It’s a sad day in America. Again.

While I was touring le Palais Garnier yesterday, I had no idea what was happening in an Elementary School (!) in the United States. In Texas this time. And while I shared the photos of all the splendor and my heart swelled at the magnificence of it all, I didn’t know my heart would later ache when I read the news about CHILDREN and young teachers being murdered in their classrooms.

Enough!!!!!!!!!!

You know, I shared a lot of photos yesterday, but I didn’t share this: as I entered the Garnier, I was behind about 40 young children and their teachers. Their schools for the young ones here are called Maternelle (pre-school), and Primary (Elementary level). These were very young Primary School students, all of them super excited.

We all went through screening as we entered. They checked my purse, and I walked through an airport-type security archway. They do that here because they’ve been targeted in a few horrific terrorist attacks. The world responded with fear. Many Americans flew home immediately, fearing for their safety. In response, security measures were immediately put into effect, and remain.

I can’t tell you the number of people at home who worried about me traveling here. Really. Of course, I take precautions. I’m an American woman; we have to. Maybe it’s past the time though, that we Americans look at ourselves before we judge another country. The nonstop anger, violence, and vitriol spewed 24/7 on tv labeled as news is ugly. It’s really ugly. Black and white thinking is dangerous and often ignorant, leading to I’m right, you’re wrong mindsets. Too many can’t recognize the difference between their beliefs, opinions, and facts. And these screens are EVERYWHERE, nonstop graphics flashing at the gas pump, restaurant, homes, and workplaces.

On my way home from the Garnier, the bus made a stop and 15-20 little ones boarded (free for them!) with their teachers. Tiny ones, full of life and enthusiasm. Two tots per seat because they were that small. They knew the routine and were adorable, trying to be quiet as they boarded — yet so excited about their bus ride and school trip.

Of course, I only have these images in my mind as I don’t photograph children/people, respecting their privacy. But thoughts of these school trips are on my mind today. Our children in America no longer have the same freedom that children elsewhere have, nor our teachers. The threat is real, and it’s coming from inside, usually in the form of a male.

I reflected on these two groups of children again this morning, thinking about how joyfully they moved about inside the Garnier, and then the next group (unrelated) on public transportation — all without a care in the world. As it should be for kids. Meanwhile, in America our children are trained on how to hide from shooters, drop to the floor, play dead (really, America?), and how just too many have witnessed too much.

Violence and guns are running amok. Anger is constantly stoked. Lies are spewed unchecked — all to feed that anger — creating hate and dehumanizing people because they’re in a different group, or political party, or whatever the enemy-of-the-week is. Some Americans are literally being labeled as evil. And when these innocents are gunned down in a church, grocery store, movie theatre, school, or street, the perpetrator feels righteous because he’s been told to hate them. They’re the enemy. They’re evil. These killers often claim victimhood themselves as some sort of really screwed up defense because they were bullied, or had a toothache, or whatever poor me story the media dreams up. Really? Prominent elected officials have even embraced and even applauded some as heroes. It’s sickening.

We have lost our way, and no church can save us. Not when they are too often lecturing hate from the pulpit themselves. Not when they forgive their own for sins unforgivable yet deny sacraments to others who’ve lived exemplary lives, judging them as “less than” because of their gender or other differences.

God forbid we be different? Really? Has anyone actually read the New Testament?

Too many who work for us in Washington DC — vote against us. They have hatred towards things as decent as women’s rights, baby formula made available, or just making things better for ALL. In fact, they routinely vote against decency, while claiming superiority in their morals or value system. <eye roll>

We’re so far from what we should be as a nation. Our values are messed up. So worried someone might get a free meal — when food is trashed at every grocery store and restaurant at the end of every day. So worried about the have-nots getting a leg-up, but ignoring billionaires who take (!) millions in government funding to send a car into space for laughs. Or corporations who stole PPP monies during a PANDEMIC, and getting away with it because it’s “legal.” We ignore that and go after the little guy who is already hurting the most.

And today, we’re not even supposed to discuss guns. How dare we. You know what? Shut up. We’ve done things their way for too long, and they’ll never get around to any discussions. These parents had to give samples of their DNA. You know why? Because it was the only way to identify their dead babies. They were unrecognizable. Babies! The innocent ones that some only care about in utero. How can we live with ourselves? Who is writing these narratives? Take a long hard look at the authors working to tell us what’s right and what’s wrong lest we dare judge for ourselves. Who are you listening to, and why? Too much black and white thinking is simplistic and dangerous.

No other country in the world has this gun problem.

And it is a gun problem. No one needs an AR-15 or whatever-the-f*** for any normal reason in a civilized society.

So, I sit here in my privilege in Paris, looking at my country with a broken heart. I can’t defend this. We should all be in mourning for those lost. So many futures! And the families who will never again be the same. And also, for our own souls, because we have a problem. There are no thoughts or prayers that will fill all these voids. Maybe instead, work on the hate, people, because it’s killing us.