanks Lou, I will check the link out. My real problem with the fiscal cliff is rooted in the fact that the fiscal cliff was a term coined on the internet which included the Bush tax cuts, the out of control spending, the national debt, and the deficit, but it seem to me as if the Washington politicians have hijacked that term and turned it into being just about the Bush tax cuts. I think they did this on purpose so that they could downplay the other issues related to this because they feel it will enable them to ignore the full scope of the problem and give them the appearance of doing something when in reality they have done nothing to stop the financial crash which will be coming. Even if Obama gets all that he wants nothing will be solved yet they will all try to claim victory even as we continue to march toward the impending doom.
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