tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post4392519498995448874..comments2023-10-18T05:40:06.329-04:00Comments on Mark Koopmans: Only Happens To Me: In Memoriam...Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-73485616123652775592012-12-26T12:07:50.625-05:002012-12-26T12:07:50.625-05:00Please note:
Autism is not a mental illness. I...Please note: <br /><br />Autism is not a mental illness. I see comments all over recently about "controlling autistic people" and not allowing them to have or use guns, etc. Autistic people are NOT mentally ill. Mental illness is an entirely different beast. It's mental illness that makes people (ANY people) think that murder will get them something they want.<br /><br />If we try limit autistic people from certain activities, all it will do is make sure that they don't get the help and support they need. Parents will hesitate to have their children diagnosed because of the stigma, and try to deal with it on their own. Millions of people will be marginalized, as long as people are ignorant of the meaning and scope of autism. Before you start lumping autism and mental illness together, please do your homework. It's certain that the media won't do it for you.<br /><br />Thanks for this post, Mark. The solution is parents who care, people who care, and who teach the children to care. The scriptures speak of a time when people will be "without natural affection." Well, we've arrived.<br /><br />LaurenLaurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04137538450232783883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-8763787250205732292012-12-21T00:01:35.732-05:002012-12-21T00:01:35.732-05:00It haunts me. I can't stop thinking about it~ ...It haunts me. I can't stop thinking about it~ Well said Mark! I for one do not understand why Adam's mother taught her mentally ill son, how to shoot a gun?! I just don't understand.... I wonder was he this age, when diagnosed. Why these children...why? <br />We may never know, but we sure need to make some serious changes in our world~ <br />Such a well done post!Ellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06070952447277684613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-9065072409726023002012-12-20T20:14:14.890-05:002012-12-20T20:14:14.890-05:00When I couldn't find words to express how terr...When I couldn't find words to express how terrible this makes me feel, you found the perfect ones. <br />Thank for this post. Amen.Kirstenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10874132907100541624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-77510402760589159762012-12-20T16:06:16.321-05:002012-12-20T16:06:16.321-05:00This blog made me cry again, which I've been d...This blog made me cry again, which I've been doing a lot of since last Friday. I try not to think about the tragedy that happened, because I don't know what to do. <br /><br />I read the letter (which i think most people probably have by now) the one that's entitled, "I am Adam Lanza's mother" The letter was horrified me and enlightened me and I think she hit the nail on the head. <br /><br />As a nation, we need a safety net for these parents. We need a way to help these troubled kids before they grow up to take lives. But, like you, I don't know what that way IS. <br /><br />The only thing I can do is what you said-- try to be a better person. Try harder in my community. I agree that support starts in our own homes, on our streets and in our towns. <br /><br />I'm going to hug my kids again now...Tamarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04070551912944266954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-41318453028887092172012-12-20T11:26:18.277-05:002012-12-20T11:26:18.277-05:00That was a hard day for me to accept, hearing this...That was a hard day for me to accept, hearing this news on the way back home from Idaho. Man, did I hug my kids tight when we picked them up from the sitter. My thoughts have been with the families this week.<br /><br />There's still time to post for the Build Me a Blog hop if you still plan on it today. ")David P. Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17259276981865439853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-52778614686460549432012-12-20T07:49:09.941-05:002012-12-20T07:49:09.941-05:00I'm going around to all of the wonderful blogs...I'm going around to all of the wonderful blogs I follow to wish you a Merry Christmas. Have a safe and happy holiday, Mark!<br /><br />Peace,<br />MLAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17064990883097071040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-13311514245782152792012-12-18T17:39:39.005-05:002012-12-18T17:39:39.005-05:00I still can't comprehend how a person could do...I still can't comprehend how a person could do this and how these families will survive the devastation of losing a child or family member. <br /><br />I do believe that social media is changing our society and not always for the better. We spend more time online than with families, friends, and neighbours. We have dozens of online friends but what of our community? Our young or elderly? Ellie Garratthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731071128348213067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-75127860461030853412012-12-18T12:38:52.405-05:002012-12-18T12:38:52.405-05:00Thank you Mark!!! You gave me the first ray of sun...Thank you Mark!!! You gave me the first ray of sunlight to my gray world view...politicians can't fix this...but people can. God certainly can, but we have to be His ambassadors. Elizabeth Seckmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00045076826326574984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-37917350641473402152012-12-18T09:11:40.790-05:002012-12-18T09:11:40.790-05:00I think our grandparents, with their lack of techn...I think our grandparents, with their lack of technology and their visits with neighbors and family in their parlors and on their porches, had the right idea. Humans were made to have face to face contact and (small) group cohesiveness. <br /><br />Guns aren't the problem--our ancestors had them and they weren't mowing down kids in schools--relationships are.<br /><br />Should we look at improving security of access to schools? Probably. But where we need to focus our attention is on people. Hug em, love em, pay attention to them. Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08516493326566981116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-68767919694421789182012-12-18T02:39:46.045-05:002012-12-18T02:39:46.045-05:00thanks for doing this post. it's hard to discu...thanks for doing this post. it's hard to discuss when it's so aggravating on every spectrum! i feel it reminds us that life is precious, embrace it.Tammy Theriaulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128574900510175415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-43245078577997723092012-12-17T21:54:57.305-05:002012-12-17T21:54:57.305-05:00I'm one of the several people having a hard ti...I'm one of the several people having a hard time coping with this. I wish I had the answers too. It truly is unfathomable and absolutely heart-breaking. Lots of love going to those families and I hope we'll all work harder to be a little better. I know I will.Leigh Covingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16377634002477171615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-87862966841620416522012-12-17T15:14:49.226-05:002012-12-17T15:14:49.226-05:00I've been nauseous for days over this. I could...I've been nauseous for days over this. I could bare to read your entire post. As a mother of three boys, my heart is broken for everyone. I pray for peace in our world, and for everyone affected in this tragedy.Ciarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15628488753277495111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-61981035183928989572012-12-17T15:08:52.202-05:002012-12-17T15:08:52.202-05:00Amen Mark. This is truly heartbreaking.Amen Mark. This is truly heartbreaking.Suzanne Furnesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00908200156114453054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-47328305485005806912012-12-17T14:49:09.914-05:002012-12-17T14:49:09.914-05:00I can't shake the sickness I have. It's to...I can't shake the sickness I have. It's too hard. But thank you for this post, Mark. Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-70926009734272215002012-12-17T13:11:27.381-05:002012-12-17T13:11:27.381-05:00You summarized it perfectly Mark. Life changed on ...You summarized it perfectly Mark. Life changed on Friday, but not in the way we were expecting. I just hope we, as a country, can keep it in our memories and enact some kind of change that will address some of the societal problems this tragedy highlighted.Johanna Garthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15515478890074610814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-69783646372651097822012-12-17T12:37:55.659-05:002012-12-17T12:37:55.659-05:00Amen. Well said and way to change your outlook. We...Amen. Well said and way to change your outlook. We can't change the world but we can change ourselves and that's a start.<br />Workingdanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00431559781969929972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-48841232595087767232012-12-17T12:30:57.063-05:002012-12-17T12:30:57.063-05:00Amen. Seriously, this has to stop. My heart goes o...Amen. Seriously, this has to stop. My heart goes out to all those who lost loved ones, and I pray they are able to find some peace this season. <br /><br />Something needs to change in our society, and I really love your idea. Definitely looking for ways to pay it forward. Meradeth Houstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06741790047121063893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-11010642585028530542012-12-17T12:15:50.419-05:002012-12-17T12:15:50.419-05:00I work in a mall, and after the shooting that went...I work in a mall, and after the shooting that went on in Oregon last weekend there has been much tighter security around the place. Even still, someone brought a gun to the mall the other day and we had to go on lockdown.<br /><br />The thing that angers me most about this whole thing, beside the fact that CHILDREN were involved this time, is that these shootings are becoming routine.<br /><br />I hate that we live in a world where we have to be fearful everywhere we go. When will this end?Samantha Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09370961661054617338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-29044490417263299892012-12-17T11:42:43.104-05:002012-12-17T11:42:43.104-05:00Not a parent out there whose heart doesn't gri...Not a parent out there whose heart doesn't grip in agony at the thought of those babies and their families. As parents, we know it is our worse nightmare. <br /><br />I've been thinking along the same lines, Mark. What can be done? Part of me knows that evil is a part of our flawed world. I read a good article about being a light-- for all we're worth shining in goodness, reaching out, being kind, to dispel as much as much of the darkness around us as we can. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-69578238010708932382012-12-17T11:25:14.023-05:002012-12-17T11:25:14.023-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01736622952902019775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-41884670465657025312012-12-17T11:25:13.744-05:002012-12-17T11:25:13.744-05:00I am still in shock over that whole thing..A frien...I am still in shock over that whole thing..A friend of mine had a sad, sad thought about that this morning - there are just days when kids have a meltdown before school and you have to leave them there. That is something I can not even imagine. I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I hope at the very least none of them had a bad drop off and that their last moments together were happy ones. This should never have happened. My heart goes out to them all.Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01736622952902019775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-56329036825938418192012-12-17T11:21:36.608-05:002012-12-17T11:21:36.608-05:00Sadly there are no clear answers. But I agree that...Sadly there are no clear answers. But I agree that it needs to start with us, as individuals, trying to make things better in every way we can. <br />Very nice post, Mark.Rachel Schieffelbeinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01629400142880123520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-17763852104887331202012-12-17T10:38:51.124-05:002012-12-17T10:38:51.124-05:00When I heard about this I was horrified. You'r...When I heard about this I was horrified. You're so right Mark and I pray the world does get better.Sheena-kay Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17712661419116636671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-16729859726511857022012-12-17T10:32:49.831-05:002012-12-17T10:32:49.831-05:00I wish I knew what would blot out these kinds of h...I wish I knew what would blot out these kinds of horrors in our society. I've read the accounts in several papers, and I still cry even though I know the details already. As a mother I can't imagine what those parents and relatives are experiencing.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-85340099737881707552012-12-17T09:54:20.924-05:002012-12-17T09:54:20.924-05:00The convo I had with my 14, 12, and 10 yr olds was...The convo I had with my 14, 12, and 10 yr olds was painful, educating, and needed. I was asked many questions and tried to answer them as well as I could. My 3 yr old will not remember this and hopefully we as a people can find a way to stop this before she will ever HAVE to experience it. Hopefully what I’m instilling in my children will help hinder such actions in the future through them teaching others.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11026644605799767199noreply@blogger.com