The March for Our Lives

Today is the March for our Lives, being led by a bunch of fired up, fiercely eloquent, social-media-savvy high school kids. As Lawrence O'Donnell put it last night on his program: "The President has fled to Florida, while kids from Florida are taking over Washington, DC."

Kids of Parkland, Florida, and kids of the entire nation, I stand with you. I've unfortunately seen some comments on social media in recent weeks that try to pit the generations against each other. As one of the younger Baby Boomers (almost Gen X), I want you to know that so many in my generation DID, and continue to, try. We tried (and continue passionately to try!) to change the world. I'm not saying all of us (there are some obnoxious ones we have to claim--but that's true of all generations), but so many of us did try. We didn't have social media back then. We couldn't live stream. We couldn't organize in the same way, nor could we effectively get our message out in the same way, straight, un-distilled, to the world. We were only covered as mainstream television at the time chose to cover our marches and movements, you know? Which was basically not at all for some of them I was involved with at your age (like the Nuclear Freeze movement, for example: media black-out).

Don't let haters pit the generations against each other. I, for one Boomer, LOVE the Millennials (and I hope you don't hate me  ). I first fell in love with you guys when the older ones among you led the Occupy Wall Street Movement. That movement gave me hope for our country, for the first time in many, many moons. Since then, I've realized just what a wonderful, awesome, WISE and eloquent generation you are, in general. And I am so with you now as you lead this fresh and fierce push for sensible, sane gun control.

The 2nd amendment was never intended to protect weapons of mass murder. Semi-automatic, military-style assault weapons are not for self defense. As you know all too well, they mow down scores of people in moments. Joe Schmoe and Joette Schmoe citizen should not ever have that power. Period. The 2nd amendment would not be touched/violated one iota by a complete and total federal ban on assault weapons. This is job one. Job two is a federal, strict background check on all guns sold, with NO loopholes.

Let the march begin.  And again, don't let those who seek to divide us up succeed. That is what Bernie Sanders has always urged, and it is so important to remember during this time in our nation when we have so many, including our President, who seek to divide us, to pit us against each other: white against black, native born against immigrant, Christian against Muslim, etc. We need to stick together! White, black, Christian, Muslim, Jew, atheist, all religions, all ethnicities, all colors, men, women, straight, gay, old, middle-aged, young. It is so beautiful and deeply heartening to see you very young ones leading this. Yet it is so heartbreaking to know the reason why: you have seen far too much--experienced it, up close and personal. You've lost loved ones to this terrible violence. And now, we are ALL going to stop it, together. You have given new life and passion and urgency and eloquence to the cause. And today, the world listens.