Trying to make sense of the slaughter of innocence in Newtown

The murderer was Goth, just as the Columbine shooters; Death culture.

I believe what makes this mass murder so abhorrent is the innocence of the victims. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

My initial reaction to yesterday's events was shock, and then sadness, so much so I couldn't continue working; I twittered my people "we're done trading for the day". Then I was moved to return a phone call to my mother, whom I had intentionally avoided all week, so I wouldn't have to RSVP to her Christmas dinner invite, but I think it's natural to reach out for whatever love you can find, at times like these.

I think everyone's first reaction is emotional, and the main stream media's continued saturation of graphic high definition images, feeds that emotion. The fact that they would use this event to their own political advantage, outrages me as much as the tragedy itself.  Watch as this event is used to try to push though the UN disarmament treaty - just as Bush/Cheney used 9/11 to pass the Patriot Act to take away our constitutional rights. How convenient! 

The real hero's in all this are those who did what they could to protect the children, like the young teacher who instructed her students to be very quiet because the bad men were outside, while reassuring then that she loves them. Those who see this as the evil act it is, not an opportunity to be exploited for political gain, are also heroes. Those who will not be quiet in the face of popular opinion.  

I have a lot of empathy for the victims, who continues to grieve in a small town on the east coast, but it only effects me to the extent I allow it to affect me.

Prayers have gone out. I've turned the channel to AMC movie classics. "High Plains Drifter" (a Clint Eastwood movie about a gunslinger who saves an entire town).