Toni Morrison died on Monday leaving these words:” I know the world is bruised and bleeding, and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge – even wisdom.” Like art. (Morrison, in a 2015 essay for The Nation)
Think on that, it is so profound. A brilliant woman who will be so missed – but she did live until the age of 88 – not like so many killed in the recent shooting atrocities. But there is some good news in sight.
According to The Atlantic: “Laws that would temporarily bar a person in crisis from obtaining a gun are attracting renewed support. Seventeen states—some of which have Republican governors—have already enacted them, and lawmakers from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to President Donald Trump have voiced varying levels of support. A plan to help states implement red-flag laws has rare bipartisan backing in Congress, Russell Berman reports.. So there may be, at least, some embryonic attempts at gun control. . The article contained statements by President Trump: “We must make sure that those judged to pose a grave risk to public safety do not have access to firearms, and that if they do, those firearms can be taken through rapid due process,” Trump said at the White House during a statement responding to the weekend massacres that killed at least 31 people in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. “That is why I have called for red-flag laws, also known as extreme-risk protection orders.” That does not sound like the Trump I have grown to know and disrespect. It is so refreshing, Phew!!
Yesterday morning’s Instagram brought hope in another beautifully wrapped package. A young woman, ceo.bri , her Instagram moniker an El Paso native, is coming to the aid and assistance of her city, from afar as she is now in California, attending school and working. She posted a video of support and came up with a clever scheme to raise money to aid victims of the mass shooting. She wisely recounted that it is not just the dead, not just the relatives, friends and family of the dead that are suffering. It is also the wounded, their friends and family. But also, and this is not usually considered – the horrible psychic pain suffered by those who were there, not physically wounded but mentally scarred. This is how the dictionary defines scar: a lasting effect of grief, fear, or other emotion left on a person’s character by an unpleasant experience. (The attack has left mental scars on Terry and his family).
I was able to communicate with this young woman through the wonders of Instagram. I was rewarded beyond belief This inspirational woman wrote: :
She: Wow: I just looked up your blog and your work! You are amazing for using your voice and creativity to spread love and joy to this world. Thank you so much for offering to share this cause on your page. We would deeply appreciate your help in raising awareness and raising funds for the victims and their families. Thank you so much! I will DM you some content to use.
She is raising funds which will be administrated by an existing organization, the El Paso Community Foundation, an organization that is well respected and has done extensive work within the city for years.
She describes it as a small act that anyone can participate in but I beg to differ, it is huge act providing help and support. STAY STRONG EL PASO.
The clever fund raising idea is to offer an extremely attractive baseball hat for a mere $17.00. Here is the link: www.klimpsembriodery.com/collections/for-the-cause.
Me: Will do! It is a fantastic idea and I love how you addressed the issue of gun control.
Again I was rewarded.
She: Thank you so much Alexis. You are a beautiful soul and I love your genuine individuality. There are not too many people these days who are proud to go against the crowed.
I am humbled by this young woman. I am 76 and It has taken me years and years and years to get here and sometimes I am a bit tenuous. (well more than just sometimes). She has IT already, she marshalled herself and her resources in record time.
She is much more savvy than I am with Instagram. I hope her instructions work and, if so, there will be a picture on the blog of the hats. But if not, she will email it to me and it will be posted later.
My original idea was to blog about gun control and gun violence using a factual and intellectual approach, but this is better, to reward compassion and caring and give folks a chance to make a contribution.
