Quote:
Originally Posted by Quixote
Other than vilifying an invisible enemy and an occasional scrape or splinter, there was no harm done in hiding under our desks. We even changed the Pledge of Allegiance to reinforce “us-versus-them” attitudes, even though Francis Bellamy, creator of the original Pledge, was probably spinning in his grave. But there were no mass school shootings back in the 1950s, when all this was going on.
Today—exaggerating, I realize—it’s practically become ‘mass shooting du jour’—not only in schools. Perhaps we need to look at what has changed in our world, both in attitudes and availability of weaponry that make hiding under our desks in the 1950s, well, child’s play. I agree with the poster who pointed out the potential benefit, though possibly remote, of a child being safer during a school mass shooting less visible under a desk rather than sitting at it or standing in the classroom or trying to run.
As an aside, the history of Francis Bellamy and his Pledge of Allegiance is interesting. Here’s a link from the Smithsonian about it:
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Guns were far, far more available prior to the gun control act of 1968. There were sales ads for guns of all descriptions in many magazines. You filled out the order slip, enclosed a money order or check and mailed it out. A few days later your friendly postal worker would deliver it right to your doorstep. No background check, no identification required. What has changed? If you don't know the answer, I'm not going to waste my time and effort to explain it.