violence - part ii

i just read this article on the ooze regarding the recent shooting in the amish school. i thought the author had some good points to make about forgiveness, especially about it being something that we have much to learn from the amish about.

though i still wonder what i can do daily to reduce and redeem violence. i mean, it's one thing to forgive, it's another to help protect our children from such violence.

this rash of school violence brings me back to p.o.d.'s song, youth of the nation:

Last day of the rest of my life
I wish I would've known cause i'd have kissed my momma goodbye.
I didn't tell her that I loved her or how much I cared
or thank my pops for all the talks and all the wisdom he shared.
Unaware I just did what I always do.
Everyday the same routine before I skate off to school
but who knew that this day wasn't like the rest,
instead of takin' the test I took two to the chest.
Call me blind but I didn't see it comin'
and everybody was runnin' but I couldn't hear nothin',
except gun blast, it happened so fast
I didn't really know this kid though I sat by him in class.
Maybe this kid was reachin' out for love
or maybe for a moment he forgot who he was
or maybe this kid just wanted to be hugged,
whatever it was I know its because

We are We are the youth of the nation

Little Suzy she was only twelve
she was given the world with every chance to excel
Hang with the boys and hear the stories they tell
she might act kinda proud but no respect for herself
She finds love in all the wrong places
the same situations but different faces.
Changed up her pace since her daddy left her
too bad he never told her she deserved much better.

Johnny boy always played the fool,
he broke all the rules so you would think he was cool.
He was never really one of the guys no matter how hard he tried,
with the thought of suicide
It's kinda hard when you ain't got no friends,
he put his life to an end they might remember him then.
You cross a line and there is no turnin' back
he told the world how he felt with the sound of a gat.

Who's to blame for the life that tragedies claim?
No matter what you say it won't take away the pain
that I feel inside I'm tired of all the lies
don't nobody know why it's the blind leadin' the blind.
Guess that's the way that the story goes,
will it ever make sense somebody's gotta know,
there's gotta be more to life than this,
there's got to be more to everything I thought exists