...do a quick search and you may find out why a theme song for a '70's television series does not have the lyrics sung. The show was MASH. There are words, written by a teenager, per AI, on an album. There are several story lines involving the topic of pain and death in the show. Is there such a thing as painless death?
What is the song? Call Alexa or Siri for answers. What is the topic? It is not without pain.
To what does this connect? The news from a small town outside of Pittsburgh this week involves dead children. They were forced to their deaths.
People are pondering, praying, paying more attention, and asking, Why? Are they saying, Please? Are they pleading? Are they seeking help?
The community met to pray. Those interviewed who lived close to the scene were in shock. Schools were closed. The location was public, but not a school. There was no gun, no knife, only hands with intent. Height mattered.
The first responders were distraught too. The news did not release details, as the spokesman, visibly shaken, would not say, at first, what happened. The voice of one reporter cracked. I know her, I could hear it. Older men in the area gave some info. They did not give details as to the scene. Their voices matter.
Memories will be dark unless they let in light.
There is a spiritual connection for all of us. The writers of MASH thought so. In the aftermath, so do experts. But, Canada and some states say what was done may have been legal. Why? What does assisted mean when people die?
I heard a connection to Bend.
Two women, explaining the behavior of their loved ones' spoke publicly, calling the family member who murdered children, "good". They were on defense.
They explained:
"He was a good father." "He was a good boy."
Were they good? If the father had lived, he would be in jail. The shooter in Bend would be too, just different MO's for premeditated murder. Mitigating circumstances do not keep people out of jail.
If found before, a police sniper or Good Samaritan could have taken him out and rescued the young children who were unwillingly participating.
A jury of their peers will not decide but the court of public opinion is weighing in. It was public behavior, just like in Bend, only without a gun in Mt. Lebanon.
Are the women being watched? Is their sorrow deep? Are people helping as in MASH? The home is collateral damage, now, after the battle.
Accountability? Regret? Remembering? History? Ignorant?
Would there be protestors supporting the murderer if either one lived to get to trial? I can hear the protestors to that comment without turning on any news.
What could have been done?
Stages of grief to be worked through.
Unbearable?
The first responders came in at recovery, they could not rescue. They will need intervention too. Nothing was prevented.
Was the boy in Bend getting assistance?
The father, per the wife, in Mt. Lebanon, was scheduled for an appointment the next day. There were reports of depression and job lose. Stress? Family matters?
News reports talk about hotlines.
There is a connection. The battle between good and evil is real. Collateral damage is experienced far and wide from the nice communities.
Who is good? What is good?
Who is evil? What is evil?
Both can be felt. I know first hand.
Is sensing evil a sign?
How about a gut feeling of dread?
Who battled evil and lost?
Who battled evil and won?
Arms were used.
When the battlefield is brought to your door, put on the Armor of God.
May the souls of the children rest in the hands of God.
Sometimes, the news makes us remember, celebrate, and believe, but not before crying.
Jesus wept and so did His Mother. She knows the pain.
Faith over fear.
Who is the enemy? Sometimes it is hard to tell.
Pray to the One who sees the bigger picture.
Ask, but do not lose hope. Remember the character on The Christmas Train for inspiration.
It was hard to do my work yesterday regarding the story above the fold. The news was not good.
From the Teacher's Desk with Love,
Marian R. Carlino
November 5, 2026