Warning. Ranting and Raving ahead. Sorry, I’m livid.
Yesterday in Alabama a middle school student was shot in the head and killed by a fellow student in a school hallway. Oh, how horrible, and that poor family who sent their child to school and now he will never come home to them again. My children aren’t in school but I still get sick to my stomach when I hear of such incidents. Hearing such makes me sick, sad, reflective and thankful that my children are safe.
So why hopping up and down mad?
The school went into lock down to ascertain the issue and the shooter was arrested by police. But the school continued until 3:00 PM, unless parents came to check out their child after the lock down, then the children went home by school buses. Tonight on the news the police chief said that the school was safe and his son will be there Monday morning. Counselors are available to the children.
Have we really gotten to the point that a child can be murdered in school in front of other students and we continue on with the school as usual?
Is it just business as usual?
Notice these statements from school and police officials:
“singular incident”
“incident appears isolated”
“I have no doubt that he’ll be safe at school Monday”
Have we really come to the point that the murder of a child is nothing more than an interruption of the day but otherwise business as usual?
Used to whole towns turned out for funerals. I still live in an area where the police put out signs saying “Slow, Death in Family”. That was so surprising when we first moved out here but also very comforting. It is nice to know that some still slow down, contemplate and mourn a death.
What are the schools teaching? That death is an everyday, insignificant occurrence, even when it is a classmate.
Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that the school will not mourn and contemplate the loss. Please don’t misunderstand. But we have lost our compassion and nurturing when we think the children can just resume school Monday.
The closest involved I’ve ever been to a sudden, tragic death was once, years ago, when at work a co-worker was found unconscious. Being part of a medical team (albeit animal) I was one of the first on the scene and we began CPR, for what seemed like hours, but in reality was only just a few minutes. The individual had had a massive, fatal heart attack and was dead despite our efforts. But I never once walked past that spot without being saddened and grieved, even despite my faith. But this was not a violent death, nor was this a close co-worker or friend, nor did I have my own life threatened in any way, but most importantly I wasn’t a child.
Even David, a man after God’s own heart anguished over his own risk of death at the hand of a companion and friend (Psalm 55:12-13).
Psalms 55:4-5
4 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. ESV
Thankfully we do have a hope and a promise. I pray someone can share the true Hope with the grieving family and the others affected.
Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” ESV
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Tags: Children, Death, Grief, Schools
I was in shock when I checked the news yesterday afternoon and they were talking about it. Huntsville is mighty close to home for us. When it first happened they were telling parents not to come get their children. Could you imagine?!?!? Telling parents to LEAVE their kids in the school where it just happened! Then when they were releasing the kids, they allowed one parent to come in at a time. I don’t think my nerves could have handled being in the back of the pick up line. It is horrible. I know that we could have a car accident any time, a tree could randomly fall on our house with us in it, anything could happen. I do, however try to keep my kids safe and one way is by being sure that they are not in a school when a random shooting happens. My heart goes out to the victim’s parents.
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Berean Wife Reply:
February 6th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Kelli,
I know there has got to be some kind of order but it was really sad that some children were texting from in the school and even commenting on news articles during the lockdown. One teacher actually was called from a friend in FL who told her what was going on from the news because she didn’t know what the issue was or if it was resolved. Yet many parents were unable to find out the name of the student so they sat outside the school unsure of what happened.
The difference between the tragic events you mentioned and the school situation is the fact that at least you would typically be with your children.
“the number of children killed by gun violence in schools is about half the number of Americans killed annually by lightning strikes”
This is supposed to make parents feel safer about sending their children to public schools? Most parents avoid letting their children play outside during a risk of lightening for that very reason.
I honestly don’t know what the schools can do to decrease this horrible tragedy from happening. But surely we could interrupt school for grief! Is that asking too much? How about showing the family more respect by stopping to grieve with them? Must school continue on and the children be expected to study polynomials and grammar rules while they grieve in their hearts and worry for their safety?
Sad, sad!
Berean Wife
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This is so tragic…NOTHING shocks people anymore. The human heart is becoming more calloused and insensitive to the loss of a life. No big deal, everything will be back to norm tomorrow…this is our society’s mentality. I read where an 11 year old gave birth {I think it was in N.Y.} and the grandmother boasted both mother and child were doing fine. Where is the heartbreak over this sin of immorality?!?!?
I often reflect on these words by Ruth Graham Bell, ‘if God does not judge America, He’ll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah’.
Come Lord Jesus
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Berean Wife Reply:
February 6th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Lyn,
When I watched the news briefing honestly the report was so cut and dried. They finally named the child, his age and birth date, but more in the stating facts kind of manner. Why are we surprised when children no longer have feelings and empathy for others when the adults seem so matter of fact. Now I’m sure that the teachers and emergency personnel were deeply affected, yet they are encouraging the children to be back at school Monday morning. Then again many children see murders everyday on TV and they’ve learn to not bat an eye at them.
Maybe if we took murder more seriously there would be less of them.
There seems to be no heartbreak over any sins any longer. We are a callous self-centered country and are teaching our children to be even more so.
Oh, for some Godly grief.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. ESV
Berean Wife
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Berean Wife,
As I read this story, your post came to mind. From fox news…Street Preachers Shot to Death in Florida
Sunday, February 07, 2010
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — Two men ministering on the streets of Boynton Beach were allegedly gunned down by an 18-year-old man.
Police say 24-year-old Tite Sufra and 23-year-old Stephen Ocean were preaching to Jeriah Woody for about 15 minutes, until he got a phone call.
Woody left, but then allegedly started walking toward the two. When Sufra approached, Woody allegedly shot him in the head. Ocean ran, and police say Woody shot him in the back, then walked up and shot him again — this time in the head at point-blank range.
Police said a witness identified Woody, who is known by the street name “Plug.” He surrendered Wednesday on two counts of first-degree murder charges.
It could not be determined if Woody had an attorney.
I am speechless over the last line, ‘it could not be determined if Woody had an attorney’…what about the two men gunned down, the lives lost?!?! This story was written with no emotion, no care or concern for human life. It brings to mind this passage—Mat 24:12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
Even so, come Lord Jesus!!
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Berean Wife Reply:
February 8th, 2010 at 8:09 am
Lyn,
I had not heard about the news article you shared. Even more surprising I could really find out much more than what you posted. Obviously, it wasn’t considered to be important news to the media. That is horrible that two young preachers were gunned down in cold blood while preaching! If you remember “Dr of Death” George Tiller sure received much more news than this incident did!
I have noticed that statement about lawyers. Why would the public care if a criminal had a lawyer or not? That is not news worthy. I did find some local news information about the young preachers. They had turned their lives around from crime and run-ins with police. Then they were preaching on the very same streets.
There are some very cold people out there and they are encouraging others to be cold by just the response to tragedies like this.
Berean Wife
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It saddens me to say that as horrible as this is, and as grief-stricken as it makes me for the world in which we live, I am not shocked. How terrible is that? I am not shocked?
The words of the police chief,which I am sure he meant to be reassuring, were actually callous in my view. The school is perfectly safe?
Prayers to the family of the murdered boy and to the family of the murderous student.
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Berean Wife Reply:
February 8th, 2010 at 8:44 am
Terry,
You know I think it says something about our society when even believers aren’t shocked anymore. What about our children? This is one of the reason I try not to let our children watch the news or hear much about the crime and murders every day. Childhood should be a sheltered experience but also I don’t want my children to feel this type thing is everyday and old hat. I want them to be shocked by sin and crime as adults, more so than I am. We cannot be adequately shocked by our own sin if we have become accustomed to the heinous and graphic sins such as murder that others commit. Otherwise we tend to fall into the sin of comparing ourselves to others.
Can you imagine what the police chief’s child must think? Oh, it’s safe, back you go. Maintaining the status quo and continuing school is more important than your feelings, safety and our relationship.
I pray the Lord opens the eyes of others.
Berean Wife
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