Muleskinner

Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: Opinion

Commentary: Molly Saunders. [Click to enlarge]

It is evident there have been a lot of school shootings lately. By lately I mean in the past year or so. Have you ever thought about what you would do if someone stood up in your class and pulled out a gun? Is there really anything anyone can do?

While I'm sure metal detectors and cops in every building may be an option for some schools, many others may not be able to afford such measures. UCM, for instance, is a public university, and I doubt that kind of money is collecting dust in a drawer somewhere.

Another resolution may have something to do with counseling. I only recommend this because it seems at least half of all shooters take their own lives after they take others', and perhaps, if someone had listened to them, they would have been able to find another way to cope with their feelings.

But I'm not a doctor, and I don't even know if this is really the problem, that students are feeling left out, lonely and afraid.

How would counseling even be implemented? It's not even feasible to assume we could counsel every person that probably needs counseling. So how do we fix what's happening?

Maybe we are too blind. Maybe we don't treat each other with respect. Maybe we assume nothing will happen in our school, or that we will graduate before something does.

Maybe we are ignoring jokes and comments about killing people because it's the cool thing to do, because if we actually speak out and say something, others will think we are over-reacting. Maybe we are not aware of people who may look like they could commit this type of crime. Maybe there is something obvious to which we are not paying attention.

Now, before you go and get you panties in a bunch, I want to remind you that I'm not advocating fear or hate of others; on the contrary, I am advocating respect and acceptance of others.

I don't think just being nice to people is going to prevent shootings in the future. But who's to say it won't better our community? Maybe we are really so self-absorbed that we don't believe being kind can make a difference any more.

It's difficult to tell what the real problem is here. One thing is for sure though; there is something to be said about being kind. I don't mean making friends with every person you meet, I mean being polite, listening, talking and caring.

As I have said so many times before, one little smile can go a long way. It may not make school shootings go away, but why not try it if there's a possibility it will make someone feel better?

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