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MARCH FOR OUR LIVES, RUN IN NOVEMBER

Monday, March 26,2018


AFTER FIFTY YEARS PARKLAND STUDENTS PUT CHILDREN'S LIVES AHEAD OF OUR WEAPONS CULTURE


SATURDAY'S "MARCH FOR OUR LIVES" SHOULD BE THE WATERSHED MOMENT IN CHANGING HISTORY AND MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN

By now there is no in America and across the globe that were left untouched by the children and teenagers who marched in protest in 800 cities. Of course the largest march of an estimated 800,000 caught the NRA and many in Congress off guard. 

Andrew Young, former Ambassador to the United Nations and leader of the Civil Rights movement said tears came to his eyes as he listened to those children spoke with resolve and eloquently calling out Congress to ban assault weapons from our streets. Young described his reaction as "tears of joy" because this generation demonstrated their First Amendment rights in their march for what is true democracy.

The question now is whether this "bottom up" movement will gather force or dwindle as many other causes have fallen. There is good reason to be optimistic as kids such as Emma Gonzalez, David Hogg, Cameron Kaski, Delaney Tarr, Jaclyn Cornin and children at eleven years of age gave heartfelt speeches and rallied a crowd that far surpasses the President in truth and scope. These children touched his base as well as a vast majority of adults. 

The key for success of this ban on assault weapons will not fade on the part of these children if their baby boomer grandparents, generation X and the millennial population pick up the gauntlet. As these children come to reach voting age they will add some 800,000 new voters every year. Think of the power of the vote if even fifty percent of this group and millennial go to the polls this November and in 2020. 

The baby boomers, no strangers to demonstrations of the Vietnam era, must take notice of this children's movement against the weapons of war and with renewed vigor encourage and economically support young people to abandon their political disconnect and not only vote but run for office.


David Hogg Future Political Leader

Emma Gonzalez Future Political Leader

As Chris Mathews and Brian Williams commented, no one has ever silenced Washington D.C. for four minutes as Emma Gonzalez. There was no sound of helicopters, no shouts from Neo-Nazis and they left with barely any trash on the ground. Children teaching adults as Senator Dick Durbin described. 

No politician, no Congressman spoke with such force, determination and courage as David Hogg raise the crescendo of the crowd with his cries of "No More." No one has articulated and inspired a massive audience of all ages, all races, all genders and all walks of life since President John F. Kennedy.

What is fascinating is that those Republican Congressman who have relied on the pockets of the NRA was anywhere to be found. Today there is a march from Madison to the home of Speaker Paul Ryan in Plainsville, Wisconsin. Where is Paul Ryan? Staff indicate he is on a trip to Czech Republic of all places. 

In my research since the March For Our Lives, I looked at Florida and home state of Michigan to find on government websites to determine the "age requirement for citizens to run for respective State Legislature. On the government sites there was no mention of this basic requirement. It is as if States dismiss any young adults from running for office. What I learned is that in both Florida and Michigan the magic age is twenty-one. This is the prevalent age among other States. (There are some where the age is eighteen).


THE APPALLING RESPONSE FROM THE NRA, FOX PUNDITS AND REPUBLICAN PARTY

The NRA and staunch supporters of assault weapons under the false guise they are included in the Second Amendment did not voice their First Amendment rights until Sunday. 

The arguments so many voiced were insulting to the intelligence of even those who fall within the so called base of a populist movement. 

Witness the absolutely moronic suggestion of former Republican Senator Rick Santorum.

"How about kids, instead of looking to someone else to solve their problem, do something about maybe taking CPR classes or trying to deal with situations that when there is a violent shooter that you can actually respond to that," 

As far those FOX News pundits they attempted to smear the children who gave speeches and proposed they have no right of free speech and should be denied any voice because they are only kids.

The words of Tucker Carlson, FOX cable speak his ignorance: 

"If you honestly don't care what people who disagree with you think, if you believe they want to, quote, 'murder more children,' then who are you?" he asked.
"You're definitely not fit to be making policy for the rest of us," he said. "Maybe a journalist could point that out."
Carlson added that Hogg has "been through unspeakable tragedy" but should not be able to be "used" by adults to "push [the adults'] agenda on the rest of us."

And then there is Sean Hannity also a populist from FOX cable who uses his anger, racism and pure hatred on a nightly basis cut the legs out from his own argument when he is quoted.

"Let's take this seriously. We should take it seriously because it's serious. If you honestly don't care what the people who disagree with you think, if you believe they want to "murder more children," who are you? Well, you're angry. You're definitely not fit to be making policy for the rest of us. You are by definition an extremist. You should not have power if you really believe anyone who disagrees with you is evil and wants to kill the innocent." 

Yes Mr. Hannity, let's take this seriously. Study carefully his words. His argument that as a member of an "angry" electorate "you are not fit to be making policy" and you are nothing more than an "extremist" is as if the platform of the Republican Party and their leader in hate. 

The second amendment right to "bear arms" (assault rifles) does not "trump" the "lives of our children" whether they occur in mass shootings or the murder of children in urban areas like that of Chicago where 5,000 children have been victims since 2006. Yes, that number is correct. Who on earth can argue these lives don't matter where a right to own an AR-15 is concerned?

No one!



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