Written by Holly Bell, Director of First Impressions
Have you ever been so fired up about an idea, but you just didn’t know where to put that energy? Have you ever been so mad about a situation in our society, but didn’t know who to talk to about it?
In our government, who has been elected to represent you? These are the folks who make the laws that we, as a society, are supposed to follow.
As I’m writing this, it’s been less than a week since the shooting in nearby St. Anthony Park. Michael was a friend and neighbor of mine - we sometimes walked our dogs together. I miss his sunshine, daily, as I walk past their house with my dog, to pay my respects. He was shot while trying to stop someone from doing something (breaking in? stealing?) to the family car. He did what any one of us (adults) would probably do in a rushed moment early one Saturday morning.
An elder neighbor and I were talking about guns and what we can do about the current situation that made it easier for Michael to be killed. Of course, THIS is a very complicated subject. My brother (RIP) owned guns. My daughter has a license to carry, though she does not at this very moment. My next-door neighbor is a hunter when she has time/energy/need. I don’t intend to stir up a discussion (between you and me) about guns. I’m still mourning Michael’s sudden death by a gun. I work with re-entry of felons coming back into society from prison. In the past, I put case files together for a district attorney in Colorado. And one of my close friends works in Kansas City on gun violence reduction. I know this is complicated.
My elder neighbor has challenged me to ask everyone I know to start writing letters to our elected representatives (even if you cannot yet vote, and maybe, ESPECIALLY if you cannot yet vote) to tell them what you think of our society’s ills. Whatever you think - she’s not saying what to write, just asking you to express your opinion.
This school year, I’ve seen many letters, written by elementary students, go out in the mail to representatives, including (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) the President of these United States of America. I get all revved up when they get responses! I run from the front desk and race into the classroom of the recipient and say - “A letter! A letter from the White House!” or “A letter from author Dav Pilkey!” or whatever the situation calls for. For me, it’s a very big deal that someone who has some kind of authority has written to (and acknowledged) a GRS student and their concerns. I may be wrong, but I think “we’ve” received 3 letters from the White House this year. It could be 4. I’ll bet The White House staff is wondering where this Great River School is! And what we are up to. I hope they get so many more letters that they look us up - and maybe, come to visit. Maybe meet our goats and chickens, even!
I recently had a conversation (a couple of weeks before Michael died) with an elementary student about guns. We were reading a book where you could put a variety of faces and bodies together in different ways to make interesting stories out of the combinations. Fun book. There was a mention of a gun and I said, “I don’t like guns.” He asked me why and I had to really stop to think about my answer. I’m glad he asked. I told him that it was because guns are so final. It’s not like an argument where maybe you can ask for forgiveness - to take a word back that was said in anger when you weren’t thinking clearly about who you were talking to or what you were saying. While those situations can also be destructive, you cannot change your mind once a trigger is pulled. There is no going back to how it was before. It’s too final.
Not to end on this very sad note, I want to challenge you to follow the lead of some of our elementary students to express your opinions to our elected officials. Take my neighbor’s challenge! What do YOU stand for? What can you NOT stand for? My letters will be to as many representatives (mine or not) as I can muster, at local, state, AND federal levels, continuing for as long as I can. I don’t even care if we share the same values. They still need to know that I am enraged and discouraged and saddened about Michael’s death. He was such a positive and kind influence on people he met. We really need more of that. I want to do something constructive with my energy and I think Michael would appreciate this.
Will you be able to send even just one letter to someone who represents you? And, hopefully, for most of this audience, you can sign your letter… “Love, a future voter.” (That’ll really get their attention!)
ENJOY YOUR SUMMER! Please stay as safe as you can be.
On we go,
Holly
