Last weekend, many of us around the globe witnessed two important media firsts.
An adult film star spoke of her one-night stand with the President of the United States prior to his declaration to run for the big job.
While I do not agree with his morals, he is certainly not the first president to have extramarital affairs.
What concerns me about this scandal is the implications of hush money, bullying tactics and an ethical violation of trust.
The much bigger news was the March for Our Lives event initiated by the students of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed on Feb. 14 with as many others injured.
This not being the first mass shooting at a school, the students were fed up with the lack of help from adults obligated to keep schools safe.
It took no longer than five weeks to organize what became, not only a national, but also a worldwide event covering some 800 locations including Japan, Vietnam, Great Britain and Canada.
The number of participants in Washington varies. It is, however, easy to see that the crowd was larger than at the inauguration of that guy.
In Canada, over a dozen cities, including Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, participated.
A mom from Montreal had two children at the Florida high school when the killing happened. She must now deal with the traumatic aftermath.
In 1972, one of my favorite performers, Tom Rush, wrote a song with beginning lyrics: "Kids these days they don't value a dollar; don't like chewing but they sure can swallow; wasn't that way in my younger days; there's something wrong with kids these days."
Things have certainly changed since then.
We are in a much better place in Canada.
We have a different gun culture, as do most of the industrialized nations. Federal regulations keep them that way.
Yet, a minority want to push that envelope towards reckless endangerment. A continuous battle of freedom versus balanced restriction.
Let's not be confused, no one is trying to take away anyone's rights. What is being requested is stricter gun laws which exclude military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. We are not at war with each other. Such destructive power is not needed.
So, is it a power thing? I have a friend in town who is a sweet and gentle soul. I heard him bragging about his weapons and just couldn't figure out why he would want to have them around anymore. He is a proud, former military man. I just don't get it. He is not a hunter and sure would not require and assault rifle to kill a moose.
What bothers me is that no one from the U.S., be it Democrat or Republican, has stepped up and said " I am here to help."
By the way where was the leader of the free world when all these marches were happening all over the world?
He was in Florida not far where the killing took place, happily playing golf.
Time will tell what comes out of last Saturday's March for Our Lives.
I am betting on the kids.
A total 4,800 new voters from East to West were registered at over 30 events last Saturday.
These kids are not going to sit back and wait.
The youth who spoke in D.C. and all over were from various ages and ethnicities.
Their words were powerful and wise, far beyond their years.
They are young human beings who have been entrusted in our care, the next generation who are simply begging for answers to end the senseless killing of their peers.
They will not be silenced anymore.
Many will turn eighteen by November. I guarantee that they will be out in full force at the ballot box. Kids these days are something else.
Time for Tom Rush to write new lyrics for today's generation.
