Who arms you?

So much of the online discussions about any school shooting is about the gun. Unfortunately,  the weapon becomes the main topic. But life really depends figuratively and literally on who arms you.

Isaiah 45 1; 4-6 is the first reading at Mass today. As confirmed by another parishioner, on my walk home, the priest took a lot of curves during his homily, so we tuned out. I re-read the Scripture and per lectio divino, focused in on a passage.."there is no God besides me, It is I who arm you..." I am chosing to ponder that passage.

We all tune out at times. Of my, I have heard this before said I. I made a connection with the parishioner as I was walking home because I said hi and said I saw you are Mass. We chatted for 10 minutes. He thought the homily was off also. I think we were meant to connect per the other parts of the conversation also. We talked about our apartment buildings. I learned a great piece of information about his building of which I had pondered questions! God does work in mysterious ways.

Making connections in life is well, you know, important. I do rinse and repeat, too!

I have listened off and on to this podcaster for years. I do love his take on many aspects of life even if he curses. He makes a lot of sense even when I do not agree with his descriptions. He is usually driving or sitting in his car. He calls people names. He addresses the use of arms. He is aware of life and ponders and comments on it. This video may affend you. Good, keep listening. He is not an expert. He is not a priest, a rabbi or Jesus.

Jesus called people vipers so do not get on a high horse that will not hold you. This is a podcaster who responds with passion on many subjects. He makes assumptions like everyone else. Maybe something he says will cause you to ponder. Jericho Green is a father. Connect the dots.

https://youtu.be/qp2jv50BKX4?is=wyVEltEC4b3p4tuN

Listen to his ending? He uses it all the time. Do you feel the same way about topics?

Who do you think armed the shooter?

Who do you think armed the father in the rescue and recovery?

We all are armed for good and evil. Some armed with knowledge and use it for good, some use it for evil. Some lift their arms in prayer, some lift their arms with bullets. The bullets do not lift themselves.

We all get armed for battle. A teacher, it is reported used, a cell phone and her arms in her battle in the class in Bend. (aren't schools banning cell phones...yeah, I have comnented on that). Her efforts are noteworthy in rescue and recovery.

Who is arming you?

France, Albania and Canada are on fire. Who lifts the "torch"?

Please pray, ponder, discern and act. What did I know in 1998? I do feel that I was armed for battle. Like Jericho, I get pulled in. May I help arm you with knowledge, insight, and questions. As always, my arms are raised in prayer.

From the Teacher's Desk with love,

Marian R. Carlino

October 18, 2026

Some questions may never be answered...?.

Are you asking why?

As in any attack event, controversey will swirl.

The first news conferences out of Bend, Oregon, I actually thought were well done on Oct 16 and Oct 17. They were organized and brief. The politicians should have stayed home. The police are investigating. Everyone speculates. Speculation is a normal part.

But why did the police say, "We may never know..."  I call that BS. They have to keep investigating. Asking, trials, lawsuits are tough but healing comes too. 

Do you think podcasters read my posts? They may have. I use my real name. I am not a huge fan of any one who does not provide a real name on Youtube, but voices on YT encourage you to ask questions. I am not posting any that do not use their names.

There was controversy in my school when the principal initiated her actions against me. Prevention does not mean absence of trouble, it means absence of death or serious injury. Prevention helps the troubled child.

You can be standing right next to your child and something can happen. Some incidents may be random, wrong place at a wrong time...

******School attacks are not random.*******

Children go to school by law and desire. They are not in the wrong place, the attackers plan.

In rescue and recovery, more controversy compounds as stages of grief and knowledge emerge. There are patterns to watch.

Rescue and recovery put a policeman on trial in Uvalde, Texas. He was found not guilty of the charges. That was like Murder on the Orient Express.. enough blame to go around. You do not hear much about that killer's name. I have found that lack of information on YT to be disturbing.

Many former (name the occupation) have YT channels. I call myself a refugee from public education because I could never go back to the classroom. It was not because of the kids or fear. My other work did not show me hiding from controversy.

I ask questions on my jobs and actually had a YT channel for hot minute in 2012/2013 about The Rosary to help highlight a friends's photography of statues, gardens and animals. A former friend prayed with me. Covid controversy made that female's friendship go away. She was a former teacher who also sat on a school board so my takes were a bit touchy.

These two podcasters discuss the Bend, Oregon shooting at length. They are retired policeman. Policeman know the law. They, to me, know more than some of the lawyers/attorneys on and off YT.

In my situation, some police and lawyers were part of the problem.

These two podcasters are worth a listen. It seems they know some information that you may want to formulate into questions.

They talk about vicious cycles.  I just may become a follower. Always use discernment. 

It could be a voice in the wilderness with merit or maybe just clickbate. This podcaster actually plays a podcaster whom I watched yesterday. That expert does good reviews also. Calm and knowledgeable. 

https://www.youtube.com/live/Yn6pReXq3A8?is=6p6hOd4Tu62cQFpX

October is Respect Life month. Evil does not respect any life, from the womb to the classroom so I write. Maybe some good will be learned.

From the Teacher's Desk with love,

Marian R. Carlino

October 18, 2026