Stories Collected While Living in France
Unfair this life thing.
I cannot and do not want to imagine the fear,
but there it is staring and it doesn't go away, and it shouldn't.
Dancing, as the gunshots mixed with the music, only when people fell to the ground did they know something was wrong.
How cruel. Hatred is.
Feeling defeated when I read: "Two hundred mass shootings since Newton."
Pray yes, but something has to change.
My heart remains heavy and the world gets sadder every day. I look for some positive during times like these, hard right now to see it. Young people should be able to dance without fear. I sure did.
Yes, something must change.
What are the gun control laws in France?
Amen.
Prayer as meditation for an individual’s peace I get. But prayer to fix the gun control problem is silly. We need action.
We need to start being intolerant of intolerance instead of just angry at people who are different.
Assault weapons have NO place in the hands of any non-military or cop citizen.
It’s time we protect our fecking fellow humans more than our guns.
It’s time to stop calling up a ragged old piece of paper written before modern guns were created…our right to bear arms the people cry over and over again….and yet that was for a bloody fricking musket.
Not a gun that can spray bullets.
Change is coming in the USA.
We are the embarrassment of the world.
We deserve the ridicule for ever allowing a racist, xenophobic, homophobic, sexist candidate to become Republican front runner.
We are #BernieOrBust
#BernieOrGreen
We have a chance to improve the lives of every American and in doing so perhaps we can solve problems before they become murders. Help people before the weight of just trying to exist crushes us.
We can have healthcare, like every other modern country, instead of going BANKRUPT from medical bills as I have.
We can provide education for our people instead of incarcerations. WEe have more people in jail than any other major country in the world.
Mass murders are like the buried cyst erupting.
We can not hope to pray it away.
We need to take steps.
It’s not okay to be homophobic. Your religious rights extend as far as the tip of your nose. We have a chance to make the future better for our children.
I surely hope people are looking hard at what we can achive through Bernie Sanders instead of just posting another facebook profile pic in mourning, another argument on gun control…
Are we AmeriCANS or AmeriCAN’Ts ?
Cause so far we are can’ts.
Lets change that.
#BernieOrBust
#BernieOrGreen
We in the United States will defend ourselves and our families. Anyone who believes in unicorns can face a killer without a weapon to defend himself and his family.
No one can take this from the American citizen. It is a God given right to defend one’s self and family.
This had nothng to do with gun control and turning socialist won’t fix anything–look at Venezuela going down the tubes from socialism and, by the way, Bernie, climate change has nothing to do with terrorism. It has to do with hatred and intolerance, and a hatred of Americans’ freedom and tolerance. If guns aren’t available the crazies just use box cutters, swords and explosives–focusing on guns will not solve the world’s problem with the religion of intolerance which only wants us to convert or die.
Thank you Tracey.
Merci, France:
mashable.com/2016/06/13/eiffel-tower-rainbow-orlando/#GSt6n2.busq2
“I have come into this world to see this: the sword drop from men’s hands even at the height of their arc of rage, because we have finally realized there is just one flesh we can wound.”
-by the poet Hafez
A friend asked if “this is just the way it’s going to be from now on”…Oh, I hope not. From The Guardian:
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2015/oct/02/mass-shootings-america-gun-violence
Assault weapons, invented by humans, have been endangering our species and should be made extinct….NOW.
assault rifles have no place with civilians. You are correct.
One could not kill 50 people with box cutters. Please. Automatic rifles do not belong. I agree with the hatred and intolerance. How to stop that?
I have no idea.
How about starting with the banning of automatic rifles?
Scary stuff. Very scary. Very sad.
They are used against humans…….and animals. They need to be banned AGAIN! How many people know that they were banned in this country for years! And then the ban was not renewed……thanks to the gun lobby , and I believe Republicans!!!
Guns are rarely used in self-defense. They tend to be used by men against their wives or exes. http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/02/having-a-gun-in-the-house-doesnt-make-a-woman-safer/284022/
A group of people being mowed down for being gay is horrific. But we don’t even see the women killed by their partners because they are being picked off one at a time.
The only reason to have an assault rifle is if you’re in a war.
I couldn’t agree more, Penelope. I couldn’t agree less, Proud American. But I’m glad you each voiced your thoughts.
Banning assault weapons is a critical part of the solution we seek. Write to your congresspeople!
Anybody with an evil mindset will find a way to destruct. No, assault weapons should not be made so readily available, but the issues are so much deeper than that. We need to address the core of the hatred, perhaps starting at the friend and family level. Being aware if someone is mentally unstable and seeking to help this person. We need to be more aware of the people in our lives, what they are going through, how they are feeling, who are they associating with, and what they are doing. If we can help redirect them, or get them on the radar for professional help maybe we can prevent their destruction of themselves and others.We do not know the mindset of radical thinkers, but I would think those closest to that person or persons know that there are red flags. They need to act on their findings, not just assume they are not going to act out atrocities. There are many levels and systems that need to be fixed, not just the gun issue. Too many lone wolves are turning to the radicals. We all need to start to take responsibility and look for ways to help and not just blame the government. This has been many years in the making and there is no easy answer. My heart breaks for this world and I do hope for positive change for our children. My prayers are for direction and for leadership that will bring knowledge, discernment, and positive change to a needing world.
As an American, I am becoming weary with the constant grief for slaughtered innocents. While the 2 political parties fight about whether or not certain people should be able to buy guns and under what conditions, no one is asking the essential question – why are we manufacturing assault weapons at all? What purpose aside from slaughter could they possibly have? We bring this wrath upon ourselves – it is a black mark on the soul of America.
Thank you, Corey. Our country is in the grip of a cruel oligarchy of indifferent Republican lawmakers, the NRA and now a hate-spewing, pathologically lying Donald Trump that refuses to acknowledge the obvious need for gun control. It is heart breaking. There will be more unnecessary tragedies because guns Trump kids.
I appreciate your call to pray. I know God works in response to our prayer. Did you hear about the mass murder in Chicago this weekend? 44 people were shot and 7 of them died from their gunshot wounds. This makes 282 people gunned down dead so far this year in the U.S. city where it is already illegal for anyone to own a gun of any type. Only God can fix this. The government is too busy doing other important stuff to succeed stopping us from shooting each other. By the way, the Orlando shooter may have heard on YouTube from Farrokh Sekaleshfar, who recently spoke in Orlando, that death is the sentence for being gay. And that killing them is compassionate. So maybe it wasn’t a hate crime; rather he was doing what he thought was the compassionate thing to do. Anyone tolerant enough to tolerate that view?
I totally agree with Elaine!
Maybe, just maybe,
God has left the building. ??????
In the US, the true terrorists are the NRA and people in congress and senate that refuse to even hold hearings on sensible gun regulation. No one is trying to abolish the 2nd amendment but assault weapons have no other purpose but mass murder. This madman had to wait 3 days to get a handgun but an assault weapon was given without question. Get out and vote on 11/8 – look at every person you are considering voting for – what their position is on gun laws and how much money they receive from the NRA.
Hi Rhonda
I did dance. In a gay club, twice a week. I met Yann there at the i-Beam in San Francisco. It is hard to see such anger, hatred … and the question remains: Can this change, can we stop this?
C
http://www.bustle.com/articles/123809-what-are-frances-gun-laws-like-the-attacks-took-place-in-a-city-with-strict-firearms
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overview_of_gun_laws_by_nation
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2015/01/daniel-zimmerman/mon-dieu-a-review-of-french-gun-laws/
A little bit of gun laws in France.
I forgot that story of how you met Yann! Yes, the I-Beam:) I remember a follower of yours who actually knew the club and had also danced there (around the same time you did.) Small world. I also went to a gay dance club with a load of (gay) friends from he restaurant I worked in while a college student. The thought that those kind, generous, funny, wonderful, valuable-to -ociety people would be/could be gunned down randomly is spine chilling. I feel so powerless against the NRA. I weep.
Thank you Tracey for sharing your opinion and thoughts. I appreciate your honesty. I agree with you: Prayer is not enough, change is a must and with courage and discernment I want to believe we can find a solution. Listening is the first step. Thank you for opening the conversation with your candor .
I rarely open my blog to the politic arena, because I know that there are many opinions, and though I might not believe in all of them I am willing to hear the opinions and thoughts, concerns and doubts, of whoever wants to share. A conversation is needed, a round table for listening without thrashing or judging. Listening is an art. I want to learn this. Thank you for sharing honestly.
Something has to change, we understand and agree about that, how or what is the next step I do not know. But certainly communicating with listening is key. It is not violence for violence, nor reacting to fear to fear, that does not solve the problem. I do not have the answer nor claim to know one, but I can say I believe that hatred is the root of evil and it exist in many shapes, forms, thoughts and ideals… Now what do we do to bring about change?
It is scary and very sad, we need the courage to change. Thank you for sharing your thoughts x
Hugging you dearly for sharing this poem. If only we all felt the same way about being one flesh.
Hatred and violence is the enemy. And many believe guns are not the problem. Reading the comments on this non political blog shows that we (those who have commented thus far) are not of the same thought or solution. Though the comments have one point in common,
We do not have the answer.
I am trying to stay neutral and not jump on one side or the other, at least on my blog, I want to have a conversation and maybe that can be a beginning. Thank you for your input I appreciate your thoughts.
Some various sources, please feel free to add your own:
http://www.davekopel.org/2A/LawRev/american-revolution-against-british-gun-control.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_the_United_States_by_state
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Firearms_Act
https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-guns
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/06/12/orlando-shooting-the-key-things-to-know-about-about-guns-and-mass-shootings-in-america/
It seems that some people believe that if there is a war, they want to be prepared and that owning a gun will protect them.
It seems that “war” can be brought on by one or a few people anywhere, for any reason, at any time: during a race, at a theatre, at a dance, or over dinner, even at an elementary school…
It seems that some people believe that “protecting” oneself means owning a gun.
Also there is the second amendment … http://www.livescience.com/26485-second-amendment.html
Some feel safer with a gun.
It seems that most of the killing in the USA is not by protecting oneself with a gun, but by being killed with a gun.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-guns-self-defense-charleston-20150619-story.html
It seems that some believe that guns do not kill.
And as you said… some do not see the hidden violence of “one at a time”
https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/userfiles/Gun%20Fact%20Sheet_FINAL%2003%2003%2013.pdf
Please feel free to add… the any pro or con…
I want a change, change the ridiculous, evil, hatred that is happening all over the world, and so I am bringing up the conversation: What can we do to stop hatred that causes violence?
Well said Elaine. Respectful, non finger pointing, strong advise, taking responsibility of each other. Thank you. I believe this is the right direction.
Sadly, it is an unbearable truth.
We must spread peace in ways that build bridges, reconnect people, with understanding, acceptance of differences and take courage.
The path to peace saves us. We must take the steps to build together, and not pull apart.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, it encourages others to do the same.
Montréal poet Laureano Soares composed this poem after the Bataclan attack in Paris, for a Portuguese-Canadian literary event the following week. My friend Emanuel and I have translated it into English. Sadly, it now applies equally to the massacre at The Pulse in Orlando.
“I Died at the Bataclan in Paris”
In commemoration of November 13, 2015
For a brief moment I felt the pain,
my twitching eyes closed,
My hands and my fingers clenched
life poured out of me, I fell to the floor.
I could no longer hear screams or moans;
my body was covered with a sheet
and never again shall I see sunlight,
I didn’t have the fragile good luck of the wounded.
I’ll never set foot on the road
that I saw in the distance with tenderness,
it was all over. A sordid and sad end.
I was one of those chosen from among the masses
a victim of wars, of ideals,
I was another Abel in Cain’s clutches.
https://www.facebook.com/cafelusofono/photos/a.198443950278644.41519.192313837558322/810639502392416/?type=3&theater
Thank you Kirk. “Anyone tolerant enough?” That is thought provoking and scary.
“We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.”
Ah love… I want everyone to love in the way that allows everyone to live without killing one another or causing harm. Am I an unicorn?
Thank you for sharing a wide berth to dive into.
Along with Elvis?
I am glad you added this Kathie xx
I wasn’t sure if you wanted it or not, Corey. The organizers of the event in Montréal posted it online the next day, and I was so moved I immediately began translating it.
Meanwhile, my friend Emanuel who attended the event was so moved by the poet’s reading of it that he emailed me when he got home to Toronto, in order to tell me about and send me the original text! So I emailed him my draft translation, and he corrected my errors (LOL!).
Today, in France, two adults in a domestic partnership were killed in front of their young child…in their own home, reportedly by another religious fanatic.
Does this change anyone’s opinion about guns ? Do we have a right to protect ourselves and our children?
If it had been a robbery…would we still want to retain the right to defend ourselves ? Are we truly ready to submit to what ever dangers that may come in life, to be completely defenseless and helpless ?
If someone with a criminal mind wants to harm others, they will obtain or make a weapon whether its legal to own one or not. Despite statistics and well meaning thoughts to protect the innocent by banning guns, I intend to fight for my rights and freedom to defend myself and family by owning my own weapon, and will submit to a psychological test and screening to own one anytime!
Being an outsider, living in NZ, American gun laws have never made any sense to me. Sadly there is hate and violence everywhere – but one would imagine that if it was harder to purchase these destructive weapons, surely, America would be a safer place.
Prayer is never wasted. Prayer without action is another thing.
Thank you for opening the dialogue, Corey. There is nothing easier or more complicated than learning to love.
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