my mother, sister, niece and nephew walked out of the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora.
When I woke up this morning and heard the news, "massive killing in Aurora, Colorado movie theater" I froze for a second. I had talked to my mother in the afternoon and she told me they were thinking about going to the movies, but decided to have pizza instead.
So I didn't worry. They didn't go to the movies. They'd be OK.
Still, I called my sister for good measure. They had, indeed, gone to see "Ice Age," to the 8 p.m. show. There were dozens of young people already lined up to see "Dark Knight." Like most movies in the United States, the Century 16 in Aurora is always filled with families and joy.
My sister even considered staying for the premiere of such a talked about film, but my five-year-old nephew is a bit restless. They got home nearly at midnight, just as the gunman was gunning down dozens of people at the theater where they'd just been.
Like most people in the country, I've been gripped by the story, but with an added concern. It could have been my family. It could have been me. And I shudder. Right now, there are dozens of families whose lives have been shattered wondering why.
Then again, we don't have to go that far to see a dozen families whose lives have been changed forever by senseless violence. Already 14 people have been killed so far this year in Salinas, our own back yard.
They all could have been members of our families. They all could have been us. My heart is gripped by terror just thinking about it, and my prayers go to those who couldn't escape it.
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Indeed. Whether 12 in one night in Aurora or 14 in the first half of this year in Monterey County, there's too much violence. On some level, it affects us all. We're all family.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Mari, violence affects us all, whether whether we notice it or not.
ReplyDeleteThe REASON your sister didn't take a FIVE-YEAR-OLD to see Dark Knight Rises is because he's "a bit restless"??? Not that it's entirely inappropriate for children, OR that it was already MIDNIGHT when the film would have begun? This shooting was tragic, but it is also extremely sad that so many parents see no problem having small children up that late to watch a disturbing film for ADULTS. Those poor children who weren't so fortunate that night as to be "a bit restless".
ReplyDeleteHello Marlow, I certainly understand your anger, in moments like this we question every one of our decisions. What are little kids doing so late at night? And it's one more regret that anguished mother and other relatives of the 6-year-old who died will have to live with for the rest of their lives.
DeleteAs for my sister and her reasons to do what she did, I'm not questioning them. I'm just thankful they are all OK.
Here's Lisa Belkin of the Huffington Post putting it more succinctly: stop blaming the victims
Deletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-belkin/aurora-shootings_b_1692186.html?utm_hp_ref=daily-brief?utm_source=DailyBrief&utm_campaign=072312&utm_medium=email&utm_content=BlogEntry&utm_term=Daily%20Brief