Violence Against School Children

http://www.enigmaterial.com/dateline/vn_1974/AR19740415.html

The above link is an article about a mortar shell bombing at my elementary school in Viet Nam. The date was March 9, 1974. I was 8 years old and in the third grade at the time. Thirty two students were killed, 50 others were wounded and 1 teacher died. Strangely I did not know any of the victims and I can barely remember the event. There were lots of media coverages in the weeks to follow, now that I did recall.

The Newtown, Connecticut school shooting yesterday brought back memories from almost 40 years ago for me. The shock, disbelief, outrage, sadness, anger, and confusion are still there. Read the last sentence of the article. Nothing has changed much in five decades.

I have some observations and thoughts about all this. First, guns and ammunition are too easily and cheaply available in America. Second, young people nowadays have a hard time dealing with anger management issues. Third, self-control, and personal responsibility are concepts most kids and parents do not teach or learn. The combination of these things in addition to the glamorization/ glorification of the violence by weapons in the entertainment industry (music, video games, movies and TV) were the reason for a tragedy like Sandy Hook Elementary School.