Madison - Trauma - Compassion

On December 16, 2024, a school shooting occurred at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, United States.[4] Two people plus the perpetrator, identified as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow,[5] were confirmed dead, and six others were injured.[1]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abundant_Life_Christian_School_shooting

The mayor of Madison sought to protect the privacy of those directly impacted by the killings, and was criticized for her bluntness and strong request – in not revealing names immediately.   The issues focused significantly on the fact that children were killed.

Judith Davidoff wrote a recent Isthmus piece entitled “Let’s all take a minute”.   She quoted Vincent Filak, a journalism professor at The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.   He spoke of how some survivors want to feel heard by others, including the media, in their healing process from the trauma.

In reading this piece I felt that there was a lot of defensiveness among the journalists speaking of this horrible, but unfortunately not rare situation.    It seemed and seems to me that they get and got stuck in their “professionalism” and dealing with their own feelings.  

I see a major difference between revealing the names of victims, and their loved ones soon after the deaths,  and giving these same individuals a chance to respond, if they wish, to be heard.

Bill Lueders, a Madison journalist for example, spoke out.   Lueders essentially said: “trust us” and/or “we should have freedom of speech” in being allowed the names and contact to those directly impacted by the killing.

Why, why should Mr. Lueders, for example, not instead have been offered the opportunity to write something down, for the mayor of Madison to give or email to these same people.  They then could have been offered the opportunity, if they wished to be heard then, to directly contact Mr. Lueders.

It is sad to me that in this short writing, Davidoff, Lueders and Filak couldn’t see a responsible path that could more readily both protect these most vulnerable people, as well as allow them to actively choose then if they wanted to be directly heard for public consumption.

No, unfortunately I, a total outsider, don’t trust these/you people.   To me, they/you seem to confuse the obvious facts of the case.   You, the journalists, were deeply impacted by this horrific incident of handgun violence.   To me you seemed to have trouble, with boundaries.   I didn’t/don’t see a deep respect and concern for the others who were deeply, deeply traumatized then.  

I will show compassion and concern for these people/you, when I see them/you apologizing both to the Mayor of Madison, and if appropriate, to those whose privacy they/you intruded upon.   While I was, and am, more distant, as one living in California, out of Madison for decades (in Madison now for a few days), I think that I can see “truths” that you “professionals” seemingly can’t see!  Sorry, but…

Please – look – see – and feel – and allow others to similarly do so.   I appreciate when others, say “I’m sorry” to me, hearing upon the death of my (only) brother, who died April 21st, 2024.  I was fortunate, in that his death, while bringing sadness, was not a “tragedy”.   Being a witness, I found deep meaning, almost a closeness, with some closure.   I write (also), without the “credentials” that you have.   I hope that you, can see that perhaps, you could now see, and now handle this differently (also).  Thanks!

 

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