[Photo of
Katie Day at workshop on Gun Violence]
Here we go again!
Thank goodness I didn't have to go outside today, or else I might have been too fried to post. Or maybe it wasn't actually that hot, and I'm just a San Francisco weather wimp. Whatever.
But on to business! Is it sad that I have to look back at my schedule to remember what I did today? Jeez I'm getting old.
Well firstly after being woken up at 8:30 (5:30AM for those West Coasters) we attended what my papers call "Big Tent Plenary." The main speaking was Serene Jones, and she did a very good job in my opinion. She talked about Calvin, whom I did not know very well before this, but I was grateful to become acquainted with him and his stuffed tiger. I will be reading his comics. But really, the John Calvin story was very good, his story helping up to "stay awake" in times of great chaos.
The Gun Violence workshop was decidedly less cheery. If you don't know, my Uncle was shot and killed three years ago by a man who had gotten fired earlier that day. It was very hard for our family, needless to say, but it definately makes me more determined to do something about today's gun policies.
Like a good little schoolgirl, I took notes, and to make sure this post isn't so long that your eyes pop out, I made a list for your convenience.
THINGS I LEARNED IN THE GUN VIOLENCE WORKSHOP
- In Virginia you can bring a loaded gun into a bar, but you can't drink.
- In ONE YEAR almost 20,000 kids (ages 0-19) are shot in murders, assults, sucicids, accidents, or by police interwention.
- In ONE YEAR out of 100,000 people (all ages) that are shot in America, over 31,000 DIE FROM BEING SHOT.
- On average, 86 guns "dissapear" from gun shops every day. That's about 31,390 a year.
- In several states, and 18-year old can own a handgun, but not by purchasing it from a licensed gun dealer. They CAN HAVE A GUN, but THEY CAN NOT DRINK.
And finally, my very least favorate factoid:
- Everyday, the are 34 people that are murdered by a gun. EVERY-FREAKIN-DAY. And that's not even counting suicides, accidents, or any other factors. This is a person, who has a life and a family, purposely killing another person. Ending a life, a legacy. And a gun lets them do that, with no more trouble than moving their little finger.
For more information you should check out Heading God's Call and Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
Well that was sufficiently depressing. My job is done!
Later in the day my spirit was lifted when we went to the Exposition hall, and ran into a bunch of Dad's partners in Presbyterian crime. They gave me lots of advice which I will not post, and cracked lots of jokes that I can not post because they are simply TOO FUNNY to be online. But seriously, if you guys are reading this, you're awesome!
Another thing we did today: WE MET DAVID LAMOTTE! Well though we already knew him (Dad is friends with him on Facebook) it was still pretty cool to hear him sing. He even read a poem that he had written which was, "Not only true, but also factual!" It was about a group of clowns (The Coup Clutz Clowns I believe) that frustrated a group of the KKK with their joking around, that they finally left and it was a happily ever after! Here are some more things I learned from David:
- "When you say you work for peace, people look at you like you might not be too bright."
- "When people hear 'Activism' they get a picture in their mind of you marching down the street, holding a sign, and you're very mad."
- Passive and pacifist ARE NOT ANYTHING ALIKE. Totally different root words, pacifist means "peace-making."
- The app that lets you swipe a credit card from you're phone is SO COOL! Even if you don't have a credit card! I just used my dad's! (BTW, sorry Dad for the $500 dollar donation.)
The "Making Peace with God's Earth" workshop that I sat in was very interesting. I learned about how even small churches can make a pledge to help the environment, and how big a change it can make. Among other things they discussed how encroaching buildings are cutting down on the everyday greenery, the Environmental Ministries, the Earthcare Pledge, and of course, wild horses. I mean, how can you be in an Eco workshop and not talk about wild horses? Impossible! For more info see nccecojustice.org.
And now I'm sitting once again in my hotel room, trying to figure out how to end this post. So I'll just say this: Even with all the horror that happens today, we still have to remain positive that we CAN make a difference. To quote a former moderator, "It's all that easy and it's all that hard."
