It's not that I wasn't shocked when I heard about Oslo and the Utoya Island shootings. I was. But what shocked me the most was the news is that the terrorist (I don't want to use his name) targeted children at a summer camp. Not any children, but children whose parents are involved in the Labor Party.
When McVeigh blew up the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City children died as well, but they were not targets. I vaguely remember someone saying they were collateral damage. But on Friday children were targeted.
I don't know how to verbalize my thoughts right now, except that I am obsessing about this twist. Yes, I know that terrorists in Afghanistan have used children, drug dealers in Chicago use children, but this targeting of children for a mass murder is something different. Perhaps because they were targets because of what their parents believe in, fight for and stand up to defend.
As a parent who does voice her opinion, stands up for her beliefs and fights for things that many people are offended by, this shit scares me. Part of me wants to run and hide. Give up. But I can't. I won't.
Or will I?
When McVeigh blew up the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City children died as well, but they were not targets. I vaguely remember someone saying they were collateral damage. But on Friday children were targeted.
I don't know how to verbalize my thoughts right now, except that I am obsessing about this twist. Yes, I know that terrorists in Afghanistan have used children, drug dealers in Chicago use children, but this targeting of children for a mass murder is something different. Perhaps because they were targets because of what their parents believe in, fight for and stand up to defend.
As a parent who does voice her opinion, stands up for her beliefs and fights for things that many people are offended by, this shit scares me. Part of me wants to run and hide. Give up. But I can't. I won't.
Or will I?