RIP Vicki Soto - 27 y.o. Teacher Hero

[boston bean]

Last edited Sun Dec 16, 2012, 11:04 AM - Edit history (1)

Teacher Victoria Soto threw herself in front of her students to save them at Sandy Hook Elementary School



Victoria Soto threw herself in front of her first grade students and was killed as a result.

http://gma.yahoo.com/video/news-26797925/vicki-soto-sandy-hook-teacher-killed-while-protecting-students-31343544.html#crsl=%252Fvideo%252Fnews-26797925%252Fvicki-soto-sandy-hook-teacher-killed-while-protecting-students-31343544.html

[Laurian]

1. Oh, my.

I'm afraid my focus has been on the children. This is equally sad and appalling. I'm afraid we are in for a lot of sadness this weekend as the victims are identified.

RIP, Ms. Soto.

[boston bean]

2. There is something very sick in our culture where we asked to accept this

as an outcome so some can own guns.....

I'm fucking tired of it...

[Fawke Em]

11. Amen!

My husband is gun-trained (he was in the Army) and we refuse to open weapons because we have young children. We prefer to rescue and house five dogs who far better protect our home, while, at the same time provide companionship, teach responsibility and provide tons of love.

I think this event is the Rubicon and will turn this ship far away from the NRA's deadly position.

[marble falls]

20. This not about guns. This is about conservatives and teabillies and insurance companies.....

who close hospitals, eliminate and defund mental health programs and reduce policy benefits for mental illness.

[Turborama]

26. Actually, it's all about all of those.

Not. Mutually. Exclusive.

[roguevalley]

28. agreed. what she did by the way is why you teach

[blackspade]

30. Sorry, It is about guns.

Mental health too, but the number of guns in this country is perverse.
We are awash in a sea of fucking guns.
The fact that anyone can purchase any weapon they want is ridiculous.

[October]

34. Really! And no apology needed.

Plenty of other countries have violent video games and movies, as well as mental disorder issues to contend with -- but none (!) have the guns and/or access to assault weapons like we do here in the U.S.

Beyond time to talk.

[Stevepol]

41. Not entirely about guns.

I don't know the facts and figures now but it used to be true that Canada had the same kinds of liberal gun laws as the US with only a small amount of gun violence, murders, etc. by comparison. It has something to do with the attitudes in the two countries.

I am thinking that in Canada there are pretty strict laws about news organizations ignoring or misrepresenting facts. If they are licensed by the state they have to abide by pretty strict standards of veracity. They just can't make up facts or invent fake enemies and demonize these enemies, producing paranoia or other forms of insanity where there may have been only a little suspicion before. Anybody correct me if I'm wrong but I think Murdoch has tried to install a Fox clone in Canada but has been turned down by these honesty or truthfulness requirements.

I think the attitudes stirred up by Fox and the unnumerable Limbaugh imitators that clog the AM and now FM radio band nationwide are much at fault here too. I don't know about this guy and the other guys who go on these rampages but I would bet that they were affected in one way or another by the intractable, hard right attitudes engendered by Fox et al. It just creates the kd of paranoia and schizophrenia that sets people off who are leaning that way to begin with. Gun laws are needed, but there also need to be laws governing this festering cesspool that people are exposed to 24/7 here in the US.

Just MHO.

[blackspade]

46. The fact that we have 88.8 guns per 100 people in the US....

has a lot to do with it.
We live in a gun culture that lionizes the gun owner as a paragon of civic virtue.
That has to change and there needs to be strict regulation on who and how guns are acquired.

[marble falls]

48. .88 gun per capita the genie is out of the bottle and control is beyond possible without further ...

eroding civil rights. The only way to regain control is to close off neighborhoods and search house by house. Why eliminate my rights over the abuse by other, predominantly mentally ill people that are getting no help or control by the government because of no or very little mental heath help available??????

[blackspade]

52. That is nonsense.

So your solution is what? How do we keep guns out of the hands of nutcases?
Do we simply accept that little kids have to pay for society's lack of moral conviction?
Having strong gun regulations going forward in no way infringes in civil rights.
What I am calling for is the strict regulation of a tool, one that can cause suffering on a massive scale if it gets into the wrong hands.

[marble falls]

55. The solution is not grab up all the guns. How do you plan to do that?

[laundry_queen]

56. The solution, is, indeed, less guns

every study on earth proves it.

[blackspade]

62. I didn't imply or state that solution.

I was clear in my last post:

Having strong gun regulations going forward in no way infringes in civil rights.
What I am calling for is the strict regulation of a tool, one that can cause suffering on a massive scale if it gets into the wrong hands.

And you still haven't answered any of my questions:

So your solution is what? How do we keep guns out of the hands of nutcases?
Do we simply accept that little kids have to pay for society's lack of moral conviction?

So what exactly is your position?

[6502]

65. Actually, taking all the guns IS the solution...

... now let's just focus on how to make it so.

[marble falls]

69. Its not going to happen, ever. Lets work on what we can: prying taxes out of the greediest and ....

and taking on mental illness as the strategic issue it is to public safety. Why should I give up my firearms because the system refuses to take care of the ill? When the coyotes are circling in on my chicken coops and family pets I want a rifle. When the groundhogs start working on the dike to my cattle pond I want a rifle. Maybe ironic slackers sipping lattes don't need or want one, and that's OK. If I lived in NYC, I probably wouldn't want one - and I'd follow the law and not have one. I am a vet, I was brought up around firearms, I've hunted and plinked and my kids hunted and plinked, I live in a rural area and firearms are tools and treated like they are tools. I don't take them to political events and I have never ever pointed one at a human except in the service. And after I realized in the 80's what a collection of right wing extremists with a minority agenda they were out of touch with 80% of Americans I quit the NRA. I think the teabillies might be about the only segment of population I'd like to see disarmed. In the end the problem wasn't the guns, its how do folks with the level of disturbance that Gabby Gifford's and the Connecticut school's shooters get guns before treatment. I can think of several different ways that once the ill are identified and being treated they can be kept from buying arms short of keeping them out of my hands, too.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014338640

[freshwest]

63. Most there believe in unity and equality with good governance which is sneered at here.

I see that as the major difference. Our sense of competitiveness has been taken to an extreme to create extreme wealth and those who recieved that wealth want to own everything. Both societies appear to have evolved much differently.

[liberalmuse]

37. This is very much about the easily accessibility of firearms.

We certainly do need better services for the mentally ill in our society, but having guns all over the place is a HUGE part of the problem. Guns make it easier and less personal to kill, so people who wouldn't normally kill someone are more likely to do so in the heat of anger if there is a gun around.

[marble falls]

49. Why should problems with less than 1% of the population's actions be justification to end ..

of my right to own firearms???????

[laundry_queen]

58. wow.

Just wow. Your post: mememememememememyrightsmememememememememememeidontcareaboutmurderedpeoplememememememememygunsmememememememe.

[marble falls]

59. Stick to laundry, you don't know me well enough to make any assumptions about me.

[laundry_queen]

61. I know enough to see a pattern of narcissism in a post.

mememememememememememe.

[marble falls]

68. You should, what with all the preening you go through. Shame on you.

[Skittles]

67. self-deleted

not worth my time

[LisaLynne]

3. omg

There are no words. That courageous woman...she is beyond a hero.

[Starry Messenger]

4. K&R

[Whovian]

5. A true american hero brings me to tears once again.

[BeyondGeography]

6. She gave her life and was failed by her country

I'm so sorry.

[sellitman]

7. My oldest went to Highschool with her sister

He was quite shaken reading about this on his FB.

What a horrible day.

[pangaia]

8. And just think of the lies and filth

that republican politicians and fascist corporate owners spew upon our teachers.
Maybe this will tell them something. Will they listen> I seriously doubt it.

[Jennicut]

12. So very true.

The principal and teachers that died in Newtown are heroes. They thought nothing of other then protecting those kids. I don't don't that teachers anywhere else would do the same thing.

[knitter4democracy]

15. My thought, too.

She did what any of us would have done. Darn right I would have done what I could have to protect my students. No one messes with my students.

She's a real hero, a union member and educator who laid down her life for her students.

[liberalhistorian]

9. I grew up with teachers,

as my parents were teachers as were most of their friends. The sad fact is that this kind of thing was always in the back of their minds, even in the 60's and 70's; few people not in the profession realize just how many real and possible dangers there are in teaching, especially in dangerous areas. What needs to be equally realized, however, is that this heroic, courageous teacher is NOT the exception, but the rule. The vast majority of teachers would do this for their students, without question. I know my parents would have attempted to protect their own students before themselves, as would their colleagues and 99% of the teachers I've ever known.

My mom taught at a juvenile reformatory for teenage boys, so this was especially a possibility for her and her colleagues. They would not have hesitated to do something like this. Something for the teacher and teacher union bashers, (and yes, that even includes some DUers here) to think about.

[deutsey]

10. Rest in peace, you beautiful spirit n/t

[Hoyt]

13. My deepest respect to her family. Thank you Ms. Soto, and all those teachers who impact our lives.

[Dustlawyer]

14. Hey Repugs and the NRA, you want to tell her family that, "Now is not the time ..."

Are you afraid that some sensible restrictions will all of the sudden outlaw guns in America? Is it your position that we still do nothing and wait for the next shooting? Really?

[SunSeeker]

16. Something you will never hear:

"An investment banker threw himself in front of his customers taking the bullet meant for them."

And yet Repukes accuse teachers of being greedy wanting pensions and collective bargaining rights.

School teachers are saints. All of them. And especially this one.

[Capt. Obvious]

19. This

[Octafish]

27. + Infinity

Saints.

[woo me with science]

40. + infinity again. nt

[smirkymonkey]

57. +1000

[navarth]

17. All this while ASSHOLE Republican governors like Scott and Snyder would take away her

pay and benefits.

It really says something about our society that an athlete will make millions while she probably had to buy her own supplies. My wife was a teacher for 30+ years and the disrespect she was shown at times filled me with rage. There are a couple of people walking around that avoided getting the shit kicked out of them because she insisted I stay out of it.

This beautiful young lady deserved better.

Fuck All Gun Fetishists and Asshole Republicans that want to fuck over our teachers.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. +1

[Faygo Kid]

23. +2, and well said.

I am so sick and tired of politicians and commentators demonizing teachers and trying to destroy their unions. Let them shut the f**k up for a while. A long while.

[erinlough]

36. Thank you for this post. Wouldn't change a word!

[Berlum]

21. Salute to courageous teacher Vicki Soto

[DhhD]

22. Use your vote to redeem these heroes.

[sarge43]

24. Lest we forget

Every person murdered by a gun was someone's child.

Rest in peace, Victoria.

[Botany]

25. Words are not good enough for her but she will live on in all of those ..

.... kids she saved and in their kids and then in their kid's kids.

?9707a5

[one_voice]

29. She's the same age as...

my daughter. My daughter will be 27 in Feb. So easy to over look these children, because of the horror of the babies.

She was so brave and selfless. God speed to her. Peace to her family.

[blackspade]

31. RIP Victoria

You loss not only is tragic for your family, but for the generations of children that will not be taught by you.

Fair winds.

[LittlestStar]

32. Does anyone know how many of her kids survived?

I hope they all did.

[Odin2005]

33. RIP, Vicki!

[theHandpuppet]

35. A hug and thanks to all of our teacher-heroes

You are the BEST of what our society has to offer.

[Tsiyu]

38. The NRA and the gun nuts will NEVER

have her courage!

Never!

Most of the 'arsenal" owners who gush about their stockpiles on the internet are fucking lily-livered, simpering cowards who could NEVER do what Victoria Soto did.

The face in the OP is the face of courage; courage is not a picture of steel bravery in the form of an assault rifle.

Our simpering, NRA boot-licking politicians could take a lesson in courage from her and all who were in that school.

[llmart]

43. Terrific post!

+1,000,000

I know some of those NRA assholes and they are nothing but cowards and bullies. Hell, most of them have never even served their country because they were lily livered assholes.

[OldDem2012]

47. Nicely stated. nt.

[LeftishBrit]

39. OMG. How sad.

This is what real heroism is.

[pasto76]

42. Waya con Dios

you know when I enlisted at 19, I had idealistic notions of being in uniform to be part of the group that protects our citizens. school teachers are not supposed to be on the front lines of some lunatic war. I really am humbled by acts of bravery during these massacres. maybe thats a fucked up silver lining. It reminds me of what we need to do when confronted with insanity.

[geckosfeet]

44. I don' care what you call yourself. Gun nut, gun advocate, gun owner, gun control advocate,

anti-gun, pro-gun, anti-anti, gun lover, gun hater, gun collector/hobbyist, target shooter, professional shooter, recreational shooter, gun rights advocate, gun abolitionist, gun reform advocate, gun armorer, gunsmith, gun shop, militia member, military member, law enforcement officer, armed security guard etc.

Whatever you call yourself and whatever your relationship to firearms - if this kind of situation and the conditions that lead to it's happenstance do not anger and move you to try and defend people like Victoria Soto to keep this from ever happening in anytown USA, then you are on the wrong side of history.

[Harmony Blue]

45. This is a true hero

there is noting more that needs to be said.

[progressoid]

50. ...

rip

[Cha]

51. Thank you boston bean..

Sweetheart Vicki Soto..

[Skittles]

53. she had more courage than all gun nuts combined

[Lone_Star_Dem]

54. She was a beautiful human being, as were the other two who died trying to stop him.

The principal Dawn Hochsprung and school psychologist Mary Sherlach were killed while rushing the gunman.

They're all beautiful people who gave their lives trying to stop the slaughter of innocent children.

[BootinUp]

60. I wish I was that brave

never being faced with such a moment I am not sure I am. RIP in peace Victoria.

[reteachinwi]

64. A last true measure of devotion

She earned a better fate.

[6502]

66. [[OMG!]] Idea on how to take their guns away...

.... it's all about boiling the frog.

You know the story drop a frog in a hot pot of water, it jumps out.
But if you put the frog in while the water is cool and slowly turn up the heat, the frog just sits there not noticing the slight changes... until.... it's too late. He can't jump... he dies... boiled.

If we hit them head on, they will literally fire right back. Remember, they have the guns.

What we need to do is use them against themselves.

Here's an example:

"Somebody" (eg. an anti-NRA plant) in the NRA makes a suggestion to everybody that it would be good if they could have a kind of "NRA Biggest Fire Power Shoot-Off" where everybody gets a chance to bring all of their biggest firepower for games and fun and shooting things and blowing things to smithereens.

These folks would jump on it! They would be able to resist.

Then somebody else gets to chime in that all they need to do is get the permits from the governor's office or wherever to do it.

Now the rub: the governor or whoever agrees to the shindig. But with a few stipulations. One could be that it must be located at a particular field (for noise concerns). And that there needs to be proper sanitation --- that the office is willing to organize with the NRA. And finally that all participants must register what weapons and present them for registration before entering the fairground --- for safety reasons, but only as a formality, to satisfy the safety concerns of the fire department and local medical services that will be at the fair grounds. (It's not a gun registration).

And if course that is no problem for your group anyway as you will be making announcements about what weapon will be used at the shoot-offs anyway.

And promise the groups that they will be happy to see the results published in the official city office paper.

Keep doing these kinds of events...
All across America.
They'll get comfortable. They will notice that if they have a Repub toady at the lower level who is acting as a middle man, they will feel all is OK... that the Dems are asleep at the switch.

But the goal was simple: Get these nutballs to register all their crazy hardware.
Get them to feel that even though they are getting regulated in one area, that this other path lets them go batshit without resistance.

And now the fun.
We change the law.
Make it clear that all guns must be registered.
And that certain kinds are illegal and must be turned over with all of its ammo.

Anybody that doesn't, you use all of that information that they were so polite about turning over AGAINST THEM. AND GO ROUNDING UP THE VIOLATORS.

And that would only be step #1.

Bubble bubble... is that the sound of the water getting hotter?