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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsYear 2060: Middle school student asks 'what was a school shooting?'
Son: Dad, what was a "school shooting"?Dad: Well son, it's difficult to explain why and how our grandparents let it happen. But sadly, for decades, mass shootings of young students were allowed to continue. Firearms were the No. 1 killer of people under 18 and I suppose, like a lotof things, it was just the way it was. Most people like you and I wanted something to be done, but the ruling minority, the Republicans, called it 'freedom and a right' as the gun manufacturers' lobby bought influence by paying off Republican lawmakers- (Interruption)
Son: What's a Republi-can, dad?
Dad: Right, that was an old political party that claimed to be for expansive freedoms for all Americans but the reality was that the party was stifling and squelching freedom after freedom, civil right after civil right, even banning books that made them 'uncomfortable'. The party now only exists as a fringe party that is known as the Freedom Caucus party. The reality was that students and their teachers were slaughtered by 5's and 10's while simply attending school, hundreds every year. Year after year, the conservatives didn't seem to really mind as long as they got their lobbyist donations. The shootings were so common place that much of society became numb to the gun violence in schools.
Son: OMG! They actually sent us to be murdered by some crazy person with an army rifle?!
Dad: Ahem, let's see, in 2025, after Democratic were able to attain large enough majorities in both house of Congress, laws were created to prevent the ownership of weapons of war by the general public. It really does seem like madness. Cowardice, really.
Son: Ack! What were they all thinking?!
Dad: Oh, well, everyone was told that our leaders were extremely focused on fighting crime and foreign drug traffickers.
Son: Yah, I read about older generations using a LOT of drugs back then, but I've NEVER seen a book on this school shooting stuff, I thought it was all a rumor, you know, like the Bible.
Dad: Okay, time to go to sleep now son, sweet dreams Barack.
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I spent almost an hour this just now writing and re-writing this, I'm calling it 'done'. I hope you like it.
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Year 2060: Middle school student asks 'what was a school shooting?' (Original Post)
TeamProg
Mar 2023
OP
NBachers
(17,007 posts)1. "Daddy, what were Republicans?"
jimfields33
(15,473 posts)2. I'm trying to think if I knew about the whig party in middle school.
I cant say for sure. But hopefully the kid learned from school these questions in 2060.
sarisataka
(18,220 posts)3. I learned about them
In elementary school. Them along with the Federalists, Democratic-Republicans and even the Bull Moose party
jimfields33
(15,473 posts)4. I'd have to move the cobwebs but I suspect that I did as well.
sarisataka
(18,220 posts)6. The Whigs are my 2nd favorite party name.
After the Know Nothings. Their name was definitely ahead of their time
jimfields33
(15,473 posts)7. Lol. True.
Aristus
(66,096 posts)8. I grew up attending Department of Defense schools.
They started pretty early with American history. I knew all the Presidents by sight by the time I was eight or so.
Croney
(4,646 posts)5. Inshallah.
WarGamer
(12,106 posts)9. File under optimistic Fiction.
Would be nice, though...
More likely though, we'll have mass school laserings or whatever the latest and greatest weapon is.