TED Community » Kate Jones

More About Me

I'm passionate about

helping people achieve their dreams; healing the world, one person at a time; criminal justice reform; music

An idea worth spreading

Life is an experience, not an explanation and not a destination.

Talk to me about

What you are passionate about; what your hopes and dreams are; how you want to create peace; where you want to go in your life >> what is your contribution / legacy

People don't know that I'm good at

Seeing their greatness: I am a talent scout! Seeing what's going on underneath what's showing up. Cooking and having fun. Conversation.

Comments

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• A reply on Conversation: The time is NOW for people to stand up and say 'No More Assault Weapons" and not wait for the government to legislate the change.

  Dec 24 2012: Good question, Salim. On the national level, we are in a different arena. When nations tgo to war, there are those who supply weapons. War is in a different category. Yes, people die because of guns, but usually these folks are aware that there is war going on. Usually (one would hope), they have an opportunity to fight back or flee. Children in schools, people in theaters, politicians making speeches should not be killed by rapid fire guns.

• A reply on Conversation: The time is NOW for people to stand up and say 'No More Assault Weapons" and not wait for the government to legislate the change.

  Dec 24 2012: I agree w/ you, Dan. That's why I started this conversation. I don't think banning guns in total is the answer. Guns that spray bullets >> who needs those weapons? Soldiers, SWAT teams maybe, and possibly a few government agencies. We continue to banter the argument that the right to bear arms is all the authority we need to own guns >> of all types. I challenge that idea.

• A reply on Conversation: The time is NOW for people to stand up and say 'No More Assault Weapons" and not wait for the government to legislate the change.

  Dec 20 2012: I totally agree with you, Edward. Weapon types and entertainment were the first things that came to my mind when I decided to start this converstion. The media hype around the tragedy, where they continuously mention 'assault weapons', and the like, gave me the nudge I needed to put something down on paper.
  
  I am not advocating re-enactment of temperance, as one commenter put it, or banning all guns, as several others have mentioned, or even banning violent video games. Just the other day, I heard a report on CNN or possibly PBS that there is now evidence that shows kids who play violent video games are less likely to be violent themselves. The reason being is that the players are able to release their anger, etc., virtually, and do not need to express their feelings in real life.
  
  What I am asking for is that we start paying attention to what's happening all around us. One of us may be able to stop someone from crossing the line of no return and prevent another tragedy from happening. When one suffers, we all suffer.

• A reply on Conversation: The time is NOW for people to stand up and say 'No More Assault Weapons" and not wait for the government to legislate the change.

  Dec 20 2012: Thank you for your most thoughtful post, Xavier. By far, you make the most sense. Absolutely, lifestyle > parents ? psychological state > life events > PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY all play a part. A 20-year old may be old enough to vote and wear a military uniform, but a 20-year old is stll technically an adolescent. There is evidence now that the brain doesn't develop to the point where putting the brakes on taking one's irrational thoughts and putting them in action. Absolutely, answering your question of what provoked the event in the first place is crucial to addressing the tragedy and preventing similar events from occurring in the future.
  
  I know, without a doubt, that we as a nation need to address the issue of gun violence. I am a gun owner myself, by my rifle is locked in a carry case. I doubt I will ever use the weapon. My intension is not to ban guns, but is there really a need for weapons that fire 3-to-10 rounds per second?
  
  We have a generation of young people who have grown up in the information age, are totally at home in a virtual reality, sometimes more there than in the real life reality, and where many are children of privilege. The lines between privilege and responsibility are blurring, if not disappearing. That is a tragedy. If we don't model self responsibility, how can we expect our children to be self responsible?
  
  I am grateful to TED for this arena to read and respond to the comments of others.
  
  Take care.

• A comment on Conversation: The time is NOW for people to stand up and say 'No More Assault Weapons" and not wait for the government to legislate the change.

  Dec 18 2012: What has Canada got to do with this conversation?

• A comment on Conversation: The time is NOW for people to stand up and say 'No More Assault Weapons" and not wait for the government to legislate the change.

  Dec 18 2012: John, I agree w/ you in part. Senator Feinstein introduced legislation in 1994 that banned assault weapons. That law expired in 2004. She will be re-introducing an updated version of that bill, which I am sure will pass. That will be the legislative solution. What about the social mores and the catalyst of change? I guarantee you that change will not come through legislation. Change happens in the hearts and minds of pepole.
  
  What I am addressing is a change of attitude. I am responsible for my attitude. You are responsible for yours. Neither one of us is responsible for the attitude of any 'redneck mobile' (your words).
  
  Real change happens internally.