Newtown: The Question Never Asked

By Don Jans

The killing of the innocent people in Newtown is a tragedy and even more so when it included young children. Any person with any decency could only imagine the pain the families of the victims were enduring. And this pain, although it will dull with time, will continue forever. We who are parents and grandparents immediately felt grief and sadness, and at the same time relief that this had not happened in the school of our precious children and grandchildren.

The predictable left did not wait until the victims had been identified before they began their political clamor for gun control and more funding for mental health. This was the reason for such a tragedy and will those extreme right-wingers never understand. The progressive’s lack of respect is as predictable as is their response for a solution. The answer is always to restrict individual rights and more funding of government programs.

The progressives always have quick fixes, but never have the courage to ask, “Could the reason for these tragic situations that have occurred be because of the permissive society we the progressives have been promoting in our schools and society?” Is it possible that our permissiveness has brought about such irresponsible and hateful behavior?

I am currently reading the book “Education and Capitalism” that was written by a number of different progressive educators. The premise of the book is that the role of the school and educators is to change society. They believe this means their role is to correct the oppression of society by the capitalist through the educational system. The role of the teacher’s union is very evident in this premise. The question of how to teach reading, English, an actual account of history, civics, math and how to think and not what to think is never asked. We know children learn responsibility and have a better self-image when expectations are defined and rewarded only when met. This also develops inherent ambition which is frowned upon by the progressive.

The progressives have also encouraged the irresponsible behavior we saw exhibited by the “flash mobs” this summer. These were groups of thug teenagers that mobbed a place of business and stole merchandise from the private owner. This behavior was excused by the progressive society because for some reason these criminals were not responsible. Society was responsible for their actions. The same excuses are made for the vandals who in the name of a protest or demonstration take it upon themselves to burn, destroy and steal private and public property. These criminal acts are not only tolerated but encouraged by the progressive in the name of social justice.

As long as the progressives encourage irresponsible behavior by not holding individuals responsible for their actions, these individuals will continue to believe they are justified in their actions, regardless of how tragic they might be. This understanding of individual responsibility must be taught in the home, in the school and in society in general.

Progressives, the gun was the instrument. Was the permissive society you promote the reason?

-- Don Jans, Author, “My Grandchildren’s America” and Speaker

www.mygrandchildrensamerica.com and mygrandchildrensamerica@gmail.com