My heart breaks every time I tell this story...
A 4 year old and a 6 year old are playing together... The story usually continues about a fight over a ball, or a break for ice cream and a dip in the pool.
Sadly, this story has a very different ending, the 4 year old fatally shoots the 6 year old with a 22 caliber rifle.
Not knowing the details of the story, I am not here to play 'Monday morning quarterback,' to preach about what should have been done and who should be held responsible. I certainly will not jump into a gun rights discussion. But I do want to reflect on the fact that I live in a world, actually in a town, where this story is in the realm of possibility. That an innocent 4 year old child can shoot someone in the head.
Studies have shown us the effect of television, movies, and video games on our minds, and, in a way more importantly, on the minds of our children.
As time goes on the images that are being seared into our minds, and the experiences we have as being the "first person shooter" in the video games, are becoming more realistic and therefore all the more frightening.
Even before these studies became popular, The Rebbe was already speaking about this. He suggested that from the moment the child is born, and even beforehand, he or she should be surrounded with Torah passages, pictures of holy and positive things, and as much as possible keep out the negative energy.
As our body is affected by our natural environment, our mind and emotions are affected by the occurrences, sights and experiences in that environment.
I'm not saying that this is the explanation for what happened. What I am saying is that we desperately need to save the environment in which we are raising the next generation.
As much as we have done, we have clearly not done enough.
Let's change the world. Speak nicely and positively around your children, hang pictures of kindness and good deeds in your home, bring in a charity box, prayerbooks, Torah books, and children's books with positive and upbeat messages.
While our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the Holt family on this horrific loss, let us honor young Brandon by doing something good in his memory.