Wolves in Wolves' Clothing

Since the Sandy Hook tragedy in Connecticut last month, I have not offered much here with the exception of my desire to keep my youngest children isolated from knowledge of the incident. I'm still not ready to break much from that yet.

You know, as a parent, I think the families deserve better than what we have put out there.

Back in August, I lamented that "Most of the issues currently being debated in our country are being done so within the realm of politics." Sadly, the same holds true even in this instance. I'm not even going to get into the "sides" of the argument. They're so much "in your face" that you know exactly what I'm talking about.

What I will say is that everyone is claiming to want that which would bring about "peace". But I don't believe they think of peace the same way the Church does. And I KNOW they have much different ideas than the Church on how to pursue peace.

Saddest of all is that we used to have to be wary of wolves in sheep's clothing. Today, the wolves don't even have to dress up anymore. There are plenty of sheep that have learned how to become wolves themselves. They think they are safe and in "like company".

*Respect for and development of human life require peace. Peace is not merely the absence of war, and it is not limited to maintaining a balance of powers between adversaries. Peace cannot be attained on earth without safeguarding the goods of persons, free communication among men, respect for the dignity of persons and peoples, and the assiduous practice of fraternity. Peace is "the tranquillity of order." Peace is the work of justice and the effect of charity

*Earthly peace is the image and fruit of the peace of Christ, the messianic "Prince of Peace." By the blood of his Cross, "in his own person he killed the hostility," he reconciled men with God and made his Church the sacrament of the unity of the human race and of its union with God. "He is our peace." He has declared: "Blessed are the peacemakers." 

*Those who renounce violence and bloodshed and, in order to safeguard human rights, make use of those means of defense available to the weakest, bear witness to evangelical charity, provided they do so without harming the rights and obligations of other men and societies. They bear legitimate witness to the gravity of the physical and moral risks of recourse to violence, with all its destruction and death. -  Catechism 2304 - 2306

McDonald's insensitive during elementary school fundraiser

Last night was "McTeacher" night at my local McDonald's. This event was a fundraiser for my son's elementary school. Fundraisers such as this, where the restaurant donates 10% (as in this case) or more to the school or cause are fairly common here. There was an interesting twist to this one though as the teachers from my son's school participated with serving, cleaning up, greeting, and taking orders. Also, Santa was there, allowing children to sit on his lap, talk to him, and to take pictures with him.

The place was pretty full, and I was glad that we went during the last teacher shift (which was the shift my son's teacher served on) as the crowd could have been even heavier. That's when I noticed several children looking at something. It was the television. CNN was on, and of course there was continuing coverage of the Connecticut tragedy playing out, complete with pictures and stories of some of the young children who were killed.

I wrote on Monday and again on Tuesday about how I have shielded my younger children from what has happened and hoped to continue to do so. My family was positioned so that, while my children could see the television if they tried to, it was less likely for them to notice it than for the aforementioned children.

I went to the counter, got the attention of one of the at least 3 managers on duty, and mentioned my concern to him. I asked if he would please consider putting on something more child-appropriate. He told me that CNN is the only channel the restaurant received. I then asked him to please consider turning the television off. He acknowledged my request but did not affirm or decline my request directly.

We were there for another 20 to 30 minutes. The television remained on. My children did not see what was on television, but many others did.

Besides the lack of common sense, I think this was completely insensitive.

Carry on.

One day at a time

Yesterday, I wrote about my desire to keep my youngest children (4 and 8) sheltered from last Friday's horrific events. I was very pleased when my son, who is in second grade, came home apparently still unaware of what happened in Connecticut. We will continue to take it one day at a time.

Unfortunately, it seems the politicization of what happened there is just heating up and getting more intense.

Still, it is not the time for such debates. It is a time to mourn, to pray, to reflect, and to love.

My Agenda Regarding Last Friday's Tragedy in Connecticut

Since the tragic events that occurred last Friday in Connecticut,  I have been inundated by messages and agendas. Most of what I have seen has been on the internet and social media because I have shielded my four and eight year old children from what has happened.

We are in trouble. It's not that it's a surprise to me that we are in trouble. I just want to reiterate though; we are in trouble. I have seen numerous posts saying to some effect or another that "we are a nation in mourning". I'm sure many are mourning. I saw my wife and others sobbing at Mass yesterday as we prayed for the victims and their families during the Universal Prayer (Prayers of the Faithful). But as a nation?

I'm not sure there is anything we do as a nation anymore. But what we really are is a nation of agenda-driven people. I'd like to say that I'm saddened that almost everything that happens these days gives way to the imposition of various agendas. Truth is though, that the word "almost" does not apply; it's everything. It's the way we're wired these days. No one wants "their" agenda drowned out by someone else's.

I was going to lay out some examples, but you don't need me to do that. You've seen them all too. Some of those agendas are completely contrary to what I believe. Some of the agendas expressed have been spot-on to what I believe, and others fall somewhere in the middle to varying degrees on my "agendometer". I hope to continue to resist the urge to throw my own two cents in to any of these particulars.

Are you truly "mourning" with the parents, relatives, and friends of the victims? Really? Because I don't think they have any agendas on their minds. They are grieving with an unimaginable level of suffering. Please God, may I never experience such pain. May no other parent ever have to experience such pain again.

But alas, I do have an agenda. As I stated, my youngest children have no idea about these events. Yet, this morning I sent my 2nd grader to school knowing that it is unrealistic to think that all of his friends are as oblivious to this horror. Part of my agenda was to spend a little extra time with him, to give him an extra hug and an extra kiss, and to tell him "I love you" more than any previous day. That part was easy and of course successful. The next part of my agenda? Well, I am aching just thinking about how much information he will take in today. Not because I am afraid to talk to him about it or what to say, but because an eight year old should not have to think or worry about such things. He just shouldn't.

When he comes home today, I will again give him some extra affection. As any other day, I will ask him about the events of his day. But today I will have that secondary agenda; to ascertain what he knows about last Friday and help him as best I can. I do pray he knows nothing.

That is my agenda for today....until it's time for tomorrow's agenda.