A plea for sanity (ours) in this time of terrible trauma.

I know a lot about trauma. I know professionally, personally and through the experiences of those I love. I want to lay a little unofficial advice on DU right now.

We are all being traumatized right this minute by the horrible, horrible shootings at the school. Each of us experiences trauma in his own way. Mostly we go to our well established corners and engage one another from there. I know some on DU have corners that advocate gun rights and some gun control. Each truly believes that safety lies in that particular corner. I have my own opinion but understand the emotion behind any position that represents safety to its advocate.

We're scared, and I know from experience that it's hard to open up and hear one another without the barriers those fears impose. But there is secondary damage inflicted by not pulling up all the trust you can and reaching beyond to hold onto one another until the real, raw fear subsides a bit and maybe we can work together for a real solution.

It's not beyond us. We can come together if we don't destroy one another out of terror. Remember, this is exactly what terrorism is designed to do. It can only kill a few, but can destroy many.

Please, guys. I have a lot of faith in the essential goodness of this place, and we can, together, hold those poor children in our hearts and maybe, maybe someday give some meaning to this meaningless horror.

Hug your loved ones.