A few months ago, I presented my thoughts about the recent tragedy in Arizona.  I’d like to bring up two words again just so I am perfectly clear – “my thoughts”.  Not yours, not yours either, but my thoughts. If people would like to get their thoughts out there and not trample mine – may I suggest that they set up their own blog.

I think I am entitled to my opinion and I do welcome hearing from people who don’t agree with me on different issues. I don’t live in a bubble where I think we all agree. But I do take issue when I get attacked about how I feel. Big time. I am the messenger of my thoughts. Challenge me on my beliefs but keep your freaking venom to yourself.

I was brought up by parents who believed that people should not die in war, live in fear, be discriminated against, be refused housing or an education, or being denied the right to marry the person they love. What a bunch of hippy freaks, eh? They were both young adults during World War II and I think that may have altered my father’s beliefs. He never served overseas (he used to tell us that my uncle and him chased the Nazis out of New Jersey) but he saw his father die a slow and painful death due to mustard gas that attacked and destroyed his lungs. And I learned to hate violence and man’s inability to live in peace early on because it killed my grandfather years before I was born.

So I was raised and surrounded by people who felt that we as human beings can and should do better. Oh, someone please report my parents to the authorities.

So when a young disturbed man walks in and buys a gun and then kills six innocent people, I can’t help but look around and wonder how much hate fueled his actions. I look around at our country and wonder why a mentally imbalanced person (who was kicked out of college for behavioral problems – and we have seen what disgruntled people can do when they go back and shoot up their job site or schools) can so easily purchase a gun with enough ammunition to reduce a city into a ghost town. And I question why certain politicians need to use a gun as a fashion accessory.  I’ve yet to see a handgun compliment a pair of Christian Louboutin’s shoes.

And you know what – I am always going to question it.

I am not going to turn it off because someone told me I can leave the country. I am not going to turn it off because someone said I am hateful and mean. That remark really blew my mind. I was upset about a sweet little girl being slaughtered and I am hateful and mean. Perhaps their hat is cutting off the oxygen to their brain.

I don’t want to give them any more of my time. They are really not that important to me. Believe me. But my beliefs are. Just like theirs must be to them. And agreeing to never agree works just fine with me. But don’t ever think that they can harass me and think I will not call them out on it.