Monday, February 19, 2018

HE HAS MY VOTE


His name is David Hogg and we should remember it.  I know I will. In the not too distant future, maybe ten years down the line, I'm pretty sure some will see that name on a ballot. If I do, I won't hesitate to mark him as my choice. This is an amazing 17 year old young man and it is his ilk that gives me hope for the future.


This young man has turned up on several news channels. He was impressive and each time he totally wowed his interviewers. He looked straight into the cameras and called out the politicians. 

You have probably seen him speak on a news show but if not, check out the video. It is worth your time and will make you feel a lot more positive about tomorrow.

Here are a few excerpts as he addressed the politicians and us.

"We're children," the senior said live. "You guys are the adults. You need to take some action and play a role. Work together. Get over your politics and get something done."  

"People get used to what's going on and that's not OK," he said. "We're habituating to this and what happens when we do that is children are dying and they will continue to die unless we stop it. Stand up and take action.” 

While David is giving me hope, so are all the students who are also standing up, organizing, planning marches and demanding action from our lawmakers. They have a platform and they are using it. 

Knowing such bright, articulate and caring youngsters are out there trying to make a difference in what has previously been an untouchable issue, certainly gives me hope and confidence in our future. 

Hey these kids will soon be voters but for now they can be thorns in the sides of politicians and inspiration for the rest of us. Kudos kids !!  Work it!!  

Somehow I feel these youngsters are not going to let this despicable shooting become just another horrific footnote in history. Maybe we have reached a tipping point. Let's hope so.  

43 comments :

  1. Good piece. Thank you for the kind message you left on my blog, it was much appreciated.

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    1. Mac n'Janet,
      Thank you. Do hope your health issues resolve themselves and soon.

      Delete
  2. I am impressed by them too. I have hope they will have some success where the adults have not.

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    1. Marcia,
      Maybe we just needed some fresh eyes to look at a terrible problem. Let's hope.

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  3. Thank you Patti for sharing this. He is a brilliant and capable spokesperson. He is our hope. I have grandchildren who are also our hope. They can speak out and do speak out. We have got to get out of their way and let them fly.

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    1. Annie,
      These kids have no preconceived, locked in beliefs. Perhaps that is what is needed. You are right, we need to quit blocking their way and just get behind them in support.

      Delete
  4. WOW. I saw him on the news and I still have no words. Tears, but no words.

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    1. Olga,
      Wasn't he impressive? I swear he looked right into my mind.

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  5. I didn't see him but I will definitely try to find that program and see him. I too hope he will be running for office and that their efforts will make a difference. Why a kid needs a semiautomatic rifle boggles my mind. :-(

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    1. Djan,
      We have not seen the last of that young man. He will be part of a program on CNN on Wednesday along with some other fine kids. Why anyone needs an automatic rifle boggles my mind? Sure can use it for hunting unless you are hunting people.

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  6. He and the girl with a buss cut have been head turners for sure. I can't believe how articulate and thoughtful the kids in the school have been. Already they've got a movement started called Never Again and they plan a school walk out nation wide on March2oth. Wednesday night CNN will have a bunch of those Florida kids on for an hour town hall meeting. I'm hopeful we might be at a turning point. One of the big Repubican donators has announced he's not going to write anymore checks until something is done regarding getting weapons of war off our streets.

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    1. Emma Gonzalez is the girl with the power hair cut. She and David make a great team. I will be watching on Wednesday. Thanks for the heads up.
      We need more donors to do what that one fellow has done.

      Delete
  7. I am most certainly of like mind in hoping that this is in fact the tipping point. My granddaughters peers are truly struggling with the mess that the adults in power are letting be the norm. I wish this young man and others of his generation best wishes as they seek to right so many wrongs.

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    1. Linda
      I can't imagine what kids are having to deal with today. Fear shouldn't be a part of education.

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  8. You write exactly what I feel about these young people. They are the future, and really they give me more hope than I've had in a while. I am sorry it took yet another horrific murderous spree to finally bring these voices to our attention, but I have so much hope now that we hear them. Let's all march together.

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    1. robin,
      They will carry the flag and we must support them in every way we can. Hopefully they will ignite enough outrage to get things moving.

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  9. Dear Patti, thank you so much for posting this video. I hadn't heard or seen the young man, but his words resonate with all of us who know that something must change or everyone will live in fear that is orchestrated by the power of the NRA and the politicians who depend on that organization for political contributions and support.

    As you said, this young man's words give me hope for the future. So often it is the young who lead us. Peace.

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    1. Dee,
      Bless them, they aren't jaded like a lot of us are. They believe they can make a difference and by golly, they just might. They totally have my support.

      Delete
  10. I saw him on our news station and had to stop what I was doing to listen, he is an impressive young man. When he was finished speaking Cindy said to me here is a future politician and I had to agree, he has a bright future ahead of him.

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    1. Jimmy,
      A similar thing happened to me. I was halfways watching when that young man looked directly into the camera and lectured us all. Hopefully he will seek public service and continue his no nonsense ways.

      Delete
  11. When I was in High School my biggest worry was whether or not I was having a bad hair day. I never worried about my safety. I had never thought about safety or went through security bars. How wrong is this?

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    1. Barbara.
      We are in a bad place right now but hopefully these fresh minds will find a way. True. fear of being slaughtered never entered our minds.

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  12. These kids have the passion, I hope they find some answers, at least they are forcing a dialog.

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    1. joeh,
      Yes they are and I love their uncluttered thinking and that they aren't the least dismayed by the task ahead. Not knowing a goal might be impossible kind of makes it possible.

      Delete
  13. Let us hope he can galvanise public support to elect politicians who will do something about the gun laws in the USA. I wonder if the man in charge would feel differently if it was his son who was murdered whilst in school.

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    1. Fun60
      Sadly we are becoming used to these slaughters. Somehow this time just might be different. I have hope.

      Delete
  14. I have been watching this young man too. I agree with you and these students 100%! We ALL need to put our foot down and vote out the politicians that take money from the NRA. Too many politicians can be bought and you can not put a price on our children's lives. This has gone on far too long and far too many have died. And isn't it sad that it seems to take action from the students themselves to get this all moving.

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    1. Bonnie.
      I so admire these kids who are not waiting around for someone else to do something. I'm as proud of them as if they were my own.

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  15. There are lots of great young people in our schools, and I think they have become activated. Maybe that will finally make the difference. One sign that we may be reaching the tipping point - the Mayor of Dallas today suggested that the NRA should cancel their annual convention scheduled for May in his city. Yes, Dallas!

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    1. Linda R,
      Did not expect it out of Dallas but am thrilled at the mayor's stand. We have all just had enough.

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  16. Children like David give me hope that things can be turned around, but surely there are adults as well who think like he does and need to stand up and speak out. Nothing will change unless the people stand up and make that change happen. Fight the NRA, with words and actions of course, not with the guns they love so much.

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    1. River,
      Yes these kids are leading but we have to get right behind them and support them. We all need to take a stand.

      Delete
  17. Is he related to John Hogg from California? The youth have always been active at least I was...I spoke out for civil rights and/or equal rights and still active at 73 yrs old, an aging female. My children took up the banner and they are very vocal to the right thing to do. We believe in our constitutional rights to bear arms but for the right reasons. No we don't own guns but we can if we want to. I probably will never own a gun but some of my family own guns and not one has ever used it to hurt anyone and no sport hunting either. My uncle taught me how to use a gun and went rabbit hunting for dinner in winter when his construction work was at a lull or we went quail or pheasant hunting to put food on table. BBQ rabbit was delish for Sunday dinner after church.

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    1. Rita.
      I agree. I have no problem with guns--I have two of my own. What I have a problem with is people killing guns. Some of us 70 year olds need to dust off our sneakers and back these kids up.

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  18. I heard him speak the other day and I thought then how smart he was. Much better than people just spouting off and not knowing what they are talking about. I have no problem with armed guards (vets, retired police) at every school, and I definitely wish we had stricter background checks. I don't understand why we can't have that.

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    1. Terri,
      Wasn't he articulate?? I was so surprised by all the kids that took up a microphone. They have plans and will take action. Fresh young minds that are not jaded maybe can come up with something that hasn't been tried yet.

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  19. Oh gosh, Patti! Thank you so much for this wonderful post. What a fabulous speaker David is. I hope we can get something done. I’d given up hope after Sandy Hook. Those parents really tried hard and still couldn’t get anything concrete done. You’d think we’d get bump stocks banned after Las Vegas, but no... nothing. I’m hoping things will change this time.

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  20. What a wonderful young man! Thanks for sharing!

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  21. I head a newscaster say that kid was old at four. Very unusual. If you compare him with the other kids that were interviewed, big difference. Even his voice is very mature and steady.

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  22. By the way, I don't know if you've heard about this:
    https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5653111/donald-trump-jr-florida-shooting-like-twitter-crisis-actors/
    Trump Jr. is espousing the conspiracy theory about the shooting and liked a tweet against David Hogg.

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  23. Since when do a bunch of high school kids have enough life experience to even address the issues involved in any meaningful way.
    I would heartily suggest that the following blog post be read, and considered... http://monsterhunternation.com/2015/06/23/an-opinion-on-gun-control-repost/

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  24. I'm missing you and so hope you are ok.

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