Responding to the Violence in Newtown, Connecticut

This particular event demanded such a direct call to action simply because of the sheer violence and the anger directed towards a completely innocent group of people. The events of Newtown, Connecticut are so shocking and so violent that the entire country, and even the world, are feeling the effects of this terrible occurrence. We have lost many beautiful children, who have been robbed of their potential of a full life. We have lost innocent teachers, and Newtown, Connecticut lost a part of their community.

But mostly, it leaves us with many questions: Why? Why did this man feel compelled to murder innocent people? How can he look into the eyes of an innocent child and pull the trigger? Why do we not hold stricter gun laws?

I have heard so many heart wrenching stories of the events of Connecticut. Several include a desperate letter written during lockdown by a student to his family. He was later murdered. Another includes a boy cradled in the arms of his teacher as they both passed away from their injuries. Still another includes a teacher who died to protect her students, whom she hid in a bathroom.

The Newtown, Connecticut, story affects my family personally because my dad grew up around there. His father, my grandfather, used to be a principal and a superintendent of schools in the area surrounding Newtown. It shocks him to see this tragedy occurr.

Despite the obvious losses and negative effects of the tragedy, it calls our community together. We respond as a community to grieve the loss of so many. However, as Christians, we must grieve the loss of not only the victims, but Adam Lanza, the man who killed so many, including himself. Catholic Social Teaching asks us to consider his family in a time of grieving and unanswered questions.

From here, we will not only to continue to pray for the victims and the families of Newtown, Connecticut, but for the world as a whole. Many people say that December 21st, 2012, will not symbolize the end of the physical world. It may symbolize the end of the dignity of human life. For example, abortion and the death penalty among the violence.

Personally, I believe that there is something wrong with a world that means carrying a gun for security reasons. If our society has come to that, what faith do we have left in it?

Factory Fire: Response

The U.S. is relying on other countries, vendors, and manufacturers to export their products. However, with the thousands of people that this process requires, it is easy for them to lose track of all of these manufacturers. That is what big companies such as Walmart and Disney, Inc. have claimed to do. However, they claimed this only after the fire in Bangladesh that killed 112 factory workers. 

I personally believe that consumers should be aware of how products are made and workers are treated, and that we should rally for fair trade. Additionally, I believe that the CEOs of large companies should be advocates for fair trade and fair wages instead of turning the other cheek in hopes of making more money. 

It is definitely not fair that CEOs of large companies are living the 'good life' with millions of dollars spewing out of their pockets, and the people that work for them are barely scraping by. Especially in this Christmas season, they must advocate for fair wages and support fair trade.