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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAnother amazing, articulate Parkland student on why this time is different & they won't be stopped
Interview with Delaney Tarr. I've seen her photo in groups but had not heard her speak. She is as extraordinary as the other Parkland students we've heard, and is very insightful about what is different this time and why it can bring change.
"A week ago, Delaney Tarr was thinking about prom. Now shes trying to change gun laws."
We are teenagers who have nothing to lose.
by Jen Kirby
snip
Tarr says she and other Parkland activists are taking as many opportunities as possible to talk to politicians and the public through social media. They are using what power they have for now, until they can go to the polls themselves.
snip
It is surreal, this movement that began not even a week ago, Tarr says. She and others are still trying to navigate the world of activism, even as theyre sure of the message. They will take a bus hundreds of miles to Tallahassee to speak with legislators, and to rally. They will join a CNN town hall for a dialogue on gun control. Next month, they march on Washington, DC.
We are still, of course, grieving, and we do lash out at moments, Tarr says. But ultimately, we are not making this a partisan issue. We are making this, like I said, a life-or-death issue.
Tarr says she and other Parkland activists are taking as many opportunities as possible to talk to politicians and the public through social media. They are using what power they have for now, until they can go to the polls themselves.
Jen Kirby:
What is motivating you to take on this advocacy now?
Delaney Tarr:
For starters, getting shot at is a big motivator for trying to prevent that from happening again. But this has always been an issue that needs to be fixed. Its been decades of us just not doing anything about the gun legislation. People have tried to act out, but ultimately, we are given this platform.
The media is paying attention to us, we have social media at our advantage, and we are educated, we are loud. Its just giving us this chance to promote such advocacy that hasnt been able to be promoted before.
Jen Kirby:
What do you think it is about this group of students in this particular moment that feels like a break from the past?
Delaney Tarr:
Theres a whole array of factors that have played into us making this a different change because if you look at previous shootings, say Columbine was the first, so it wasnt as much of a push; there wasnt as much technology for them to use to their advantage.
Sandy Hook, unfortunately, was the children who passed. So ultimately it wasnt the victims speaking up for themselves. It was the parents trying to make a difference. But we are teenagers who have nothing to lose. We dont have jobs to protect. We dont have anything that we need to conserve right now. We are just teenagers who were victims, and we are ready to speak out.
We are lucky enough to come from a very affluent neighborhood. We go to an amazing school thats been giving us so many opportunities to learn about government, to learn about policy, to learn about social issues. We have so many clubs and classes dedicated to this type of thing, so we know what were talking about. And weve always been ready to speak out about it, but this has hit so close to home that we have to speak out about this, right now.
Jen Kirby:
It sounded a bit as if you guys might have already been pretty politically active if thats the right word.
Delaney Tarr:
Its absolutely true. One of our members of the House of Representatives, Ted Deutch, he actually came down just weeks before [the shooting] to speak to us because weve been so politically involved. So many of us are in politics clubs. So many of us are in AP government.
We dedicate ourselves to this. We dedicate ourselves to learning about this. So we are in a place where we are lucky enough to know what to say, to know what to talk about, and to know what changes need to be made. And its sad to think about us being lucky at a time like this, but we have the ability to do something that others may not.
***
There is much more here, and it's well worth the read. A lot of things I haven't heard said before that provide insight and hope.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/20/17031050/florida-shooting-parkland-advocacy-gun-control-delaney-tarr
TheSmarterDog
(794 posts)Then replace them with these kids?
Lucinda
(31,170 posts)Phoenix61
(16,951 posts)if we don't they will. They are an amazing group of young people. I guess once you have lived through thinking you are going to die there's not anything left to scare you.
Lucinda
(31,170 posts)Amaryllis
(9,523 posts)interesting to find out that they were already very knowledgeable about and involved in politics. Almost like all the pieces were in place for them to push the tipping point.
RainCaster
(10,679 posts)These kids are smart, eloquent and have a very good understanding of how DC works. Can we just vote them straight into office?
quartz007
(1,216 posts)will not cave for some students who are too young to vote and can't match NRA money. So, as a stark realist, I expect nothing much to change. Which means I must learn to defend myself against a crazed gun nut firing wildly at anything that moves. Can't wait for the cops to arrive 10 minutes later.
bobbieinok
(12,858 posts)spike91nz
(180 posts)Whatever Parkland is doing they are succeeding at producing intelligent and eloquent students for a world that sorely needs them. These are sharp kids who understand the hypocrisy they face. They provide an opportunity for optimism about the possible paths into the future.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)from the affluent school system she was raised in. Tragedy aside...I am now in Texas and have nieces who graduated in the top of their classes in high school. There is no way on Earth they would be so informed and articulate. They barely know anything about what's going on in the world. One of them thought Chicago was a state.
Amaryllis
(9,523 posts)scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)Thank you for posting this!
It sounds like that school was doing an excellent job of educating those young people.
orleans
(33,986 posts)who, imo, is awesome
Amaryllis
(9,523 posts)candor. Talking points are no match for this.
blake2012
(1,294 posts)It is all coming together so well for these bright, articulate (and let's not underestimate the importance of this in our age) telegenic young people.
One can see how some country rube clinging to his Bible and guns wants to believe this is all a setup. This is the Black Swan event the NRA was unprepared for.
DeminPennswoods
(15,246 posts)telling it like it is and not mincing any words.