laughedatbytime Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 I found this post on Reddit by one of the grieving families. I think it deserves to be read: I was raised in newtown from aged 8 until my graduation from N.H.S. I walked the hallways of Sandy Hook Elementary school and have nothing but positive memories of the place. I remember Mrs. Chard in the library, always smiling and never having a bad thing to say about us. I remember when, in 4th grade, the teachers decided to let us have a bit of fun during lunch and they brought in a karaoke machine for anyone to use. I remember seeing the same sign you've seen on tv every morning before I entered a school full of love, happiness and innocence. Like you, I always considered my hometown a bit special, a bit above the violence and carelessness of the world; a safe haven for my development into the young man I am today. I was torn apart, as was the rest of the world, when I awoke Friday morning to the news. My best friends mother was freaking out, I knew I had to be with them, and I stayed with them all day.Bit by bit our neighbors and friends chimed in, letting us know their children were safe. Some stayed quiet, and we knew why. We all gathered, at Saint Rose to mourn the death of children so young, and the teachers who saved them. If you can imagine what it's like mourning the death of the little neighbor you used to babysit, or the kids you watched hop up on the bus every morning, you can understand that it's a solitary moment. As a community we gathered, forgoing the feuds (and trust me, we're human, we aren't perfect to one another at all times in this town, just like in yours) all the bitterness and anger, and we came together in love. You can comprehend my anger at hearing cameras go off as I watched my best friends father break down. You can relate you wanting some alone time to be able to talk about how to get over this as a community without the intrusion of public opinion, reporters, and all the like. To the reporters hoping to get a Pulitzer prize for their efforts yesterday I ask: Is your soul worth it? Are you happy, 24 hours news media? You've got what you wanted, right? You've got something to talk about for days, and every December 14th you can remind us of a day that will haunt Newtown until the earth shatters into the emptiness of space (although for us that happened yesterday). Now you can have 25 pieces of fodder to discuss mental illness, gun control, safety regulations, and what ever else you need. You have a list of 20 children and 5 heroes and you can call up every one of their names, hardcore atheists and Christians, when trying to convert people. Wonderful! Come on, let's keep talking about Adam, a kid who I went to school with. Let's give more psychopaths a folk hero to rally to when this happens again in another state. Good job media, people who can't shut down their opinions for 5 f***ing seconds, and camera man looking for prizes. Don't patronize us, you don't care about the deaths, you just want ratings. And everyone will keep watching. As if you deserve to toss out your opinions. I'm glad we can become another Columbine, (to you residents there, I never understood until now, and we are in a morbid club, inexplicably intertwined by violence) another cold useless fact. You can do all of this and be happy, because you wanted it. For the record, no one in Newtown was talking about gun control laws, mental health issues, or anything. We were just holding each other, trying to make sense of the senseless. We are ok with you grieving with us, but put down the camera and help us try to piece back together our lives. We need that more than media coverage of this sad day in our history. I'm putting this is /r politics because I have no idea where to put it. You can repost it I don't know where it goes and it doesn't matter. Thanks for reading. Before anyone begins to question my Newtown-ness:http://i.imgur.com/dI1xB.jpg Other people have made comments in the thread claiming to be Newtownians but not proof was supplied. Here's the link if you want to read more. EDIT: The font came out super small for some odd reason.Thanks for sharing...it very much does deserve to be read... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fonzbear2000 Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Not Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 (edited) I found this post on Reddit by one of the grieving families. I think it deserves to be read: I was raised in newtown from aged 8 until my graduation from N.H.S. I walked the hallways of Sandy Hook Elementary school and have nothing but positive memories of the place. I remember Mrs. Chard in the library, always smiling and never having a bad thing to say about us. I remember when, in 4th grade, the teachers decided to let us have a bit of fun during lunch and they brought in a karaoke machine for anyone to use. I remember seeing the same sign you've seen on tv every morning before I entered a school full of love, happiness and innocence. Like you, I always considered my hometown a bit special, a bit above the violence and carelessness of the world; a safe haven for my development into the young man I am today. I was torn apart, as was the rest of the world, when I awoke Friday morning to the news. My best friends mother was freaking out, I knew I had to be with them, and I stayed with them all day.Bit by bit our neighbors and friends chimed in, letting us know their children were safe. Some stayed quiet, and we knew why. We all gathered, at Saint Rose to mourn the death of children so young, and the teachers who saved them. If you can imagine what it's like mourning the death of the little neighbor you used to babysit, or the kids you watched hop up on the bus every morning, you can understand that it's a solitary moment. As a community we gathered, forgoing the feuds (and trust me, we're human, we aren't perfect to one another at all times in this town, just like in yours) all the bitterness and anger, and we came together in love. You can comprehend my anger at hearing cameras go off as I watched my best friends father break down. You can relate you wanting some alone time to be able to talk about how to get over this as a community without the intrusion of public opinion, reporters, and all the like. To the reporters hoping to get a Pulitzer prize for their efforts yesterday I ask: Is your soul worth it? Are you happy, 24 hours news media? You've got what you wanted, right? You've got something to talk about for days, and every December 14th you can remind us of a day that will haunt Newtown until the earth shatters into the emptiness of space (although for us that happened yesterday). Now you can have 25 pieces of fodder to discuss mental illness, gun control, safety regulations, and what ever else you need. You have a list of 20 children and 5 heroes and you can call up every one of their names, hardcore atheists and Christians, when trying to convert people. Wonderful! Come on, let's keep talking about Adam, a kid who I went to school with. Let's give more psychopaths a folk hero to rally to when this happens again in another state. Good job media, people who can't shut down their opinions for 5 f***ing seconds, and camera man looking for prizes. Don't patronize us, you don't care about the deaths, you just want ratings. And everyone will keep watching. As if you deserve to toss out your opinions. I'm glad we can become another Columbine, (to you residents there, I never understood until now, and we are in a morbid club, inexplicably intertwined by violence) another cold useless fact. You can do all of this and be happy, because you wanted it. For the record, no one in Newtown was talking about gun control laws, mental health issues, or anything. We were just holding each other, trying to make sense of the senseless. We are ok with you grieving with us, but put down the camera and help us try to piece back together our lives. We need that more than media coverage of this sad day in our history. I'm putting this is /r politics because I have no idea where to put it. You can repost it I don't know where it goes and it doesn't matter. Thanks for reading. Before anyone begins to question my Newtown-ness:http://i.imgur.com/dI1xB.jpg Other people have made comments in the thread claiming to be Newtownians but no proof was supplied. Here's the link if you want to read more. EDIT: The font came out super small for some odd reason. 4reddit6me Edited December 16, 2012 by Mr. IsNot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Territorial_Game Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 There really are no words... I'm not a father and don't plan on being one any time soon, but the kids I've taught this year have just given me a little glimpse of how amazing children can be. Just being a sub, I've worked in every grade level, but these elementary kids (especially this 3rd grade) have been such an incredible influence on my life. The idea that someone could do this... I can't even fathom it. It was so hard to keep that professional demeanor around them on Friday (I read the first report on my lunch break) that I couldn't even begin to imagine being the father of one of those kids. And, just being real, there's a handful who are my favorites (mostly because of attitude and friendliness), and dear Ged, seeing that kid on the way out of the building was almost too much. It's just unimaginable... f**k, I can't explain this. I dunno, been avoiding any conversation about the incident until now and haven't gathered my thoughts. Been running from them. f**k. Seriously, teachers and parents and brothers and sisters, hug your loved ones until they think you're a total weirdo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
librarian Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll82/librarianJ/candle_CN4UZG.gif http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w240/Bevermans/Icons/Chat%20User%20Icons/th_BVR114ChatIcon.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Sawyer Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarkus406 Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Most schools in Newtown have reopened, but the Sandy Hook students won't be in class until January, after winter break. Just read that my home town of Monroe is helping out and re-opening my old middle school to them, which has been shut down for over a year now. I miss that school but it sucks that it's opening back up under these gruesome circumstances. :( My wife and I will be in CT next week and I'm considering volunteering to help set up the elementary students' temporary "new" school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUSHHEAD666 Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Most schools in Newtown have reopened, but the Sandy Hook students won't be in class until January, after winter break. Just read that my home town of Monroe is helping out and re-opening my old middle school to them, which has been shut down for over a year now. I miss that school but it sucks that it's opening back up under these gruesome circumstances. :( My wife and I will be in CT next week and I'm considering volunteering to help set up the elementary students' temporary "new" school. You Rule! Do it! Happy Holidays! Earl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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