The other night, Anderson Cooper interviewed the parents of Grace McDonnell, one of the children who died in the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. Anderson has been paying individual tribute to each of the victims, sharing with us some of their lives and who they were. I was particularly taken with Grace's drawings and paintings. She wanted to be an artist when she grew up, and I was gobsmacked at her talent for such a little six-year-old girl. Look at this wonderful owl. I just love it. Look at the eyes, and the heart, and she has even drawn a belly-button. Well, sure, owls can have belly-buttons, can't they? And the wonderful colors. Grace's parents gave a copy of this painting to President Obama, and he said he would cherish it. The soul of a beautiful little girl, taken too soon, lives in this painting. I have not been able to get the images of those children out of my mind. Grace's mother says the children are all together in Heaven now, and their teacher is looking after them. What a beautiful, comforting thought. Here are three more of her little paintings. I love the fish.
I cannot imagine the pain and grief of losing a child this way. When they start shooting six-year-olds, it's time for folks to put their guns away.
6 year old Black children have been being shot in Detroit for years, some intentionally, some just caught in the crossfire but if little Grace's death makes people everywhere put their guns away not only will her drawings survive her but other children who would have died as well.
ReplyDeleteThe official state stats are Iposted on my blog today but i suggest you do not go there the body count is 5 times the CT one and that was from 2009 when the murder rate was down.
What divine pictures, Jo. Thank you so much for sharing these with me. I have been avoiding most of the coverage as I cannot handle it any longer.
ReplyDeleteI was holding a half sleeping granddaughter when my son told me about the shootings. How can you look a face si innocent and do that? I can't even say the words .....
ReplyDeleteB and I were wondering -- maybe this is the kind of thing the Mayans really meant when they predicted the end of the world.
ReplyDeleteI can't watch any more of the news coverage because I was literally nauseated and sobbing last Friday! It hit me so hard because I kept thinking of the school and kids where I used to teach.
ReplyDeleteThey should have put their guns away long before this! Why anyone needs to have possession of any type of gun is beyond me...their "right to bear arms" comes from a time period when that was necessary but now it's gone way too far. Pierce Morgan put one of those right-wingers in his place last week and I hope he keeps up the pace of promoting gun laws in the States.
They're absolutely stunning pictures. What a terrible, terrible waste of a life. I really don't understand the obsession with gun ownership in the States and the whole thing is utterly disgusting, shocking and tragic.
ReplyDeleteThe Walking Man is right, the aggregate of children killed one at time by guns in the US is and has been a national disgrace for years. So perhaps when we consider gun control and mental health issues, maybe we ought to think about poverty and unemployment as well.
ReplyDeleteVery moving pictures by this talented young artist.
ReplyDeleteQuite special.
Tragic loss.
Beyond comprehension.
Love to purchase Gracie's art! Could a foundation be set up in which Gracie!s art could be old? I would be the first in line to buy the beautifully colored fish!
ReplyDeletePS: sorry for the typo.....meant to say- Could Gracie's art be SOLD?
ReplyDeleteLike Jennifers211, I too wish that Grace's pictures were available to buy and a foundation or charity set up to raise money for whatever purpose her parents feel appropriate - prints, greetings cards, calendars, cuddly toys, all sorts of things. She was a very talented artist, way beyond her years. On first sight, I particularly liked the fish; but on getting a better look at the owl, and the detail in there, I think that is now my favourite. My thoughts and prayers go to Mr and Mrs McDonnell and all the families in Newtown at this tragic time.
ReplyDeleteI was so moved by the segment about Grace and I loved the fish painting, as well. The story of each child has been so remarkable. We must find a way to prevent more children from facing such evil at such a young age.
ReplyDeleteMargaret
the soul of this child lives in her painting, the sacrifice of a child's soul for the grove owl... #bohemian
ReplyDeletethe soul of this child lives in her painting, the sacrifice of a child's soul for the grove owl... #bohemian
ReplyDelete