… and trying to find hope for the day.

That has been where my mind has been for the last day since the news of the horrific shootings in Connecticut came to light.

As news came out and people were … expectedly … stunned and deeply affected by the massacre, the expressions were strong on both sides of the political discussion. From the gun control side I mostly saw calls to action of one kind or another. From the gun non-control side I mostly saw liberal use of the words “libtard” and “IGNORANT SHEEPLE” and “douchebag” … with no constructive suggestions for a solution.

Eloquence at its finest.

Then, just when I was about to give up hope, I saw this:

“V feel ur pain as u would feel our pain.” from a small group of children … from Pakistan.

And this:

The very young teacher who instinctively hid her students in the cupboards and closets … then, when faced with the shooter, told him that they were in the gym. At which point she sacrificed her young life to save the lives of all the students.

And then I saw a post, shared by a friend … it and he shall remain anonymous … but in post after post, condolences were expressed … condolences from all around the world.

In addition to many, many locations in the US, there were 62 other countries and regions expressing condolences … usually more than once per country or region.

Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bosnia
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Catalan Countries
Croatia
Czech Republic
Danmark
Egypt
England
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Holland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Kurdistan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Macedonia
Malaysia
Mexico
Mexico
Middle East Jordan
Morocco
Naija (Nigeria)
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Pakistan
Palestine
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Quebec
Romania
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Slovenija
South Africa
South Korea
South Sudan
Spain
Sweden
Thailand
Turkey
Uk
Ukraine
Venezuela
Vietnam
Zimbabwe

And I started to once again have belief.

Belief in the fact that children and young people can see what older adults often have forgotten.

Belief that what unites us is far greater than what divides us.

Belief that this youngest generation is seeing the pain and damage that anger inflicts … and the uselessness of that anger.

Belief that there are people who are now quite young who will live out to fruition the dream that we baby boomers here in the US had … back in the 1960’s … for world peace, love and unity.

I know this is something that has never happened before.

But the kind of actions that have happened here recently also have never happened before.

And I want to believe …