Bleeding Heart …

Posted on by under Personal, Political commentary, Social commentary

I was working on my post for tomorrow morning, waiting for the potatoes I had baking in the oven, when across my screen flashed the news of yet another school shooting, this time in Florida, and at least 17 people confirmed dead.  I literally dropped my mouse, set the computer on the table, and wept.  Since I was a teenager, I have been called a ‘bleeding heart liberal’.  I guess this confirms that indeed, I am exactly that, for my heart bled even as my eyes streamed and my shoulders shook.

I am not going on a rant about the asinine lack of gun control in America, at least not tonight.  But I have another little story to tell you.

Last Saturday night … actually Sunday morning around 2:00 a.m., I was tired and getting ready to head up  to bed when we heard 6 gunshots in rapid succession right outside our back door.  Police were called, no trace of anybody, the usual story.  Nothing to see here, folks, except that any one of those six shots might have come through our walls and taken one or all three of us out, all within under 6 seconds.

No, I will not go on a rant about guns in America tonight, for my heart is still bleeding from the news of the Florida school shooting.  Yes, I’m a bleeding heart liberal … and I’m proud to be.  Tomorrow I will have tears of rage, but tonight my tears are only of deep sadness.

38 thoughts on “Bleeding Heart …”

  1. One heck of a powerful post Jill. This hard-nosed old authoritarian socialist supports your ‘liberal’ stance all the way (What is a ‘bleeding heart’ anyway?….They’re treading on Catholic ground there…’Sacred Heart’ dontcha know?)

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    • Thank you, Roger, both for your support and understanding. A ‘bleeding heart’, as used by the far right over here, apparently is one that cares for other people, that wants to help people when they need help. One that values human life over money. I am called that, and I am called a ‘snowflake’. I don’t mind being called either one, and take them both as a compliment, for my conscience doesn’t keep me awake at night. Other things, like this tragedy, keep me awake at night, but my conscience is clear.

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    • Seen from the U.S., at least for those of us with half a brain, our gun laws look insane! Or, I might ask … WHAT gun laws? The very few we have are poorly and sporadically enforced, so they might as well not exist. Sigh. I will keep fighting this fight, but I’m pretty sure nothing will ever change on this. Huge hugs ‘n much love, Jack! 💓💓💓

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  3. After the massacre at Sandy Hook, Jill we can expect little from Washington. That should have been time to change things. Then there were the other shootings including the massacre in Las Vegas. All decent people must be crying inside if not outwardly in frustration. I watched the BBC and that announcer couldn’t understand the U.S. attitude and said as much. The NRA members and some members of Congress have blood on their hands, much of it from children. The greed is sickening. —- Suzanne

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    • I fully agree. If Sandy Hook wasn’t a wake up call, if Las Vegas wasn’t a wake up call, then this won’t be either. Itwill just lead to more division, more arguments, and nothing will change. What does it take, I wonder? Sigh.

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      • Perhaps the slugs in the state legislatures and in Congress would sing a different tune if a deranged shooter put lawmakers and NRA folks in their crosshairs…

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        • Nah … remember last summer when a gunman opened fire where a bunch of congressmen were practicing baseball and representative Steve Scalise was seriously injured? Didn’t phase them … at least not to the extent that they were willing to seriously re-think their stance on gun regulation and their devotion to the NRA. I don’t know what it takes …

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          • As much as I’m looking forward to seeing the Blue Wave work its magic in November, I tremble thinking about the consequences if it fails to unseat the GOP.

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                • I don’t know … most of us with a bit of sense and intellect, yes. But there are still an awful lot of hard core Trumpeters out there, and in the last week, his approval rating has actually gone up and is now at 41.2%. Not long ago, he was around 34%. It may go back down next week, with the Florida shooting and the Mueller indictments, but I don’t know.

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                  • Keep the faith, Jill. That group of outspoken Florida high school students seem to be determined to take to the streets on the gun control issue and make it a nation-wide movement. Children leading adults to the Promised Land – I love it!

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                    • It is to be hoped that when these young people come out and say, “Please, please, DO something …”, their voices will be heard and heeded, but … well, let us wait and see. I’m not holding my breath, but perhaps this time …

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  4. You know how I stand on this: all these guns in the US, carried by unqualified people for very disputable reasons … they are just bad. But I also know the US society has a blind spot on this, so my hopes for any changes are low. – But my American friends living in the Netherlands will say today: Thank god for the possibility to raise our children here.

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    • Yes, you and I share the same thoughts on guns in the U.S., and I suspect that if change ever comes, it won’t be for a long, long time … not in my lifetime certainly. I am currently working on a piece comparing gun laws, statistics, etc. between the U.S. and other countries. It really opened my eyes. Sigh.

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  5. I hadn’t heard, I don’t do news but I’m joining you on the “bleeding heart liberal” stage tonight, holding hands in solidarity. OK, so I have tears right now because it’s the only way to express my empathy with this tragedy. Thanks for letting me know.

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  7. Dear Jill,
    This is High School like many others. This could be anyone of our children. As I write this there are still children who have been fatally shot who have yet to be identified. Parents had to wait hours to see their children. How can that be? This is beyond sad. It is every parent’s nightmare come true.
    Hugs, Gronda

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    • Yes, my friend, it is beyond sad. My heart breaks every time I hear of the senseless murder of these beautiful children. So many parents are sobbing tonight, knowing their lives will never be the same. And why? No good reason. Hugs, dear friend.

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  8. To me the bigger problem is not allowing firearms in or near schools – setting up “gun free zones” only invites the monsters in. For me, carrying a concealed firearm everyday keeps the bad guys at bay.

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    • I have to respectfully disagree with you on that one. The bigger problem is the NRA lining the pockets of our lawmakders to keep them from passing any significant regulation on guns, what type can be sold, and to whom. There are far too many guns out there in the wrong hands. Personally, I would strike the 2nd amendment from the Constitution and limit all firearms to only military and law enforcement. But I realize it will never happen in this country. Still, I can call for stronger restrictions, and I have and will continue to do so. Just my opinion, but how can you justify this heinous act today?

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    • The problem is that mixed in with a large percentage of ordinary children are some who have serious anger problems. These individuals can blow up anywhere at any time. A driver leapt out of his car with an axe and attacked another because he did not like his driving, luckily he was not carrying a gun. All societies everywhere contain a small proportion of these types and it is impossible to police them as proved by the evidence. So we must limit lethal weapons and most wealthy democracies have done that some even buying back guns held in public hands.
      Imagine handing guns to students as they enter the college so they all have the potential to kill each other , I suspect such action would make the situation far worse, some may be too afraid to attend.

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      • You are quite right, Kertsen … the U.S. is the only Western nation with almost no laws regulating firearms, and we see the result nearly every day … fortunately not always on such a scale as Wednesday’s massacre, but gun deaths happen every single day in the U.S. The widespread availability of assault weapons that can mow down dozens of people in under a minute is simply ridiculous. But try telling that to the masses who love their little steel toys. Sigh. A friend argues that people get killed with knives, too. Yes, but I would rather face a knife than a gun, and do do damage with a knife, one has to be close up, and even then is only likely to do reparable damage and only to one person at a time. My argument falls on deaf ears.

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    • Hello sir
      A hard-line left socialist from the UK writing here. One who has an interest in histories and also an unashamed fondness for the USA and the myriad of folks who make up its population.
      Cultures are often unique to nations or large communities. This we have to accept. I learned a while ago how entwined the 2nd Amendment was in The USA and that nothing is straightforward. Particularly as when you wrote ‘monsters’ it resonated with me. (I have a particularly strong view about law, order & justice which do not sit well with some of my fellow left-wingers).
      That said I would respectfully suggest those who feel strongly about the maintenance of current legislation and not to strength control have in turn a neighbourly duty to ensure that gun ownership is a responsibility as well as a constitutional right. This responsibility would be enhanced in gun owners and legitimate gun sellers would play their own part in a neighbourly vigilance upon any person they feel would be a danger when carrying a weapon.
      From this it would seem a high-profile nationwide campaign by the NRA to raise the awareness of responsible and mature ownership of guns and the support for initiatives on gun safety would do much to take the heat out of the debate.
      This is would not be easy, this would not be without a financial cost, this might mean the diluting of some beliefs and conversation with folk who might initially be hostile. It would be a start though.
      You are, One Nation and I believe Under God.
      Take care.
      Roger

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  9. You are not alone. The majority of people agree we need to protect the children, we need to stop the bloodlust for guns. How to get our voices in front of the bribes the NRA is paying to congress is the question I ask now. We want change and I am personally tired of being ignored on this while kids die. Hugs

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    • I’m with you there, Scottie. This country took the 2nd amendment and interpreted it in a way that the framers of the Constitution never intended, and now, they will fight for their guns before they will fight for their children. I did a piece a while back where a couple were told by Children’s Protective Services to get rid of their guns if they didn’t want their children removed from the home, because they had been careless and there had been close calls before. They kept their guns and let the state take their children, but not before one of the children was shot. This is one that I will argue until the day I die. Not that the right people will listen, but I try. Hugs!

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