A Generation’s Defining Moment

Today, millions marched in the streets of America protesting our national and cultural addiction to guns.  The demonstrations were inspired by the latest mass shooting at a Parkland, FL high school.  In fact, the largest of these protests in Washington DC is actually being led by the survivors of the latest massacre.

Their message is simple: enact common sense legislation which will keep guns out of the hands of those who will commit acts of mass destruction.  Liberals have long been accused of wanting to repeal the Second Amendment.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  I think it is fair to assume that liberals and progressives would rather very much like everyone to realize that our love affair with and dependency on guns has gone too far.

The fire and spirit in today's marchers remind me of the enthusiasm my generation had not too long ago.  Then, we vowed and promised ourselves to make things right for all people, not repeat the mistakes of the past generations, and not be complacent to settle for results that only allowed us to live our lives as we wanted without seeing any tangible progress for the society at large.  Today’s marchers are telling us that we broke our own promises to ourselves, repeated all of the actions of our well-meaning parents, and finally shrugged our shoulders that life as it is now is the way life is meant to be.

Not too long ago?  It pains me to think that my generation’s defining moment happened 30-40 years ago.  And we have little to show for it.  So much for my generation’s defining moment.

The well-meaning conservatives of our society are always ready with the offer of thoughts and prayers whenever another mass shooting occurs in America.  It is the battle cry of the cowardly and the weak.  Perhaps we should instead recognize that the cries of anguish from today’s marchers are the answers to the thoughts and prayers of our society.

I can only hope that their enthusiasm will not waver or diminish.  I can only hope that perhaps this time we will find the courage to affect change at the ballot box. I am hopeful that perhaps this time a change is gonna come. Finally.

(Thank you for reading.  And God Bless Sam Cooke.)