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Michigan Weeps
| Open Poetry #6 |
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Michigan Weeps |
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Marilyn Member Elite
since 1999-09-26
Posts 2621Ontario, Canada |
Michigan weeps today as innocence is lost. What have we come to? Seven year old children bring guns to school and shoot eachother. Isn't it time we ended the slaughter of our children? A six year old's life taken by a seven year old with a gun. Bang! The sound rang out as the small body fell. As if in slow motion to the floor. Blood pouring from innocence. Hope, dreams, love, pouring from a gaping wound. The cause? Innocence. Six years of life, taken by one of only seven. Tell me what purpose guns serve? |
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| © Copyright 2000 Marilyn - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Paul Hoekman Member
since 1999-12-28
Posts 382Harwinton Ct. U>S>A> |
NONE ABSOLUTELY NONE Having three young children this brings a tear to my eye. All I can think is "useless." |
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RufffRyder Member
since 2000-02-25
Posts 143<------Over There------> |
They say that if you take the guns away from the legal gun owners then the only ones with guns would be the criminals. I say that the ignorant parents that leave their guns where a child can get ahold of them are just as much as a criminal as the ones that use them to hurt others. My heart and prayers go out to the parents of both children. Thank you for the read Marilyn. |
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Meadowmuse Member Elite
since 1999-12-27
Posts 3263 |
Good writing, but I ache in my heart and am sickened for why you were inspired to write it. Claire |
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Munda Member Elite
since 1999-10-08
Posts 3544The Hague, The Netherlands |
None....none at all. My heart breaks and my eyes cry....this is so sad. |
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Beki Senior Member
since 1999-09-15
Posts 1569Newport Beach, CA, USA |
Your words are my own, such useless senseless tragedy. I work in a school and felt we were somewhat immune because we only go to 3rd grade...I guess we are not. My heart aches for that child, and for the families of both. |
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Aimster Member Elite
since 2000-02-19
Posts 4297Charlotte, NC |
~Marilyn~ I ask myself this question all the time. I have to agree, the parents of these children are responsible. Seven year old kids have NO business being around or knowing how to use a weapon of any kind! That is my personal opinion. It breaks my heart the tragedies the parents, children, teachers, and this nation suffers because of ignorance! It also makes me extremely angry! For it is for no purpose, except that people can't take a little extra time with their kids. Two innocent children were hurt in Michigan. I say two because the seven year old who picked up that gun and used it...whatever childhood they had is GONE. I weep for both children's parents, that school, the state of Michigan, and for this whole nation. When will the VIOLENCE the STUPIDITY, and the HATE stop? Probably never  Amy P.S. Thanks for posting this...it was very powerful! ~Live today as though it were your last but prepare for tomorrow as though it were here~ |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Very sad but powerful message, a trajedy well written. Liz |
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Mistikman Senior Member
since 2000-01-10
Posts 682San Jose, CA, USA |
Powerful poem Marilyn. Guns do very little other than harm. One of the kids in special ed. at my school got ahold of a gun and accidentally shot and killed himself earlier this year. sigh... when will parents learn? |
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Isis Member Ascendant
since 1999-09-06
Posts 6296Sunny Queensland |
I agree sense a senseless tragedy. The parents of the shooter are partly responsible, but look at the bigger picture. There are too many guns far to easily accessable in the States. In Australia we had the gun lobby and now only professional shooters, (ie gun clubs) and farmers/bushman etc are allowed to have guns. The nation was in an uproar for a while but it seems to be working now. Perhaps the united states should do something similar, how many more lives have to be lost this way before something is done? Great work Marilyn  May the world hug you today, With it's warmth and love. I pray it whispers a joyful tune in your heart, That tell you there is a friend sitting in another corner of the world, Wishing you well and wishing you love...... ~Isis~ (Goddess - Sovereign of the Spirit) |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
It is not the children, but the adults the children learn from and get guns from, that you can blame for the explosion of a weapon from a small hand. So sad and tragic and senseless. |
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Danny Holloway Member Elite
since 2000-01-15
Posts 2034Tulsa, OK |
I have to ask where a seven year old would get a gun. The parents are the ones who should be held responsible, jail if necessary. Carelessness by the parents killed this child, as it has many others. Such a tragedy. A sad poem and a sad day! |
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BSC
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-02-04
Posts 2919New York, USA |
None....absolutely none......senseless tragedy, in a place where our children should be safe....Very nice poem, so sad that it ever had to be written. |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
This is horrible. How did that child get a gun? |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
There are no words adequate to do justice to such a travesty. Many lives are forever changed from that split second - an "innocent" act. Aside from the lost child, there is the second "innocent" one, now and forever branded a murderer. There are mothers and fathers, siblings, relatives and friends of both... Everyone loses.... Everyone To grace us on this mortal shore. That golden heart and smiling face Bestowed on us eternal Grace; An angel now at Heaven's door Bequeathed to Him our Seraphim  [This message has been edited by Nan (edited 02-29-2000).] |
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Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Marilyn~ This was a senseless tragedy, as are most involving such young innocents. This one grabs our attention and our hearts. Your poem tugs at our hearts. The rampant gun violence in America has reached epidemic proportions and involves the senseless taking of lives of every age. The gun advocates want us to believe that ONLY the parents are to blame for not being responsible enough to keep the firearms from children. They continue to attempt to make the gun PURCHASER the only guilty party. They continue to hawk their wares because we, as a voting society, permit it. The next election we need to ALL look at the voting records, in regards to gun control efforts, of those we elect. It's all there in the voting records. We must all share the blame for not STANDING UP AND BE HEARD AT THE POLLS. We must all share the blame when we 'allow' all-powerful lobbiest groups to 'pay'(as in 'bribe') for the right to sell their goods. God knows we all wish it didn't happen. Reality is ... it did. Reality is ... what will we do about it? Thank you, Marilyn, for bringing this to our attention. Maybe we can make a difference. Write your Senators and Congressmen/women and check their individual voting records. ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ noles1@totcon.com |
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wildbill58 Junior Member
since 2000-02-26
Posts 19 |
the usefullness of a gun is its ablilty to fire bullets,nothing more,nothing less.the usefullness of some parents is in question here. |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Wow Marilyn, I've spoken out enough times on this subject that I guess you know my feelings on this on. What a sad, but powerful piece of work. When will the killing end?  |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Having a granddaughter who will be 6 in April and a nephew who will be 5 in May, this tragic incident really had a shocking effect on me, more so than if I didn't have little ones like this to relate it to. It doesn't seem to matter anymore what age, the location of the school, the demographics of the neighborhood, this senseless tragedy is happening everywhere. Why, indeed. It makes no sense. My granddaughter, Nicole, was threatened by a class mate a couple of months ago...he said he was going to bring a gun to school and shoot her and everybody else....she told the teacher who told her to be quiet and don't say such things. Needless to say my daughter called the school. I don't know if anything was done...I sure hope so....such threats cannot be disregarded, even if they come from the mouth of a five year old. Parents must become more responsible. The ones in Michigan are possibly going to be prosecuted for this tragedy according to the latest news announcement. As they should be. This is a very sad day for Michigan and for our nation. Also for everyone involved. So many lives will never be the same. One little girl will never grow up either. Tragic. |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
I weep with Michigan. But I also VOTE,and so must we all. This simply CANNOT go on. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Well, people shoot each other on tv, shoot each other in the movies, kids shoot each other in Cowboys and Indians, Cops and Robbers, emulate Billy the Kid and Al Capone....what can one expect from a society that idolizes violence? Excellent thoughts, Marilyn. |
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Tara Simms Senior Member
since 1999-08-12
Posts 1244Honea Path, SC USA |
This is horrible what happened today. The article I read at the MSN site said that the child had the gun in his pants. The shooting occurred at 10 am. How is it that a small child can have a big gun in his pants for two hours and the teacher doesn't notice? There are so many things that went wrong here. A stolen gun, recovered too late, the child who got access and toted it to school. His parents didn't notice, the teacher didn't notice. Now a little girl is gone forever. |
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First__Knight Senior Member
since 1999-11-08
Posts 678 |
Sensless......Never ending. Sad and far to real. God help us all There are two kinds of pedestrians...the quick and the dead. Drive it like you stole it. |
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HelmutB Senior Member
since 2000-01-06
Posts 964Canada |
Never can I understand why Never can my heart be silent Never will the pain go away Never will I have my child hold a weapon Never will I give up the fight against Never Your poem is done well and with such passion The ability to describe life with words is similar to painting a picture; both can be powerful tools. |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
The nation weeps...We all weep. This was such a tragic event. Indeed, "what have we come to" Powerful poem, Marilyn. Anguish is evident in your words. Michael |
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Severn Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704 |
Marilyn - this is terrible to hear of. May I say that there is also an awful parallel here in New Zealand - a 6 year child set a little 5 year old girl's clothes on fire yesterday - fortunately she lived, but has suffered extensive burns to her groin and thighs - I hope she recovers fully. It is a sad thing to see children in possession of potential weapons. I agree also with what you say of gun laws. We aren't allowed guns here in New Zealand - not on an everyday basis and are fairly strict - so there aren't many tragedies involving children - but still, there are some - and that is too many. Well done on your poem - and for bringing into our lives. Hugs. K |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
A terrible tragedy for an innocent child to lose his life due to a foolish adult lacking the intelligence and responsibility to keep the gun in a safe and secure place. They might as well leave the car keys out so their children can drive the car or leave poisons under their sink so the children can drink it. Children do not know the dangers there. Does a small child know that they must stay out of the street? A wake up call for all parents. James |
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Lost Dreamer Member Elite
since 1999-06-20
Posts 2464Somewhere near the Rainbow |
Marilyn, This is truly sad, somehow things need to change for the better in this world, people need to stop solving problems with violence. Families need to become more aware of where their priorities lie when it comes to their children. I have not listened to any news about this story yet, so I am not well versed on the circumstance of this one other than what I've read here, but no matter the circumstances innocence was lost in such a tragic form of stupidity on the part of the adults involved. |
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Sven
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937East Lansing, MI USA |
Speaking from Michigan. . . let me say that this is possibly the worst thing that could have happened here. . .our schools are already under attack on so many academic and funding levels that we've forgotten to take care of the children. . . There are school districts in this state that have been taken over by the state government because they are in such disarray. . . in one district, not one 7th grader passed all the parts of the state standardized test. . . And now this. . .and of course, there will be the common culprits. . . TV, movies, music, the internet. . . but where does blame really lie? Can we place blame? Something to think about my friends. . .something to think about as we continue to fight for peace. . .not just for us. . .but for our children too. . . --------------------------------------------- That which gives light must endure burning --Victor Frankl |
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sonjes Senior Member
since 2000-02-18
Posts 564North Carolina |
How very sad since I have a six year old daughter myself and this happened at my birthplace, Flint. I would like to think that when my daughter goes to school that she is safe, but we can never be sure, can we? You have given me more food for thought, Marilyn. |
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RainbowGirl Member Elite
since 1999-07-31
Posts 3023United Kingdom |
Marilyn: It is senseless and this kind of tragedy will always be so but I truly believe that most parents sanction it, we see so many violent programs on television and these children take it in, we hear men and women talk of violence and little children pick up on it, we see homeless and think it normal...I HATE violence as most of us do but how many of us stop our children from watching it, teach them to be loving and strong and to speak freely of their own opinions?..So often, young adults will group together, a little afraid to be an individual but more prone to being 'one' of a crowd... I'm afraid I blame parents here and before anyone thinks I blame 'all' parents, I don't, only those without enough time to give to their children. HUGS I dropped a tear in the ocean when it is found, I will stop loving you... |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
A sigh, a tear and a bowed head in response. |
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just_another_fe Member
since 2000-02-05
Posts 483MICHIGAN |
I know a lot of u will disagree with me but coming from a family of hunters i say guns do serve a purpose. its not the guns fault and its not either of the kids fault. It the person that was ignorent enough to leave the gun where the child had access to it.You cant take away the ammendmebt "right to bare arms" but ignorance can be changed. its a great poem and my heart goes out to both families. lets pray 4 them |
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