As America's students walk out against guns...

This week, following the horrifying events in Parkland, Florida, high schoolers across the US have led marches on state and federal offices, including the Capitol, demanding stricter gun laws. I consider this a good sign for the near future, even if gun violence is thankfully a far smaller problem here in Oz. Student protests like these can help combat the persistent stereotypes of youth as being superficial, selfish and indifferent to political issues, and when they objectively take a stand against problems which have become personal to them, they show maturity and guts beyond their years. Compare that with how, also this week, their president fired (no pun intended) somebody in a fucking Tweet, instead of in person.

Of course, by staging these protests, these kids are sacrificing their own learning time. And you go to school for that, not to be shot. But how can anyone learn if they are shot? I may have already mentioned this in another post, but I remember, at age 10, after the Columbine massacre in 1999, my Year 6 teachers sat us all down and had a very pointed talk with us about it. They approached it delicately and described it as best they could for such a young audience, but they must've come to work quite scared that day.

All these kids marching have me with them in spirit, and again they make me optimistic. It seems like, after Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech and the rest, America's youth have finally snapped and been stirred into peaceful action to end the carnage. Whether you're a leftie or a rightie, anybody can get radical from the safety of behind a screen, but to react as these student have is heaps more daring and sincere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxD3o-9H1lY

Several weeks ago, Parkland survivor Emma Gonzalez gave this speech to Trump and the NRA which went viral and just devastated me. In it she repeatedly quotes pro-gun claims from US pollies (Republicans and Democrats) before shouting "We call BS!" I imagine all these kids fighting to end the violence now would dare you to say that to them.