When the news started dripping in yesterday of the shooting at Apalachee High School I was struck speechless—which you know does not often happen. Rendered without words because of my rage and bitterness that this has once again happened in our country. Someone (in this case, apparently, a 14-year-old boy) has some issues and access to a military-grade weapon, so a local school gets to prove the effectiveness (I’m being ironic here) of all those active-shooter lockdown drills.
Four dead—two students, two teachers—and 30
wounded.
Mike Collins, the Republican who represents the
local town in Congress, is unsurprisingly offering up prayers for the victims.
He’s taking time out from releasing campaign ads featuring him firing the type
of rifle the teenager used and promising to “blow up the Democrats’ cover up”.
I think that’s to do with the Big Lie about the 2020 election.
I haven’t heard what the NRA has to say about
this one, which is probably a good thing because it would only make me want to
projectile vomit.
This is what happens, folks, when you’re more
afraid of giving kids books than guns. And when dead children are the price you’re
willing to pay for your torturous interpretation of the Second Amendment.
Collins and the rest of the Republicans ought
to be the ones who have to go in and wipe the blood off school hallway floors.
But they’ll have forgotten Apalachee by the end of next week. Because a child,
to them, is only worth protecting before birth.
Well, as you might imagine, I had a bit of trouble
picking today’s earworm. I’m going with “His Eye Is on the Sparrow”, the gospel
hymn written in 1905. It was inspired by both Old and New Testament texts
assuring us that God watches over even the sparrow, so obvs he’s looking out
for us as well.
Hmmm.
“His Eye Is on the Sparrow” was a signature piece for Ethel Waters, but I’m giving you Mahalia Jackson singing it.
May the community of Winder, Ga., find some comfort, somewhere.
©2024 Bas Bleu
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