
There is an irony in describing
someone shot
as a 'casualty'.

There is nothing 'casual' in the act
of bringing a gun into a school,
loading it
and then
hunting down children and
shooting them until they die.

It is a deliberate act.
A knowing plan.
A hateful and hurtful decision and utter
disregard for life.

There is no casual in casualties.
Simply a reporter
that balks and shies away from
naming the truth.

When the Governor doesn't call
for gun safety but instead
asks us to pray: what the
Hell do you think we've BEEN doing
while our children are slain?
When school isn't a safe place and
we panic along with our children
at a balloon pop in Disney
because they've been
trained on active shooter drills?

Why?
Why do we understand and sympathize when
there is 'active panic' when a 'false shooter rumor' occurs
but 'thoughts and prayers' when our
children and slain in their classrooms?

There is no time left to be casual
about casualties.
So stop saying it that way.
Stop clicking past the sad parents
from Sandy Hook when their messages
interrupt your viewing of the
latest Golden Buzzer clip on Facebook.
Don't look away from their pain.
Don't take it casually.
Stand up for them: our dead children.
Vote.
Educate.
Secure the guns.

What about the 'dignity' and 'rights' of our children
to go to school
and come home alive
instead of being shot dead at school?
~
Red Flag Laws
(Extreme Risk Laws)
Know them. Vote.
You can pray while you do that.
OK?
~~~~~
I am heartsick.
About the Creator
Judey Kalchik
It's my time to find and use my voice.
Poetry, short stories, memories, and a lot of things I think and wish I'd known a long time ago.
You can also find me on Medium
And please follow me on Threads, too!



Comments (8)
I'm with you Judey, this makes me Bothe heartsick and sick to my stomach! 💚
😔 Very apt and impactful piece, Judey.
The sad part of it all, children hurting children. Four died . In foreign countries, everyone are checked by security guards before they can enter a school grounds.
Sandy Hook. How vividly I remember that. I cried for weeks. I was young then, not even a parent. I live in a place where that is not likely to happen.... but so did a lot of the schools you mentioned. So my oldest is homeschooled. And after Kindergarten ends for the other two they will also be homeschooled. Because it could happen anywhere. At anytime. And as a parent.... it's my worst fear.
Fear seems to be steady in all facets of our living life today. No where is safe really if you think about it. Good work. A lot to think about.
Unfortunetly I so not see an end in sight for the near future, or any Future in America. I do not understand this at all.
Perfectly said. Sad that so many don't want to hear it.
Superb. ❤️