Many times I feel, though I have no children, that I am a mother in this world. I am a mother to everyone I love, in some way or another. The shootings in Connecticut today have brought out that feeling of tenderness and love that I so often feel. In the love that I give and the works that I create, I am a mother. Today, those feelings are magnified and I can feel myself holding close the children I will someday have, whether they be my own biological children, my own adopted children, the children of my brothers, or the children of my friends. And at this time, I can feel my heart holding all the children who were killed today.
Mother Teresa once said, "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." We all belong to each other. We need to hold each other close, to tell people that we love them, to show people that we love them, and to remember that we have to love each other not only in spite of, but also because of our differences. Today I am praying that we, in our shared humanity, will be able to come together and give what love we have, to remember that we belong to each other, to remember that if ever the humanity of one person is diminished, then the humanity of everyone is diminished.
I have two videos to share. One is President Barack Obama's address regarding the Newtown, Connecticut Shooting. The other is of spoken-word poet Andrea Gibson, performing her poem "Birthday." We all need to recognize the humanity in each other. I hope that today and every day we can hold each other close and love each other for who we all are.