Skip to main content

How stupid are they?

 In the US dozens of children are killed every month by guns and hundreds of people in total, and yet lawmakers, mainly Republicans, doggedly stick to their mantra of their right to bear arms.  When the Constitution was written there were no rapid fire rifles, machine guns and the myriad of other weapons that are now to be found everywhere in the States.  In addition, the right to bear arms was intended for men to come to the help of law enforcers and even military, in time  of need.  It's intention was not for every person in the country to hold multiple weapons in their homes or for the children to be the targets.  A Senator this morning said that it is the fault of people with mental health problems, get them identified and the killing will stop.  When they can't accept their own mental incapacity to see that they are aiding and abetting the killers by refusing to take the necessary steps to curb gun ownership, then how are they any better than the killers?

The States is the only country in the world where children in school are mown down on a regular basis, and I hear the same pathetic responses from Senators and Congressmen alike, 'our prayers and thoughts are with the families,' 'it's not the guns that kill people,' 'citizens need more sophisticated (read powerful and deadly) guns to protect themselves', 'it's our human right to own guns.'  Tell that to the children.  They don't need thoughts and prayers, they need to be safe, to feel safe.  

My children went to school in New York.  It was a violent time with race riots and killings every day but they didn't gun down innocent children at school and ordinary citizens didn't own assault rifles.  I am glad I don't live there now and that is a  sad reflection on a city I love.

While the protesters were out in France yesterday friends and I were enjoying wine tasting at the Chateau de Targe.  What a contrast.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Temper, Temper

I played tennis with Yvette today.  Yesterday I asked if we could play early before the day gets too hot.  She suggested 9.30am.  I was thinking of 8.00am but Yvette has been married 46 years and her husband still brings her breakfast in bed every morning so 9.30 is probably the crack of dawn. I thought I had got used to Yvette's little antics but this morning she behaved like John McEnroe.  I was 4-1 up in the first set when suddenly she announced that the score was 4-3.  I am used to these little tricks so I stood my ground.  She argued, she shouted.  I ignored her and took my position ready to receive serve but her shouting got louder, calling me a cheat and then using some choice words.  Her ploy worked.  I lost concentration and started to lose, eventually losing in a tie break.  I was not happy but said nothing. At the end of the set Yvette asked me if I was angry with her, using the expression 'tu me fais la tete?'  I sa...

What is normal?

The UK seems to be operating on the basis that there is no virus.  Masks are rarely seen, little is being reported in the papers,  it is not the main topic of conversation in the street and social distancing doesn't exist.  I did see a testing table set up in Chesham high street but it was for one day only and they didn't seem to be doing much business. I went to Brighton on Sunday with my son and sister.  The old 'Lanes' have been reduced to a few jewellery shops and lots of cafes and the town was packed.  Openly gay people walk hand in hand through the streets in great numbers while others stroll around in gold lurex dresses. As we were heading back to the station the police arrived and blocked the road for an approaching cycle rally.   Living in France I have seen many cycle races go past but not quite like this one.  Here were 200 totally naked cyclists pedalling by while people cheered them on enthusiastically.  Some of them had put on s...

The problem with language teaching

I volunteered in a French school yesterday.  The aim of the day was to engage French children in English conversation.  The children had questions written down which they had to ask in English.  They were aged between 12 and 16.  Faced with 2 pupils aged 15 I answered the first question clearly and simply but they didn't understand the answer.  A rapid conversation in French passed between them and they then asked me in French if I would write down the answer. 'If I write down the answer you won't learn anything,' I said in French.  They asked the teacher what to do. 'Of course you can write down the answers for them and they can study them  later'! Listening skills?  Speaking skills?  I give up