Sandstorm

There are no words of condolences that will ever save us from ourselves. A message of self reflection on another dark day of our history.

Sandstorm

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

We have failed our children 

Revealed ourselves to be indifferent to their lives

In the sandstorm of emotions and social ills

The right to bear arms is greater than the right to live

I have no prayers of hope to offer us as a society 

But what I would give is my own life

 In offer for those children who died by a bullet

So that they may breathe again 

Author's Note

I understand the concept of the second amendment, but we live in a different century. There is no way an AR-15 could ever stop a tank or armor our modern army has access and availability to. We need regulations to gun ownership. As a pragmatic and empathetic society we claim to be it is up to us as individuals to prove that finally life is more valuable to us than a gun.

Reviews

[Temperance]

What we need are gun laws that are more restrictive to minors and mentally challenged individuals. Guns should not be so easy for these people to get. The gun itself is not the problem but, the person wielding the gun. Proper gun responsibility begins at home. Proper discipline begins at home. Respect for other lives begins at home. This is where the problem is. Children are sat before a TV or, other electronic instead of given personal time and education. From one fan to another, Mr. CLE. Temp

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

As a society that prides itself on its freedoms it is shameful that we feel so little about the sanctity of life more than a weapon of war. Because that is what an AR-15 is. One can not hunt with such a weapon because it would literally destroy the animal and make it useless for consumption. And for those who believe in a well regulated militia would such a weapon fare well against those supplied to our armed forces? They would be useless against a tank. You are correct in that a gun doesn't shoot itself. It takes a person to do that. And one with vile and malicious intent can and will find other means to eradicate life if that is their intention and are unable to do so if they lack access to such powerful weaponry. But a knife can't kill 30 people in under 30 seconds. As a society would we be better without dangerous weapons at our immediate disposal? Of course we would. But since the dawn of time man has always found a way to kill another. It is a moral dilemma we grapple with as a species. And more than likely continue to do so until we evolve as empathetic human beings. It breaks my heart knowing that a parent is unable to recognize their child's face one last time because it was eviscerated by a bullet. We are better than this...we must be. Thank you kindly Temp for sharing your honest and truthful assessment on such a difficult subject. I truly appreciate it. CLE

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

"In the sandstorm of emotions and social ills
The right to bear arms is greater than the right to live"
Your poem is deeply moving and absolutely true Carlos. The collective mindset of the country is so skewed in favor of greed and power. The political environment is killing our children as you iterate here, genuinely, directly and from your true heart. Your powerful lines are appreciated and should be read and shared.
"We have failed our children
Revealed ourselves to be indifferent to their lives"
And now it's up to us to change this. Yours is a brave, selfless heartfelt poetic voice. Thank you for it.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Annette for your kind words of encouragement. I am in my mid 50's and have never had a child, and yet I was moved to tears with every other person at the shooting in Texas and the loss of those children's lives. I refuse silence because in not saying a word it shows a lack of interest and indifference to those young lives lost by gun violence. No child or parent should ever have to fear going to school for an education in this country. This was a senseless evil act that will continue to happen if we do not reform and strengthen gun regulation in our society. Greed and power has infected our congress and made serving the will of the people impossible, unless we can afford to pay lobbyists to argue on our behalf. We will never have the society we yearn for until we remove money and its corrupting influence within our government. As a nation we have failed those children and the loss of their lives are on us because we continue to vote in these "do nothing" politicians who are only there to serve corporations and themselves. The rights to a gun should never be greater than the rights for our children to live and not be afraid to go to school. That is too steep a price for that kind of Freedom. Thank you for your sensible and wise thoughts on this subject. For you words carry a truth some in our society refuse to hear. And they should be shamed for it.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Amen to all of your thoughts and words here Carlos. We must all vote for those who will change the laws now.

[Betty Hermelee]

I believe the second amendment is long outdated, though the gun lobbyists think differently.... If i were a mother of a school age kid, i would be petrified now to send him/her to school. I agree with you...I would rather see my life taken, than those little innocent ones... almost unthinkable. What is the solution? If the government could only put through an executive order, banning all high-powered guns, and requiring a federal and state background checks, we may have a fighting chance; but money talks to those campaigning and that to them is more important than someone's life.
Best, B

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

You are absolutely correct in your assessment B. Money has corrupted our political system. As long as we continue to allow it to purchase power politically we will never resolve many of the issues that plague our Nation. We must remove money and set term limits in our government. By failing to do so we will convert into a governance that resembles Russia. An ethno nation ruled by the billionaire class. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.

[Betty Hermelee]

You’re quite welcome Carlos, good to have you back!

[Robert Haigh]

America is clearly polarised on the issue of gun ownership, and I cannot see an easy compromise. Personally I would ban all teenagers from owning a gun, and automatic weapons should be taken out of the hands of all citizens. That is my opinion, but I doubt it will ever become hard fact. Meanwhile these tragedies keep happening, and, sadly, they will continue to happen. An emotive issue indeed!

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I agree with your thoughts and sentiments. Only in America does this type of murder seems to occur more commonly. Of course it is not surprising considering there are more guns proliferated in our society than there are citizens. The weapon used is more likely the type currently being utilized in Ukraine. A country that is at war. What is also heartbreaking is that some of the parents in the Texas shooting are asked for DNA samples because some of the childrens bodies are difficult to identify. Shame on us if this doesn't call our nation into action. Thank you Robert for sharing your pragmatic thoughts with me.

[Dave Brown]

I find it hard to believe the number of people that refuse gun control after the continual stream of mass shootings
Just crazy

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

It is I agree. I find it diabolical that this is even up for debate considering the percentage of citizens that want reform on gun regulations. We are being held hostage as a society by a small fringe of people. Many of whom would change their views if it were their children who were murdered. Think about that and how crazy it is. That is the irony to this whole debate. Thank you Dave for sharing your thoughts with me on this poem.

[mattavelli]

Gun violence is not a gun issue. It’s a people issue. If there were no people, the guns wouldn’t be forced to take lives. I say we get rid of all the people, so the guns can have peace. Ramen

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

This reminds me of the old saying which came first chicken or the egg? Considering that guns don't exist if people don't. Unlike an animal it can't mate with itself to create little guns and bullets. The same with cars. And yet we do regulate driving and in some states now sex. In the same vein one can argue the same with drugs and knives. Without these things there would be one less way to kill one another. But since they do exist we must regulate them in order to enact responsible and liability ownership. In all honesty I can't jump in a car and start mowing down people on the sidewalk and claim the car made me do it. Especially if I blow a 10.0 on a breath analyzer. Responsibility starts and ends with the owner.

[keith]

' if there were no people' ...
then we would not be subjected to your asinine bullshit

[mattavelli]

I see you, trollie. ;p

We are each responsible for our actions and inactions. As a society, we are all culpable. The poor guns didn’t ask to be used for murder. They are free from that nefarious infection of sin that plagues our broken race. Perhaps the guns are Jesus, come to bring us home.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

If that's the case Jesus sure has an unusually evil sense of humor. Because the weapon used is the same used in war, and probably being used in Ukraine right now. Also, the sad fact that some of the parents whose children were murdered in Texas had to submit DNA because the victims were unable to be identified. I can't even imagine being a parent in that situation, and I'm sure many who are here can't as well. This really isn't a political issue, but a human one. And it usually doesn't call individuals into action until they themselves are put in the exact situation that they have indifference towards. By then it is too late for them.

[mattavelli]

I agree, Carlos, it’s a human issue. The human mind is amazing and absurd, a super computer being poked at by toddler desires.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

It is good to hear from you, Matt. I feel for you the great burden of responsibility of having to raise a child in these difficult of times. It is something I have never known. And am often relieved I don't have to experience that effort. I know I often chide you on writing, but it is simply because I see value in the words you write and speak of. You're a poet who puts a lot of heart into their work. It's what the world needs in these difficult times.

[mattavelli]

Thanks for the complement, Carlos. I use, and speak of, the best words, shaped into honest phrasing, meaning and metaphor. All art is communication, and a lot of art has gone into retarding our society, and sustaining an environment where common carnage is not only acceptable and profitable, but defended religiously. Some special people will see the murder of 20 kids as a tragedy, but hold sacred the condition that made it possible, the accessibility of semiautomatic weapons. They will quickly forget the sadness felt at seeing the death of so much youth, and religiously fight to protect the murderer’s “right” to keep and bare semiautomatic weapons. Interpretations of the 2nd amendment that ignore the constitution’s mission to ensure domestic tranquility are, in fact, misinterpretations. I enjoy your stories, Carlos, they are vivid and full of feeling. I’ll read one this evening. :)

[keith]

thoughts and prayers don't do s**t!
we know where the sick f***s are ... GOP, NRA
when will we have enough of DEAD KIDS?
when will YOUR GOD DO SOMETHING?

obviously, you care more for the unborn fetus
than you do about those born
the hypocrisy is killing OUR KIDS!

GODDAMN US ALL !

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I couldn't agree more with you profound and truthful statement. Thank you Keith for saying what needs to be heard and known about us as a nation.

[red93]

Agree totally Carlos a shocking and terrible indictment of American Society.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

It truly is. This type of behavior and indifference should never be normalized. For to do so we have lost not just our ideas of freedom but also our civility. When the death of children is treated with Indifference that in itself is a damning indictment upon us all as a nation. This should never be the face of American freedom. Thank you so much for sharing this important message with me.

[lightsong]

"The right to bear arms is
greater than the right to live"

a most powerful true sad reality You, in these two lines conveyed it all. the logic of death, of fear, of sadness, of disharmony, of unhappiness, of un-peace.... of... of... of... is the logic that's spreading, yesterday I came across a poem that was also speaking about a little girl who seemed to have a painful life and she passed away. I said there, unfortunately, many painful, injustice, brutal things happen in this world, things that don't make any sense for us who with real hearts, your frustration and sadness is all understood, You give all You can, so know dear Carlos, nothing more is to be asked from You, your life is precious for the other lives, to keep planting your message of peace and empathy. though, Totally we hear You here, many of us feel the same way.

for all the children on earth, may stardust of Angels keep You safe, may your pure hearts know no strife, may your souls shine always with joyous laughters ✨🕊️✨

Thank You Carlos 💜

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you so very much for your message. Yesterday another piece of humanity died in my country and I wept for it. As I wept for those children, and all the other lives we have lost because of guns. It wears on the soul to be numb and indifferent to death, especially when it is preventable as a society. One that the majority of Americans want fixed. Because freedom should never come at the cost of our children's lives. I know many would agree that is not freedom at all. I cried for them, and it's time for us to speak for them. In order to put an end to this madness once and for all. Because freedom is lost in silence. When we accept vile behavior and normalize it, we are no longer civilized. Thank you again my friend for your kind heartfelt comment. It truly means a lot in these difficult days for us as a nation.

[lightsong]

Please, take care of yourself and your heart, I maybe not living in the states, but You have all my empathy ✨🤍🕊️

[Chris Shaw]

Yet another horror. The radio is on this morning and I just heard before reading your lines Carlos. From this side of the pond we have our own problems with knife crime, but thank goodness I say that access to guns is strictly controlled. I can't begin to imagine the shock and grief at the loss of those innocent children. Turmoil for the family and friends and indeed shock for the nation. Your leaders have the power to stop this. The laws are clearly not working.

Your short stanzas, full of impact and heartfelt. Your second stanza hits home hard.

Thank you for this write Carlos. Not an easy one to approach.Such sad news to wake up to. All those children gone.....

Chris

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you, Chris, for sharing your thoughts with me on this piece. I cried yesterday over this. I can't stay silent on something that I know in my heart is wrong. This isn't freedom, nor should it be in any modern day civilized nation. Life should never hold equal value to death, especially when it is within our hands to stop it. Indifference should never ever be the answer to the death of our children. For when it is that society ceases to exists as a civilized nation. It is abhorrent and unacceptable and we as a country should not obfuscate, nor should we normalize what has happened, yet again. As a humanist, writer, and American I needed to speak out, because I'm so tired of crying. I refuse to believe that a gun has more freedom than the lives of our children. Thank you again for your vital message in these difficult of times.