Related Reading:
Finding Common Ground
"When Harry Met Sally"
Future Voices
Reflection: Santa Fe HS
What About Us?
Education Attack
Reflection: March For Our lives 
Reflection: Souls Healing 

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 

     The other day as I heard the song by Flaujae called "Guns Down". I was left in awe, not only because of her talent, but because of the message that this young performer was carrying. It echoed the many drive-by shootings and homicides that increased in frequency in the 1980 - 1990's. This was partly due to the new type of guns / pistols that were being produced. With gun violence we see patterns that emerge. These are in synchronicity with the progressions of society. As guns develop, so to do the uses and acts from individual cases, that targeted the Black (people of color), African-Americans, to the mass school shootings that are becoming more frequent. From targeting black (people of color), to now schools who have children that are predominately white. As I mentioned earlier - at the heart of gun shootings lies the cry for equality, and social justice.  We see this pattern when we learn of which communities were attacked prior, and now to the present moment. We could even use the unfortunate term as "pay back".

     But what was so powerful about this song were the last words: "put your guns down". When we shuffle away from the if's, but's, why, or how, and go back to the point of finding common ground - it is only then can we begin to understand that gun violence affects everyone. Regardless of race to socio/economic status. It rattles and shakes up communities. Whilst leaders do try to come together to enact change, or revise policy, real change (continuous improvement) can happen when people like Flaujae, the Parkland shooting victims, or the Santa Fe High School students raise their voices, and are able to raise their voices at the level of inter-sectionality. Our own race, ethnicity, faith, or how we choose to represent the self does matter, but this representation becomes much more powerful, when can speak up for others, transcending our own constructs. 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on May 31st, 2018.
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"Life Is A Challenge, We Must Take It." Mother Teresa.
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Related Reading:
Love's Refinery

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

Previously I wrote about the idea of challenges in life, and connected this to adversity. Adversity does challenge humans to grow in the sense that we have to overcome, the challenges in order for personal growth. But to keep that delicate balance in the hear, we ourselves cannot / should not fall into the trap of bitterness. Through every challenge remind yourself, that nothing is ever wasted. However we choose to react or respond, to the challenges, there is learning to be found. 

​My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

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Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on May 28th, 2018. 

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     I have been reflecting upon the gun debate, that usually increases our awareness after a mass school shooting. What is different about Parkland or Santa Fe High School is the responses from the school, or school community after the shooting. Regardless of response, or the complexity of the gun debate, for any approach to work, common ground must be found, between those that support guns, and those that don't. We also have to remember that there are different narratives. For example: Armed police officers, law enforcement, border patrol, or anyone who has received military training for the use of a gun. Then we also have the narratives who are able to possess and keep a gun, legally through the rights that are obtained through the second amendment. There is also the issue of being able to buy a gun through the influx sold illegally.

     There are also assumptions that we can make from the school shootings, such as school shootings also being a form of control. We can even think of the killers themselves being bought and paid for, similar to terrorists, or terrorist groups. But the argument of gun shootings in schools is also that which includes social justice. Where there are invisible demands for justice, for those seeking equity, or equality within the school systems, which brings us back to the idea of why there is gun control. 

     But the common ground as I mentioned earlier has to be found. Regardless of race, or ethnicity these are someone's children who died. The frequency of school shootings is an explicit demand, that common ground must be found, to prevent future school shootings. And I also say this in the strongest terms possible. It is the duty of leaders, and those who possess the power to think critically, and do something now. The rise of school shootings is an attack on the future - an intentional attack. These are planned, and must be analyzed. How are the youth getting the guns in the first place? Does the second amendment need revision? And do existing regulations need to be strengthened? Even if the future gun designs change, so that they can only be operated by the owner only, it will not alter or prevent the already existing circulation of arms in the country. 

     What makes this conversation even more important is the fact that guns are the most lethal weapon, in the sense that they are the most efficient way to cause fatality. Whilst officers do receive training, or individuals use these devices for sports, or hunting, what about private purchases, and individuals who do not possess any training? There are associated psychological costs to the possession of a gun, being healthy in the mind is absolutely essential to gun ownership, we can think about suicides that are committed with a gun. For the youth of parents who possess a gun, we have to question, are these guns being stored properly, so they don't have access to these? 

     While we can enforce or tighten laws as well, there is also the idea of using the law to evoke more stereotyping, and already existing prejudices to target specific communities, or individuals. This might entail additional training and development for officers, who use efforts or initiative to also build community. Overall there is a call to find common ground between the complexity of the debate, because the cost of life is absolutely outweighing the topic of the possession of the gun. Mass gun shootings in any form are a sabotage on America's future.

Dedication: These thoughts are dedicated to all the armed men and women at border services and patrol, at the Ambassador Bridge, Detroit MI. Whilst the conversation about gun debate is critical and vital, we cannot underestimate the work that is invested to protect the Homeland. Thank you! 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness. 

Further Reading:
Reich, K., Culross, P., & Behrman, R. (2002). Children, Youth, and Gun Violence: Analysis and Recommendations. The Future of Children, 12(2), 5-23. doi:10.2307/1602735 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on May 27th, 2018. 
Image 1 - Photo taken May 26th, Ambassador Bridge Detroit, MI. 

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The truth is that as America and Britain were getting ready to celebrate the Royal wedding, the tragedy of Santa Fe High  School struck the Santa Fe community, Texas, and the nation of America. Once again, to grieve this terrible tragedy. The topic of gun violence is complex, but through the writing I wanted to connect this incident with the Royal wedding. Through this shooting America was once again mourning, but the celebrations, and the wedding continued to take place. It made me think about having an American Princess, now the Duchess of Sussex in Britain. 

    Whilst the Queen of England's consent was required, I thought about consent from an American perspective. This marriage is a representation of the binding of two nations. America is not in need go a Princess who simply wanted to get away from her own country, America is not in need of betrayal from one of it's own citizens. With this marriage also arrives a representation of America. The marriage also means a shift from being a person with a political opinion, to that of one of service to the United Kingdom, at the national and International level.

So while the Duchess must now shift her focus from action, to the of service and duty. I question how this marriage affects relations with the U.S. Whilst America does not have a formal monarchy, I also think that consent, and agreements are needed from an American perspective, with a public wedding as this. Keeping, building, and maintaining good relations with the U.S. and U.K. are in the best interests of the two nations, the Monarchy, the future king, and their children. Just as a President who has to adjust from a former life, to that of a Presidential role, so too does Megan Markle, a former actress to that of a role of service. How American ties are to be maintained are yet to be seen. 

Further Reading
The Cut - Now Meghan Markle Has to Go Through 6 Months of Duchess Training

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

​Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on May 25th, 2018.
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It is true that hearing of death, destruction can add to our sense of feeling overwhelmed, or anxious. Not being able to see our way through this becomes difficult. I can only imagine what the families of loved ones, or friends are going through. And for this I ask everyone, regardless of religion, beliefs, faith, or personal affiliations, to take a moment to pray, or reflect for peace. 

The victims, and families of the school shootings, deaths from plane crashes, the destructions to the earth, and volcanic eruptions, the loss of life from the plane crashes. May we all find it within ourselves to pray for all the suffering, loss, injury. May we find healing for the life that remains, and the cherished lands that are hurting.

​My thoughts to share with love & kindness.

Notes: These thoughts were written on May 24th 2018. 
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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 

     The historic meeting between North Korea and the United States is set to happen soon. However, this meeting for peace is being scarred, when we hear of demands comments from his view, and of course this leads to a U.S. response. While peace talks between nations should be viewed as historic defining moments, the desire to want peace, and to take actions for peace must also be taken freely. In a sense what I am saying is that you have to have a wanting for peace. Talks of not holding the meeting, delaying, or comments from either side, creates an uneasiness for the wanting of peace. It makes me wonder it peace is something that the North Korean leader truly desires.  

     Peace begins with peaceful talks, and after that it becomes a process. It has to be maintained, exchanges, built through relational endeavours. Peace talks are one attempt towards peace, it is a beginning. It is an attempt for peace. It is not a destination, but rather a journey for the beginning of peaceful relations. It takes effort, human, and capital investment. And it does / will take both sides to engage in agreements, efforts to build this relational peace. It might even mean that the international community work together so that this  attempt for peace can happen, and can also be maintained. 

Update:
Since writing these words, today President Trump announced that the scheduled meeting with Kim Jong-Un has been cancelled. I would also like to echo the words of the letter that was sent to the North Korean leader. It is a sad day for diplomacy, democracy, and for peace builders. However, as I wrote earlier, peace is an invitation, a joint effort from all the parties involved, it should not be used as a bargaining agent, or a mechanism to exploit. This is the right decision at this time. I also hope that the North Korean leader will remain open to the idea of peace talks, but also having thought through what the idea of peace entails as well. 

Further Reading:
CNN News: Fate of Trump-Kim meeting uncertain, but there will always be a coin

NY Times: Trump Backs Away From Demand for Immediate North Korean Denuclearization

​My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 
Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on May 24th, 2018.
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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 

    After facing one challenge, we accomplish this, only to realize that we are able to sit back, relax, but then stricken with another challenge. Challenges do come and go in your life, but the challenge with life challenges, hardships, and working our way through these, is to keep the softness, and delicate balance within the heart. 

    Challenges don't carve out the rough edges of life. We carve through these. They allow us to see clarity, and in a sense also contribute to harden the heart, Challenges are also a form of adversity. Through challenges, adversity, we must ourselves remember the need for love, care, support, affection, because love is the ultimate refinery. Love is the ultimate refinery. It smoothes out edges. It allows us to forget the sharpest edges. 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on May 22nd, 2018.
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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

   Just when you thought you have learned everything that you needed to know, you realize that there is more to know and learn. So what is one to do? Choose to learn more? Choose to make a meaningful contribution to society? Pursue one's interests? Or can anyone choose do all? This is exactly how I felt with the multiplicity of thoughts that bombarded me, thinking of what path to take, and how to use the tools of knowledge. But after hearing about another shooting in Santa Fe High School, Texas, I was left to question why. The answers were not there. Why do these school shootings continue to happen? Why are the killers students or young adults? It doesn't make sense. So to comfort the heart, I decided to read and learn more.

     I realized the complexity of guns in America. The fact is that the Second Amendment exists, which is the right to bear and keep arms legally. In other countries just as guns, drugs, or other harmful substances are obtained illegally, in America guns can also be purchased from a secondary market. These are not new devices, usually sold by previous owners, and either  end up, or purchased with the hands of teenagers. We see the consequence of guns getting in the wrong hands.

     The is also the influence of video / computer games that are instilling auto suggestive messages to the brain, eventually cause the actions. So here we can question - is there a link between the behaviour of school shooters and gamers? And also we can question if there are any similar patterns, as to how the gun shootings are occurring. Patterns can help to decipher a cause, as to why there is a an increased frequency in school shootings. Whilst these are necessary for the process of investigations, prevention, and the reduction of gun crime, we have to question is society, community, and family willing to bear the cost of school shootings?

     Gun violence in all forms bears a cost. But the case for school shootings differs, because there is a mass attack on the future. The future being the students in the school. Children represent the future. When lives are lost, there is an attack on the future.  It is the voices of the leaders, school leaders, teachers, educators, that in a sense are the protectors of the future voices. Similar to this pen, or my words that I write, which are an attempt to protect future voices. What happens when there is a gun attack? In an instant, the future is injured, lost, and the voices of the protectors are also sabotaged. With the senseless attacks the injury is born to the whole school, entire school population, community, and other school districts. Gun violence instills fear, and it is the acts that occur in one school, that increase the perception of risk in another, sending implicit messages that there is no safe place.    

    Now we can ask - how much is a community willing to pay to reduce the risk of gun violence? Initiatives for reduction, or prevention arrive at a cost. The cost eventually arrives at the hands of the tax payer. If we view human life as priceless, then the value set as priceless has to also be protected. But the irony is that there are costs involved, so there is a price to human life. For example: where a person lives, works, and attends school arrives at a cost. The cost differs according to where one lives, works, or attends school. The variation of cost also affects quality of life, and safety. Where one chooses to live is also a factor that protects the value of human life. Socio / economic status, or being rich or poor does have an impact on living standards, but gun violence reduces the quality of life for all Americans. Those who are involved, and those who are not. Psychological impact, and perceptions of fear affect American society as a whole. 

     The question that remains is what are the trade-offs involved in protecting and reducing gun crime, or is the protection of school security worth it? In my opinion I would argue yes. School shootings are an attack on children, who represent the future. To me this value is priceless regardless of socio / economic status. The  burden of school shootings  affects all of American society.

Recommendation: 
There is a recommendation that all new handguns incorporate a personalized chip that reads finger prints, so that the device is only accessible to the owner. This would be worth a try to prevent future misuse, however this measure would not eliminate illegal purchases or secondary markets (Cook & Ludwig, 2002).

A Note of Hope: It is true that gun violence and school shootings have a significant affect upon society as a whole, we can never replace the lives that are lost. But we ourselves must not fall prey to the perceptions of fear, and risk. Remind yourself, that your life is in the hands of God.

My thoughts to share with love & kindness. ​

​Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on May 23rd, 2018. 

Reference:
Cook, P., & Ludwig, J. (2002). The Costs of Gun Violence against Children. The Future of Children, 12(2), 87-99. doi:10.2307/1602740

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Related Reading:
What About Us?
Education Attack
Reflection: March For Our lives 
Reflection: Souls Healing 

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 

     On Friday 18th of May 2018, once again we witnessed another high school shooting. We haven't even recovered from Parkland, to hear of another. This time in the Santa Fe High School, Texas. It is absolutely heartbreaking to see / hear students telling their stories, with tears in their eyes, about their experience of a school shooting. We pray. We cry. Bury the dead. Tend to the wounds. Congregate to mourn, and heal our wounds, at the communal and national level. It is a story that we have heard before, and continue to hear. And quite frankly it is one that I have written about as the school shootings occur, and of their aftermath. The cycle continues to repeat itself. Who is going to be next? Am I safe? Why should a student, or a parent, send their child to school when they know there could be a chance of a shooting? Or why should a student travel to the USA as an exchange student to know that this chance exists?  

ABC13 Houston - News Article

     The shootings themselves represent something larger than what is seen, they can be categorized as another form of modern terror, that is happening from within a nation. They are a cause of public insecurity, that is developing in the school system, education, and teaching profession. This is not just an attack on education, but also an attack on future leaders, and generations that are getting ready, and preparing to build the future, for the sake of the nations prosperity. I know that you are probably thinking that you've heard this before, but believe me, I also feel the same, An utter shame that these school shootings do not stop, or prevented, or thought about why they are happening in the first place? 

     Educators who are in the teaching profession know that there are imperfections within the education profession, but isn't that the same as any profession or field? Nothing is perfect. It is about working with the imperfections, to make progress. To make an impact upon the lives that you do touch. That is what the profession at the school level is all about. To make an impact upon the lives you touch, making a contribution, and working at the school level to create positive change / continuous improvement. Which also includes attitudinal shifts, and recognizing where there are school cultures that need to be changed, or altered, to meet the needs reflected by the student population, which includes the facets of diversity. 

     But what about the gun violence in schools, the public outcries, or teachers that are demanding change? Nothing changes. School shootings are plauging the richness, wealth of knowledge, and education, that can shape the future generations. What more can this pen do but to simply stand with the lost, the injured, and mourning communities. To hope that leaders who possess the power put an end to this modern form of terror. to put an end to school shootings. School shootings are not about guns, they are about control. 

I continue to hope and pray for the healing of the families. While we do hear of these tragedies too often, they cannot be normalized. Every child / student life that is lost, injured, or suffered deserves respect, and love. My thoughts to share with love & kindness. 

​Further Reading: 
​ABC13 Houston - Exchange student from Pakistan among 8 students killed in Santa Fe High School shooting

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on May 19th, 2018.
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