Have given it a few days both for a lot of the initial shock to settle down and to allow me to think on the kid that shot up the Florida School. Ever since Columbine and than Fort Hood, I have become more and more jaded to what is going on in our society in the past 34 years going back to the McDonalds Massacre in July 1984. There are so many incidents on a list I looked at: http://timelines.latimes.com/deadliest-shooting-rampages/ and only a few I actually remembered as I rolled through the list.
We have become a Nation of outsiders where one can be excluded for any number of reasons in the Work Place, a School, just not saying the right words to someone who is slimy and dirty in their machinations with people who are susceptible to being brain washed. And there are of course other "groups/ individuals" based on a plethora of reasons.
The destruction of the so called Nuclear Family from the late 60s on till today has had a major impact on so many people. The kids no longer have in most cases a two parent home with the real father/ mother in place. It may be combination of step this and step that or even a series of live ins that are not as caring as the originals may have been? The throw away family is more the case in these years than the exception. In some cases, maybe justifiably so?
It is being written on how the kid (Cruz), has had a really tough upbringing? That is not just a recent occurrence. Some among us had really tough growing up years and for a lot of reasons have not gone over the edge and shot up the whole neighborhood in one configuration or another.
it is said there were lots of signs the kid was having problems? Got expelled from School for fighting I believe was one? Not sure how one fight would be sufficient reason for a total expulsion so guess there is a lot more I have missed or it has not been put out?
Than the folks he worked with at the Dollar Store there say he is an alright guy. Sounds in some ways like a normal teenager in the day? Get ticked and duke it out; but work and do well. Lot of info seems I missed along the way so far? But I am very comfortable that whatever set him off occurred in that School environment? Did the Counselors really try to work with him or just write him off as a loser?
Someone or some somebodies made some big errors in dealing with that boy and as usual, the innocents paid the price? It is now being said that the FBI received about 20 tips on him in the past few years? The Agency does not always follow the bouncing ball, believe me.
And just in the past few minutes (5:35 A.M., 17 February 2018), it seems the local Police had allegedly been to the family home over 200 times in the past few years? And now a half hour later it is down to just 20. Unbelievable that not a single attempt by the local Law to have this kid put somewhere for help? His mother was said to be terrified of him? I still think the school expulsion was the final brick that tipped over the wall, but it may just have finished the tilt?
Also a comment was out that this all started because of an early trauma?
So much potential lost not just in the initial loss of 17 people and what I have read are 9 wounded? All those families that will live/ suffer with what happened forever. Some memories will of course dim with time for younger involvees, be they a young relative or just some who manages to compartmentalize the loss/ wound?
As is often the case, others will be mentally destroyed by the memories and become victims of Society also. The loss of a loved one can definitely take the wind out of one's sails.
Ever since the Mental Facilities were emptied out decades ago, we have grown accustomed to the ill just wandering the streets and byways of a Community. Go to the bigger Cities and see them as they live under bridges, in tunnels, on hill sides and even doorways and on the streets. But those folks are a mostly different breed from what we have that finally snap and go on a killing rampage?
There is a big todo now on treating the Mentally ill, but we do not have the will or means to do it. There are the usual suspects, lack of facilities, staff, money and the imaginary Civil Rights to wander the streets. But there is not the will to put people in a safe/ secure place while treating them. I am not advocating lifetime incarcerations for a minor incident, but for sure an extended time if they have a seeable need for help? This young fellow may well have needed some help that was not provided? Again, I think his School experiences/ expulsion are the catalyst for whatever is now the case?
I listened to a news report where it is asked if we can stop these incidents or will someone else's school be the next victim? Maybe not the next, but for sure in the pipeline. Just as I have noted what a soft target we are here as an example for some sort of Terrorist Attack, so we are a potential shooting location. There are no blueprints available for these issues, just the sad reality, if not them- who?
It was especially meaningful to me on the Teacher who was said to have stepped in front of some kids and said to have been shot eight (8) times trying to protect them. Now, he is a Hero in my book. But probably no medals for him, just one of 17 gravestones? I believe that Heroes are nothing more than someone in the wrong place at the right time and does the right thing.
Being a pragmatist, I believe that when one is born, one has so many days to live. Only God knows the why and when, the where and how. These folks no matter their age had reached the end of God's Days and were called home. Vaya con Dios. 'nuff said'.