03-27-2018, 06:25 PM
I don't think they're being exploited; it's clear to me that they're doing what they want to do. The ones who aren't interested aren't participating. That's fine too.
The ones that don't think gun controls are the answer have been featured in the media and held counter-protests. That's fine too and I feel just as bad for their losses.
For the most vocal and motivated students-turned-activists, it's their way of not only coping, but trying to turn a horrific experience into positive change. That make sense to me and it's respectable. I feel just as bad for them as I did for past survivors of school shootings who had no voice, retreated and internalized the trauma, many of them reliving it with each subsequent school shooting. Several of the survivors of Sandy Hook, Pulse, Las Vegas, Columbine...were inspired to get active by the Parkland survivors.
The students have recognized what Governor Scott did -- he really went against the NRA which has poured more money into his pockets and secured a lot of votes for him (moreso than any other governor). They just think there's a lot more that needs to be done and they're going to keep pushing, not that they all share the same opinion as to what should be done - that's okay, same as adults engaging in the gun debate.
I do agree that they really stuck it to Rubio, who I generally like. They don't think he's really trying; all talk, no action. Rubio is a savvy adult politician and should expect that kind of criticism, not only when it comes to gun policy.
As for their gun-specific knowledge, I've read more bullshit by purported gun experts and enthusiasts earlier on in this thread than I've heard from these kids who don't claim to be experts. I don't think they need to be matured scholastically or gun experts to understand the impacts of gun violence and be effective at pushing for change. They know what it feels like to watch their friends get slaughtered, hide in closets fearing for their lives, be the object of baseless bullshit and character assassination by the NRA and some of its supporters, be told to just accept and deal with it and that nothing's going to change. That makes them more qualified than almost anyone else to confront the issue, in my opinion.
The ones that don't think gun controls are the answer have been featured in the media and held counter-protests. That's fine too and I feel just as bad for their losses.
For the most vocal and motivated students-turned-activists, it's their way of not only coping, but trying to turn a horrific experience into positive change. That make sense to me and it's respectable. I feel just as bad for them as I did for past survivors of school shootings who had no voice, retreated and internalized the trauma, many of them reliving it with each subsequent school shooting. Several of the survivors of Sandy Hook, Pulse, Las Vegas, Columbine...were inspired to get active by the Parkland survivors.
The students have recognized what Governor Scott did -- he really went against the NRA which has poured more money into his pockets and secured a lot of votes for him (moreso than any other governor). They just think there's a lot more that needs to be done and they're going to keep pushing, not that they all share the same opinion as to what should be done - that's okay, same as adults engaging in the gun debate.
I do agree that they really stuck it to Rubio, who I generally like. They don't think he's really trying; all talk, no action. Rubio is a savvy adult politician and should expect that kind of criticism, not only when it comes to gun policy.
As for their gun-specific knowledge, I've read more bullshit by purported gun experts and enthusiasts earlier on in this thread than I've heard from these kids who don't claim to be experts. I don't think they need to be matured scholastically or gun experts to understand the impacts of gun violence and be effective at pushing for change. They know what it feels like to watch their friends get slaughtered, hide in closets fearing for their lives, be the object of baseless bullshit and character assassination by the NRA and some of its supporters, be told to just accept and deal with it and that nothing's going to change. That makes them more qualified than almost anyone else to confront the issue, in my opinion.