I remember a time, when school lockdowns were called "air raid warnings". We hid under under our desks for fear of being hit with a nuclear strike from Russia. We all knew even as kids, no desk was going to protect us, but we did it anyway. I guess it was more a process of listening to an authority in time of a crisis, than anything else.

We used to go out after school, and play stick ball out in the street. Box ball on the sidewalks, and use monkey bars without helmets to protect us from a possible fall.

What we didnt have then , was kids killing kids with guns in school. Nor did we have lock downs ever..that were to protect us from ourselves? What changed?

We were allowed to say the Pledge, and have a moment in silence, for a prayer or to collect our thoughts before we started our school day. What changed? And why?

Why, if one is an atheist, does my faith offend? Since when, did being who you are, a point of contention for nothing more? Why does a cross mean you arent included? I can only believe you give that symbol more power than I? I give all power to the man who died on it. Im not offended that you are offended, I just dont believe removing a cross, will satify all you migh choose to be offended by again, down the road?

What changed that so many people both young and old, find they feel offended by the very existence of others? Now if a young person feels he's been offended, left out, not part of a group, bullied or the like, they now seem to believe killing those who have offended thier sensitivities is allowed..its almost become in their mind, a "right!". What has changed? What has been lost in our society? What has induced this kind of behavior? When it never existed in my time, in our schools? Maybe we have become a "thin skinned" society? Maybe its because we can no longer say a prayer, out loud in a school setting? Maybe the more we take God out of our schools, the more we need to arm ourselves with "duck and cover!" Which of these would offend you more? And why? What has changed? More freedom to be offended called "ones freedom" or more suppression of what is seen as the cause of the offense?