Chapter XIV: Who Became a Leader When the Adults Left Town? Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” (Lao Tzu)
Final Evaluation
We had mentioned in earlier chapters that a hero may be an unsuspecting soul that is called upon to perform some act or deed that may draw upon additional energy or courage. The situation or occurrence itself may provide strength to the unsuspecting hero or less inclined to act, or that which is required to punch a bully squarely in the nose. I, unlike a purported occupant of the oval office, am not soliciting nor enticing others to use physical force. Instead I encourage, as most reasonable and prudent persons would do, is to act from a firm base of intellect, fact, voice, vote, and sound moral obligation to act. How about your family, school or organization, anything come to mind?
I am not going to advocate for or against gun control. This is a debate for another day. I will promote the idea that our children are our future and they need to be well versed in both sides of the argument. I do solicit stronger use of critical thinking, the ability to take command of facts and truths at hand to select a reasonable path. I do, however, at the same time put great faith in our youth to stimulate thought and satisfy intellectual curiosity. I do advocate for less violence and greater use of common sense. I do advocate for adults to cease and desist from the use of killer phrases, especially because it is just easier to do so and in its place get into the fray. Even though you feel threatened, it is for a greater good, our children. Our children require protection provided by leaders until they are of age and wit to care for themselves.
Can children lead?
A significant concern in answering this question will require looking to our past. The children that have registered tremendous outrage is thought by some to be another fad. Many politicians and the NRA are banking on it. If it is not, then does the money poured into protecting the gun industry overshadow the ethical and moral obligation of leadership? Something to consider when examining this question is the differences in Gen X, Y, and Millennials compared to Boomers. The newer generations generally are not party affiliates and have remained independent voters. The question arising is who can best mobilize this group. Who can influence them to convert to their side? This group is coming of age to vote. One may ask what impact they can have as the number coming to maturity of voting age. How many are eligible to vote and how many will take the time to register and vote?
As an example for examining the topic, let me draw your attention to the Driving While Intoxicated rage that saw groups like Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) emerge. Where did they come from? First, not until young children were dying by the multitude on American Highways resulting from drunk driving did anyone pay much attention to the DWI epidemic. Vietnam claimed over 53,000 of America’s best during the conflict. America was killing nearly that many on its highways annually. As a side note significant to this topic, I assert that this country has taken war for granted. It will happen over and over again during the life time of this country. Casualties are an outcome of war, and unfortunately often forgotten by the recipients of freedom. Frequently, these very same recipients often take for granted freedoms and forget there is work involved to preserve those precious words in our democracy. Not simply during the time of war, but during every wakened moment. I draw this parallel at this point to define a social problem or yet when a social problem may be considered a social problem. Were children dying on America’s highways merely casualties?
Second, children highway deaths could no longer be ignored resulting from a more mobile society with younger drivers. Especially, the issue could no longer be ignored because suburban mothers mobilized and a voice was heard. A ground swell of concern and deliberation materialized from coast to coast. The outrage was prompted by mothers and students, the majority of which were from the “Burbs” not inner-city children. Logically, the majority of the cars resided in the suburbs along with the potential statistics.
Third, the sentiment of the moment was so compelling that it was not to be overlooked. This topic was emotionally and statistically charged. Who was responsible for these deaths? The lack of attention by law enforcement or the liquor industry, or the lack of education? Was this to become another lawyer full employment act? Legislature could not avoid the hot topic and there was no place to hide. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), became part of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, part of the Department of Transportation. The department was formed on December 31, 1970, with the mission to save lives, prevent injuries, reduce crashes, and to join other agencies to prevent safer vehicle travel.This was in both highway and vehicles.
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812102
Fourth, in the U.S. approximately 34,000 people are killed on the highways and approximately 38,000 die resulting from a gun. According to the Washington Post guns are now killing as many people as cars in the United States. News accounts daily report that young people are killing each other in inner cities daily with little or no rage. The following articles are provided to aid in reader research, provoke thought, and determine factual considerations to validate your position.
Can the recent outrage of gun violence killing 17 at a Florida school become the war cry since Columbine?
By the numbers:
These are the 10 deadliest school shootings since Columbine (15 deaths):
2007 Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, Va. — 33 deaths
2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Conn. — 27 deaths
2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Fla. — 17 deaths 2015 Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, Ore. — 10 deaths
2018 Santa Fe High School, Santa Fe, Tex. — 10 deaths
2005 Red Lake Senior High School, Red Lake, Minn. — 7 deaths 2012 Oikos University, Oakland, Calif. — 7 deaths
2006 West Nickel Mines School, Bart Township, Penn. — 6 deaths 2008 Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill. — 6 deaths
2014 Marysville Pilchuck High School, Marysville, WA. — 5 deaths
(https://www.axios.com/by-the-numbers-the-10-deadliest-school-shootings-since-columbine-91efddc3-adcd-4991-bd5c-59938db7bc2f.html)
It is my assertion that the latest of the horrific school shootings will act as the impetus for the mobilizing of both suburbanite mothers and mothers from the inner city. The ground swell of outrage and support has apparently begun. The “Me Too Movement” coupled with family members of gun victims, and new children leaders from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas massacre is reminiscent of the “60s” when outrage was a call to action. Complacency did not have a place in history during the tumultuous period and it may not have a terrific survival rating at this juncture. One can only hope. Remember we had Woodstock; today’s generations have video games.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/17/guns-are-now-killing-as-many-people-as-cars-in-the-u-s/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.8c0159823d3b
http://theconversation.com/gun-violence-in-the-us-kills-more-black-people-and-urban-dwellers-86825
I submit that Wikipedia is not a scholarly research tool, however due to recent course of events is a starting point to engage this evaluation. The Wikipedia link provides us the accounting of the event. Readers should pay particular attention to the latter sections contained following the event description.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoneman_Douglas_High_School_shooting
Readers may now research the DWI outrage that led to multiple changes in society that included legislation, education, mobilization, and organization in comparison to the slaughter of children in our city streets and schools due to mass shootings. Is there a comparison between the two issues? Why now might the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas be the tipping point for organizing and mobilizing? What might the new issue be (shooting deaths or guns)? Can the latter be separated as gun advocates and political forces are promoting? Are there clear problems that can be identified outside of what statistics support? In other words, looking at statistics they may tell us that there are substantial number of deaths annually in this country resulting from guns. So what, what does that mean? Can children be the new leader?