Newtown, CT Massacre – One of Those “Moments” …
It’s likely a moment that will change everything in America. The actions of one man at 9:30 in the morning on a Friday will define us as a nation. In the coming weeks committees will convene in Washington. We’ll have debates about gun control, violent video games, and the removal of God from schools, the breakdown of traditional families, mental illness, and lack of care for the mentally ill. Blame will be placed where it doesn’t belong in order to give forward momentum to personal and political agendas. The war on “fill in the blank” will go on for months.
Two moments reminded me how unimportant anyone’s agenda is at this very moment. The first came last night when President Obama read the names of the 20 smallest victims. Hearing the sobs of the families in the background was gut-wrenching. I cannot begin to imagine the pain. I pray I never have to experience it.
The full version of this column is now only available in Doug Giles’ book, “Sandy Hook Massacre: When Seconds Count, The Police Are Minutes Away”.