Making sense of it all...
Today is my first day blogging on iVillage -- I'm both excited about this experiment and curious to see how it will turn out.
This is a hard day to start a blog, because as much as I'd love to be upbeat, I'm worried sick about the families in Pennsylvania who've suffered such a terrible tragedy because of yesterday's shooting at their school.
I know I'm a newswoman, but I'm also a mother and it's impossible to put that aside on a day like today. I'm at a loss to try to understand why someone would do this. I keep thinking about the reports (if they are true) that this man was seeking revenge for something that happened to him when he was 12, and wondering 'what was it?'
You saw the boy in Wisconsin who killed his principal and you heard the stories that he had been bullied and nobody did anything, and you start to wonder: maybe we're not reaching these people. It's sort of what psychiatrist Keith Ablow on our show said today: we need to identify kids who are troubled and help them. Maybe this man who walked into the school in Pennsylvania, maybe he was harboring the pain of a 12 year old. It's not a defense for what he did, but I need to understand in order to maybe keep it from happening again.
I keep thinking of my own kids, and suddenly I'm worried about them going to school. I realize that I've been lulled into a sense of complacency.
I'm actually leaving this afternoon for Colorado to talk to the family of Emily Keyes, the 16 year old who was killed at a high school in Bailey last week. I'm feeling a tremendous sense of responsibility to let people know who this child was, who was taken. It's the very least that I can do.
As far as writing-good first blog! The subject matter was tough but it makes or should make society wake up and realize how precious life is. I have nephews in school and can't fathom how scared I'd be if that happened to them.
Reporters need to be careful when going after these stories. Some reporters seek only to punch and repunch emotional buttons which does little more than tear open old wounds instead of promoting healing.
In the meantime 83 more men and women soldiers died in Iraq this month and countless more wounded. For the most part they are listed as faceless numbers. There are so many it is hard to comprehend them as individual persons.
This week as always, we tried to distract ourselves by watching an old movie or a ball game, but the faces kept blurring into faces of unknown soldiers and the senseless attacts on children.
Telling their stories is one thing. Repeatedly asking a parent how they feel about losing a child with mikes and lights in their facesis almost as repulsive to me as the events that took their lives. Find a balance.
Very moving and very well written. I especially appreciate your sense of responsibility to share the hearts of these families affected by tragedy. Does it really matter if Lindsey and Paris are fighting or if Jessica is over Nick? I find that I feel angry when the news or magazies waste my time with trivia. But your compassion and your articles remind me of what matters in life ... moments can have a powerful impact on our lives. I am especially moved by the grace and forgiveness shown by these families. I, for one, will honor their request to do random acts of kindness. It is a small thing for me to do to honor the lives of those who were lost.
thanks for doing what you do everyday! you make my morning brighter.
I feel the same way about trying to understand why... but in the end I think you have to realize that there is no why. Somethings can't be understood. I have hard time believing something that happened when he was a teenager is the reason he killed these innocent girls, just like I have a hard time believing that Foley's childhood caused his downfall.
Kudos to you and everything you do.
There is something wrong with a society that causes people to suffer from andemic depression, anorexia, suicide,cutting, and encourages people to kill one another.
I would really like to get a copy of the letter sent from Desmond Tutu to Emily Keyes as mentioned on Saturday's NBC Dateline.
If anyone has a copy please email it to me at CharlFLang@aol.com. Thanks.
Looking forward to hearing more from you, Meredith!
Best wishes.
Thank you for having a moral value of wanting to respect these families, and not just get the big story. Your own life tells us that you understand the value of family. I am so thankful to have you on the Today Show. I feel that you will report in a very true fashion and not just show the world your view. It is so needed in our country to just tell the truth and not a personal spin.
Tomorrow I will speak with my supervisor about promoting "Random Acts Of Kindness", to my fellow associates and our customers. I have found a web site I need to look into.
Emily Keyes has great parents. I know on the day of Columbine I went to pick up my daughter, who was in high school, three times. Once at dismissal, then I remember it was choir practice day. The second time, I remember it was choir practice for the play and that was later. We live in Pennsylvania and I could not wait to see my own child.
The people of Lancaster County just sustained their own 911. What was done there was also unthinkable. How can you protect anyone for a person who is willing to lose their own life. I do not get it, and I never will.
From all of this, the forgiveness, we find GOD. God is the key. God needs to go back to school, even if it stops one of these horrific things from happening.
IF we could all find our center around our GOD, do random act of kindness, or even the pay it forward. (Someone does a kind thing for you and you do three for three other people.) Could you see the grocery store, "No you go!", "NO you go first."
Heaven recently received a few good angels...leaving some sad and heavy hearts here on earth...God bless those who have made the best of these nightmares.
Hi Meredith there is nothing wrong crying that's showing feelings and emotion. I had tears (yes a man) during your interview of Emily's mom and dad.
You handled it with class and emotion.
Looking at your face we could see the expression of sadness and you were trying to hold back tears I am sure that were thinking about your daughter at the same time.
That's why people love you.
Just keep beeing yourself.
Bye Jc
Hi Meredith!
Thankyou so much for joining the Today show! We all have some little tradgedy in our lives and watching you every morning lifts our spirits! I just wanted to comment on the interview with Emily; you have every right to cry if you want to--you are only being human like the rest of us!
Thanks,
Pat
Hi Meredith,
I am enjoying you on the Today show. You do a wonderful job, and you are a natural on the show.
I watched your interview on Dateline and had tears also.
We are lucky to have you.
Keep up the great work.
Cathy
P. S. I look forward to reading more of your blog.
Your amazing transition on the Today show has been so much fun to watch and enjoy. You are doing a wonderful and entertaining job, showing such professional sensitivity to each avenue you explore on the show.
I look forward to the show each day! Top team for NBC!
I just had to let you know how glad I am that you are doing this blog. I thoroughly enjoy it. I loved you on "The View" and hated to see you leave, but this is like a "mini 'Hot Topics'" Thanks
Dear Meridith,
You are my idol, my mentor. I have always admired you, but now, having taken on this new and exciting position on the "TODAY" show, you are more amazing than ever.
It's as if you were always there. You fit perfectly. It's like you really complete the show. Your smile lights up the screen, your energy motivates me to get up and get going.
I have been laid up for several months, first with cancer and now with a back problem that wound up with a staff infection, so the home iv and whole enchilada keeps me down. You are the highlight of my day. I watch every morning and then Millionaire in the afternoon and any chance to see you, hear you is phenominal.
Thank you, you are an inspiration for all who think they have a problem!!!!!!! Keep on keeping on and God Bless You and your family!
On the Today Show, 11/15/2006, you talked about warranties.
Some things that should have been mentioned were:
1. Most Gold & Platinum Credit Card holders get double the manufactures warranty up to one year. Check your credit card.
2. Some retailers give an unlimited return policy on most of their merchandise. I know Costco and Walmart have an unlimited return policy on all merchandise except for computers, which is a 6 month return policy.
Ron