Ann Curry Leaving The Today Show Has Changed The Show

So anyone who knows me knows I love Ann Curry and I also at one point loved the Today Show. I had a morning routine. I would get up, go for a walk, have a cup of coffee, and watch the Today Show before I went to work. I always enjoyed the stories and the people reporting the stories. Ann Curry was my favorite because I felt she was the most genuine. You could really feel the compassion from Ann when she was reporting.  She is passionate about what she does and you can see that she cares in her eyes. When I caught wind of her leaving the Today Show right away I thought it was a TERRIBLE move. There is NO ONE on that show who can bring to the table what she brings by her just being who she naturally is.

Of course the rumors I had read were true and she was leaving The Today Show I remember her last day and the tears in her eyes. You could tell she was heart broken to have to stop doing what she loves.  More importantly I remember Matt Lauer and his overall demeanor towards her. I lost pretty much all respect for Matt Lauer that day. I had read rumors about why Ann Curry was being fired and a lot of the rumors said it was pretty much Matt Lauer's doing. It was his demeanor towards her and her genuine sadness that leads me to believe those rumors are true.  Then The Today Show has the audacity to replace the amazing Ann with Savannah Guthrie and no disrespect to her as she was good at her prior role and I know she is trying but she is NO Ann Curry and the show absolutely has not been the same since.  I know I am not the only one who feels this way. NBC I am sure has seen the drop in viewership since that debacle.  Has anyone felt the same sense of compassion on stories since Ann has left that show?

Fast forward to today and the only segment on the show I want to see is Kathie Lee and Hoda. Sad when I used to enjoy hours of the show. I recently read that Matt Lauer gets picked on and called names and he doesn't like it. While I am not condoning that type of  behavior from people towards him I don't think he realized how his actions affected other people. If I was a part of a news team I would want to have the best news team. I would want the best people possible around me so that we collectively as a whole could be the best. For whatever reasons he didn't really care about that or how his actions affected  a wonderful person like Ann.  Even still I say let's follow Ann's lead and be compassionate. Let's not call him names or pick on him. Trust me NBC has already had massive backlash from these shenanigans and they know they messed up.

The bottom line is Ann Curry leaving the Today Show has changed the show completely. It is not the same show  and doesn't have the same feel. I hope NBC has better judgment going forward. If Ann went to a different network I would be watching that network.

Should Teachers Be Allowed to Carry Guns?

Obviously with the horrific event at Sandy Hook the question of gun control and/or other solutions has been a topic of choice for a lot of people. I've heard both sides of the argument and I understand the concerns for both sides. While I understand both sides my opinion leans heavily  towards allowing Teachers to be able to carry weapons concealed (with a permit obviously).

I know some of you already are thinking "that's a terrible idea" probably because the fear of a Teacher going off the deep end, the fear a student accessing that gun and using it themselves, or students feeling uncomfortable.  I understand these fears and I am definitely not dismissive of them.  My thinking is as such if a teacher is going to go crazy they are going to go crazy regardless of their ability to carry a weapon to school legally. Have you ever seen on the news a mass shooting at a school that was done by one of the teachers? Yea.. Me either.  My suggestion is that the weapons be allowed to be carried but concealed therefore students wouldn't see the gun and be unaware of where any guns may be.  I was speaking to someone on Twitter about this and he said regarding their comfort that students shouldn't have to wake up and feel like they are going to prison and I understand this completely my response is students also shouldn't have to worry about someone coming into their school and shooting up an entire classroom with no one to PROTECT them. Which is the lesser of the two evils? The only person who can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun!

I've spoken to my friends with kids and asked how their children would feel about teachers carrying guns. What I've found is the families that own guns and who have taught their kids about guns and gun safety these students are fine and fully support the idea. The parents who do not own guns those children do not have that same comfort level therefore they are hesitant. My suggestion is gun education in schools.Get police officers or vets in their to properly educate them. We CAN NOT ignore guns so we might as well educate them on guns!  Gun education should be no different than sex education.  I had a lady say "my son would be uncomfortable around a teacher with a gun" I asked if he is also uncomfortable around armed police officers. We must educate that NOT every person with a gun is a bad guy and in fact they are necessary to protect good people and the country. People kill people. Guns are controlled by people.

When it comes to automatic weapons I do think there needs to be tougher laws on who can obtain one. I mean realistically you do not need an automatic weapon to protect your home. A shot gun will do just fine. The right shot gun will take 2 or 3 people down at one time and you only need to aim in the general vicinity of that person. Anyone who knows me knows I love my guns. My husband and I collectively have several guns. Our guns are for protection. While an automatic weapon might be cool just for collecting purposes I know it would not be necessary to protect myself or my home. I am not expecting war in my house.  My only issue with tougher laws is that criminals don't care about laws. That's why they are criminals. They are going to get those guns regardless.

I also offer different solutions why not have armed guards in the schools or 2 to 3 assigned police officers to patrol the school grounds outside and inside. I work in a busy shopping mall and in addition to mall security they have several police officers contracted to work and patrol the mall. Why would schools not be equally as important or more important?  While I do have my opinions I am always open and want to hear the opinions of others. I always want to see things from different perspectives so that I can continue to form my opinion based on valid points. What do you think? Should teachers be allowed to carry guns? What is your solution for preventing as many horrific crimes as we can?

Remembering The Little Angels

Today in Connecticut and across the nation there is mourning for 20 little Angels and 8 brave adults.  Today they have laid to rest some of the children who had their lives cut short by the horrendous tragedy that occurred at Sandy Hook elementary. As the details of this horrific event unfolded I couldn't help but to literally feel extremely sick to my stomach and overwhelmingly sad with tears for the victims, their families, and also tears for what the world is coming to.  

Since this event every child seems more beautiful to me. Every laugh I hear and every tear I see seems more precious.  Being that I work in a busy shopping mall I get to see babies and small children all the time. Children right now are excited about the Holidays. The joy and innocence in their eyes is priceless.  I can't even begin to understand why or how any person could be so evil to take the life of innocent helpless children.  What happened in this boys life to prompt this? Was he simply crazy or did he in his mind have some sort of reason that justified this awful event? The only solution to evil and hatred is to love more. You can't take away hatred and evil with more hatred and evil. We must love. Love each other, love the planet, and love ourselves.    

If you take anything from this event understand to never take anything or anyone for granted including your time on this earth, to love your family and friends, to say you love them, and to be grateful for everything you have in your life.  These tragedies however awful have the ability to make us appreciate what we have more. In order for our soul to evolve and to become a more whole person we must experience all aspects of living. Could you appreciate a sunny day if you have never seen a cloudy rainy day? Could you appreciate winning if you have never lost?  Living an attitude of gratitude is something everyone should live by all the time but when these events occur it serves as a reminder to be thankful and appreciative for what remains in our life. Care more. Be compassionate. Smile more. 

"God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way"  

Below is a poem I came accross online and wanted to share. 

I’m only a small child, not much do I know.
God holds onto my hand as I look down below. 
I’m here with the Father in the most beautiful place

yet I can’t feel much joy when I see your sad face.

Your heart has been broken, I can see from up here
as you struggle along and you wipe every tear.
If I only had words I could send you today
that would tell you I’m home and I’m really okay.

Heaven is beautiful with sparkles and white wings,
and the angels are teaching me so many things.
I’ll grow and mature in this Heavenly land
while holding on tightly to my Father’s soft hand.

Then one day you’ll join me in this home in the skies.
Our joy will be full with no more goodbye’s.
So don’t grieve for me now but find peace in your soul,
and know God has finally made your little one whole.

Now, even if you can’t seem to understand why,
please know in your heart that our love didn’t die.
He tells me that just for a time we must wait
and then I can meet you at Heaven’s front gate!
-Ferna Mills