'It's too soon... our wounds are still too new'

[Police Moderator]

'It's too soon... our wounds are still too new': Sandy Hook parents hit out at Glee episode which features scenes of terror as students believe gunman is on the loose in school
By Matt Blake
12 April 2013

Hit television show Glee has come under fire for airing an episode depicting a school shooting eerily similar to the Sandy Hook massacre which shocked the world five months ago.

Parents of survivors of the Newtown gun rampage have hit out at the show - in which tearful students cower under tables in a dark choir room after hearing shots ring out at McKinley High - for reopening unhealed wounds.

In several harrowing scenes, the show is seen through cell phone cameras as students record final messages for their loved ones.

Read more: daily mail

As a parent who has lost two children, for no reason, I am beginning to wonder about the agenda of some of these 'Sandy Hook' parents. There is no question that the grief they are still experiencing, and forever will, is one which most folks could not comprehend. There is no question that this was senseless and unforgivable act committed by a madman. There is no question that not one of these innocents victims deserved their tragic, and way too early end.

But, does constantly thrusting themselves (Not their victimized children) into the media spotlight (Via press release after press release by their lawyers and PR folks) not reopen their unhealed wounds also?

Should we ban any image of any tragedy to protect the feelings of the families of the victims of any other tragedy? Do we ban the production of any images that may, potentially, affect the feelings of a victim? 'First 48', 'Law and Order', 'CSI', 'NCIS', 'Adam-12' and 'Emergency' all would conjure up damaging images for someone.

If so, we'd have to ban all "News' stories, programs and magazines and our newspaper would carry nothing but 'Opinion' pieces, Obituaries and advertisements.

To this day, I cannot watch any World's Most Shocking and Heinous Videos of Anything episodes as I've personally viewed similar stunts that ended in a death. To this day, I cannot view any image of any child on a four wheeler as it conjures up black and white images of a particular fatal child/4-wheeler crash. To this day, I cannot read any article, or view a news story, about a child shot as a result of a parent neglecting to 'safe' a weapon. I don't watch 'Cops.' The list could go on for another 30, or so, pages.

After 30+ years in LE, the list of stuff I cannot watch, read about or contemplate is infinite, as all tend to open old mental wounds for me. So I don't.

I have found a way to avoid these disturbing images being forced upon my psyche and regurgitated by my memory....

I have a remote with a 'Last channel' feature, a mute button and an on/off switch. My eyes can refuse to read an article, right after I scan the headline. I can just refuse to participate in Facebook.

Call it 'avoidance', repressing memories or whatever politically correct term one would choose, it works for me.

Maybe these poor parents should try it, memorialize (And never, ever forget) their children and move on to face the next tragedy.