Like many around the world I woke up yesterday to the devastating news of another school shooting in America - and like many around the world my heart broke for the victims, their families and friends and the survivors.
I can't decide if this man's look if relief at finding his child alive or appealing to a higher being to explain this.
This is relief
I quickly flicked through a few twitter posts, some online news stories - growing anger that this had happened again and once again large amounts of America did not want to talk about gun control.
You see, I hate guns. See no reason for them to be in a suburban setting. See no reason for any civilian to possess something that can spray a large number of bullets in a very short period of time. I live in Australia and after a horrific massacre at Port Arthur in 1996, the Australian government introduced strict gun control laws in the face of opposition from farmer and gun lobby groups. But they did it - and it worked. In the 18 years before 1996, Australia suffered 13 mass shootings. There has not been one since.
Port Arthur, Tasmania. The site of Australia's last mass shooting
Anyway, I went through my day - kids activities, shopping, gathering of friends at my place last night for end of year drinks. But all day I checked twitter, news feeds - looking for ?? answers, I suppose.
And then last night, after our guests had gone and I sat down, I picked up my tablet one more time, to just check before bed and read that the children killed were aged between 5 and 10. My kids are 7 and 10. I broke down, I sobbed, I hurt. I tried, so hard, to imagine that those warm little bodies upstairs asleep were gone and I couldn't, I couldn't go there. How, I asked my husband, how do you go to sleep tonight? How do you reconcile that child you dropped off at school that morning with your brutal, harsh reality of now. His answer - you don't. Even now as I type this I cry. I cry for all who have suffered in this and a cry for a whole nation that is hurting, but must start taking steps, must start the conversation. .
Victoria Soto - a teacher who died protecting her students
Finally - Walter Mikac who lost his children and wife at Port Arthur has, since that day refused to say or write the name of the gunman. Too often in these crimes we remember the name of the perpetrator, but not the victims. I too refuse to name the gunman - in either of these terrible events. But here is a list of those who deserve to be remembered, both from Port Arthur and Sandy Hook, remember them, for they deserve your time and thoughts, as do all the victims of these horrific crimes.
Port Arthur Massacre - Australia 1996 Winifred Joyce Aplin, 58Walter John Bennett, 66Nicole Louise Burgess, 17Sou Leng Chung, 32Elva Rhonda Gaylard, 48Zoe Anne Hall, 28Elizabeth Jayne Howard, 26Mary Elizabeth Howard, 57Mervyn John Howard, 55Ronald Noel Jary, 71Tony Vadivelu Kistan, 51Leslie Dennis Lever, 53Sarah Kate Loughton, 15David Martin, 72Noelene Joyce Martin, 69Pauline Virjeana Masters, 49Alannah Louise Mikac, 6Madeline Grace Mikac, 3Nanette Patricia Mikac, 36Andrew Bruce Mills, 49Peter Brenton Nash, 32Gwenda Joan Neander, 67Moh Yee Willing Ng, 48Anthony Nightingale, 44Mary Rose Nixon, 60Glen Roy Pears, 35Russell James Pollard, 72Janette Kathleen Quin, 50Helene Maria Salzmann, 50Robert Graham Salzmann, 57Kate Elizabeth Scott, 21Kevin Vincent Sharp, 68Raymond John Sharp, 67Royce William Thompson, 59Jason Bernard Winter, 29
Sandy Hook, USA - 2012
