Thursday, April 18, 2013

Discourse

"We Believe the Children are are future..."
Or so says that one song and many other sentiments like it.
And yet in the three months since the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting there were more than 2,000 gun related deaths in the United States. These deaths range in age from 6 months to elderly.
And yet the discussion has stalled on Capital Hill. Ok - good for them that they had a discussion and not a filibuster. Small consolation, but the threat of one was disgraceful and childish.

See names and statistics here

My manner of dealing with it is to become totally obsessed with Bullet Mandalas. I have created several dozen design outlines, illustrated a couple, made a book, and stitches a couple. More are on the way. I thought it was time to debut a few...
First Mandala, Doodled with names of Sandy Hook Victims
Ink on paper, 8 x 8

Second doodled mandala
Ink and pencil on paper
8 x 8
First Illustrated Mandala
ink on watercolour paper
13 x 13
Shown against black fabric. Will be mounted on matt board.

Second Illustrated Mandala
ink on watercolour paper
13 x 13
Shown against black fabric. Will be mounted on matt board.

 My objective to not to take a position on guns. My desire is that we have an actual dialogue on the issues. And they are plural. We can not just have more control or less. People are the ones who hate, but the guns and people pull the triggers propelling the bullets toward someone's end. There are so many issues that need addressing, responsibility, education, poverty, mental health and illness, second amendment, etc.
We can not solve all these issues at one time, and yet people are dying.
Dyeing in their schools and workplaces, in their homes, on the streets and on the battle field.
Can we at least talk about it?

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