Our Thoughts And Our Prayers For The Victims At Sandy Hook Elementary School

December 16, 2012 by Masterclass Lady 11 Comments


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What can one say? How do you address madness and evil coming together to create such utter chaos and tragedy in the lives of innocent victims and their families?

Like many of you, I have been immersed in the events unfolding via CNN in the wake of the horrendous killings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

I am numb and shocked and angry and tearful. I am sure all of you share these emotions and hope that we can share our feelings and thoughts about the horrendous murders at Sandy Hook.

We all know who the killer is, so you will not find his name in this article.

What can we do? What can our government do?

– Ban violent video games. Just totally ban them. For some people, their lives revolve around these games to the point that they cannot discern virtual life from reality. For many, especially those with fragile, fragmented minds, life is one big game, one sickening destructive game and, at some point, triggers a button that enable them to enact these games in real life.

– Ban violence in the entertainment industry. Personally, I am sick of the violent lyrics in songs, the reenactment of those lyrics on stage, the gore and horror in the movies and television. Truly I could go on and on. And, for those who feel it is a free country, well, how free can we be if we are held victim because of this level of violence?

– Advocate new laws into how mental illness is going to be addressed. Presently, severely mentally ill people are permitted to roam the streets simply because it is their right. Or they fall through the system. They are out of control, aimless, helpless, desperate, you name it. These people are very, very ill. It is not a physical illness like heart disease or cancer but, at the end of the day, it is a real illness that can negatively affect the lives of others.

– Ban the guns. Who collects rifles? Who? And why? Is this necessary? Find another hobby.

– Bullying at every level needs to stop – to the point where the person bullying face legal charges. It happens at school, in the work environment, on reality shows – it’s all around us and it is horrible, horrible, HORRIBLE.

Since 9/11, we have been coping with the threat of terrorism throughout the world. It was a life-changing event in our lives where time stopped and hearts were overwhelmed with sadness, fear and helplessness.

But, with this recent slaughter at Sandy Hills Elementary School, it is becoming increasingly evident that we are becoming our own worst enemy

Changes need to be implemented – and now -for the world to evolve into a caring, nurturing and safe environment.

May God Bless the precious, beautiful victims and their families. My heart and prayers go with you every day of my life.

R.I.P. (list courtesy of the Huffington Post)
– Charlotte Bacon, 2/22/06, female
– Daniel Barden, 9/25/05, male
– Rachel Davino, 7/17/83, female.
– Olivia Engel, 7/18/06, female
– Josephine Gay, 12/11/05, female
– Ana M. Marquez-Greene, 04/04/06, female
– Dylan Hockley, 3/8/06, male
– Dawn Hochsprung, 06/28/65, female
– Madeleine F. Hsu, 7/10/06, female
– Catherine V. Hubbard, 6/08/06, female
– Chase Kowalski, 10/31/05, male
– Jesse Lewis, 6/30/06, male
– James Mattioli , 3/22/06, male
– Grace McDonnell, 12/04/05, female
– Anne Marie Murphy, 07/25/60, female
– Emilie Parker, 5/12/06, female
– Jack Pinto, 5/06/06, male
– Noah Pozner, 11/20/06, male
– Caroline Previdi, 9/07/06, female
– Jessica Rekos, 5/10/06, female
– Avielle Richman, 10/17/06, female
– Lauren Rousseau, 6/1982, female (full date of birth not specified)
– Mary Sherlach, 2/11/56, female
– Victoria Soto, 11/04/85, female
– Benjamin Wheeler, 9/12/06, male
– Allison N. Wyatt, 7/03/06, female

R.I.P.
,

About Masterclass Lady

Rosanne (Giallonardo) Simunovic began her musical career in Timmins, Ontario. She studied piano with Anne Pizzale and later, at an advanced level, with Soeur Anita Vaugeois (Sister Cecile of Les Soeurs De L’Assomption in Timmins). Her vocal and accompaniment skills were nurtured by her aunt, the late Dorothea Mascioli. When Rosanne graduated from O’Gorman High School, she moved on to the University of Toronto where she continued her piano and vocal studies while attaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She was hired as a piano accompanist for several musical companies, most notably, the National Ballet Of Canada. She presently holds an A.R.C.T. Teacher’s Diploma in Voice from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Rosanne has studied choral conducting with numerous well known Canadian Conductors, including Wayne Riddell of Montreal, Quebec and the internationally renowned Dr. Elmer Iseler. She has been a founding member of numerous community-based arts organizations: the Timmins Arts Council, later known as Arts & Culture Timmins, the Timmins Symphony Orchestra, and, the Timmins Youth Singers…as well as the TYS Alumnus choir, the Timmins Concert Singers. In 1987, she was also selected to be the conductor of the Timmins Board Of Education Choir, comprised of talented students from Grades 5 to 8. In 1988, she was elected to the Board Of Directors of the Ontario Choral Federation (now known as Choirs Ontario), where she served as Chair of the Festivals Committee for six consecutive seasons. In 1996, in honour of the Ontario Choral Federation’s 25th Anniversary, Rosanne was selected as one of 25 recipients of the OCF’s Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contribution to the choral art. The ceremony was presided by Lieutenant Governor, Hal Jackman. In November 1997, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Rotary Club Of Timmins to receive the prestigious Paul Harris Award for her years of dedication to the artistic development of young musical talent in Timmins. In August of 2002, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Board Of Directors of Choirs Ontario to serve as Conductor of both the Provincial Junior and Teen Choir Camps, now renamed in honour of the Camp Benefactors, Don and Lillian Wright. In November 2002, Rosanne was the one of the recipients of the Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, honouring her work in the development of the arts in Timmins. Under Rosanne Simunovic’s direction, the Timmins Youth Singers and the Timmins Concert Singers have been featured in numerous choral festivals and performing opportunities outside of Timmins. In 1985, they were selected to partici
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11 Responses to “Our Thoughts And Our Prayers For The Victims At Sandy Hook Elementary School”

  1. Vonnie December 16, 2012 at 3:22 pm

    These were our babies…innocent little babies sitting in a classroom, my heart is breaking for the families of these children and the adults who lost their lives trying to protect these little ones!!!

    There just are no words…

    Like

  2. Masterclass Lady December 16, 2012 at 4:01 pm

    No words. Just prayers. Lots of them.

    Like

  3. Darlene December 16, 2012 at 8:35 pm

    Thanks for posting about the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy. I agree that there are just no words. I’m very sad. So many lives affected. I keep seeing the face of little Emilie Parker, those beautiful blue eyes, the smile. It just doesn’t make any sense.

    Like

  4. Masterclass Lady December 16, 2012 at 10:43 pm

    Yes Darlene. Those eyes looking out at me from the TV set will haunt me for the rest of my life. Such a senseless, heart wrenching tragedy. Thanks for your comforting words.

    Like

  5. Anita December 23, 2012 at 12:12 pm

    Rosanne,

    Hi! I’m sorry I haven’t visited here in quite a while. I’ve missed you! I guess I’ve been preoccupied with other things. I’m just so heartbroken about the Sandy Hook tragedy, and agree with all the points you have brought up that would make the U.S. a stronger nation. I’m happy that President Obama is working towards a ban on assult rifles. Unfortunately though, he’s going to have a fight on his hands to get that passed, even after this horrendous crime. So many think their right to have these guns is more important than our own children. I’ve been watching alot of CNN also, and I love Piers Morgan’s passion about stopping this gun violence. Anderson’s coverage in Newtown has been so touching. Getting to know more about these c
    hildren, and also his interviews with the families.

    Like

  6. Anita December 23, 2012 at 12:21 pm

    Rosanne,

    I hope you’ve been having a wonderful Christmas season. I’ve be back later I promise!!

    Like

  7. Masterclass Lady December 23, 2012 at 2:00 pm

    Hi Anita. I have missed you too! Nice to see you back here.

    Like you, I have been so disheartened and saddened and outraged by the Sandy Hook tragedy. Glued to CNN 24/7. Those reporters have been so brilliant, thorough and sensitive throughout this entire ordeal.

    When is the NRA going to wake up. When! Their answer is to put security personnel at every entrance of the schools throughout the nation?

    They never addressed the core issue- that these guns should be taken off the streets, that gone control protocol must be enforced, that mental illness must be addressed.

    However, I do agree that, until this is resolved, the country does need to reinforce the schools with security. We cannot tolerate anymore children dying in such a horrific way. It is disgusting and evil.

    Like

  8. Masterclass Lady December 23, 2012 at 2:01 pm

    Merry Christmas and a blessed, healthy and Happy New Year to you and your loved ones, Anita!!

    Like

  9. Anita December 24, 2012 at 7:01 pm

    Rosanne-So many people are so disgusted with the NRA. One of the things not addressed was that that needs to be sufficient backround checks on every person applying for a gun. From what I’ve heard on CNN, 40% of gun sales in the country don’t even do backround checks. That is APPALLING, and so scary that the NRA thinks this is fine. Plus, they are denying the fact how dangerous assult rifles are. There was even a gun rights activist on Piers Morgan’s show who said that it looks like an assult rifle, but actually is a hunting rifle. I was stunned, and so angry at such blatant denial. These politicians need to stand up for what’s moral and right, and stope being afraid of the NRA. The memories of those beautiful children makes this cause extremely important, and so worth fighting for!

    Like

  10. Anita December 24, 2012 at 7:09 pm

    Rosanne-Have a very Merry Christmas!!

    Like

  11. Masterclass Lady December 24, 2012 at 8:39 pm

    Oh Anita! I hear you. I cannot believe how ignorant and callous the NRA has been through this horrific tragedy. My heart breaks for these families. Here we are celebrating Christmas while knowing that for so many Christmas or their lives will never be the same. Prayers. God Bless you.

    Like