UPDATE: It’s been 2 years since the shooting in Tucson and…we are still grappling as a nation with gun related issues. We remember Christina Taylor Green, who was killed in Tucson and whose mother is now working on gun control legislation in the wake of Christina’s death and the recent Sandy Hook tragedy.
Originally posted 2/2/11: Sort of unbelievably, we find ourselves giving a posthumous award this month. However, this KID-O led an extraordinary life from the moment she entered the world, until the moment she left it. Like us, her passion for politics began during the last presidential campaign, so we feel connected to her…and we know you do, too. She is our daughter. All our hopes and dreams for the future wrapped up in a little person we love with all our hearts.
Christina was one of the 9/11 babies, born on that fateful day in our nation’s history, and was the youngest killed at the Tucson shooting. She’d gone to see her representative, Gabrielle Giffords, to learn more about serving in government. As a mere third grader, she already had an interest in service to her country and leadership, and had recently been elected to her school’s student council. She was a patriotic child who, according to her teacher, displayed a “maturity and insight that most children don’t attain until much later. “
Christina was a child who packed in a lot of living into her 9 short years. According to her mother, “she kept up with everyone. She was a strong girl, a good athlete…interested in everything…her next thing was learning to play guitar.” She was the only girl on her Little League team, enjoyed swimming, gymnastics and ballet, too.
We are not supposed to bury our children.
Christina reminded her family of their many blessings and they have said she never took one minute of her short life for granted. She squeezed the most out of every day, and used her time here to better the lives of those around her. Her life made a difference. The President said it well in the speech he gave to honor the victims of the Tucson shooting, “in Christina we see all of our children. So curious, so trusting, so energetic and full of magic. So deserving of our love…and so deserving of our good example. If this tragedy prompts reflection and debate…let’s make sure it’s worthy of those we have lost.”
“Children are the future, treat them well and let them lead the way.”
Her life’s abrupt end reminded our country, and our politicians, about our priorities as a nation…about our love of country, community and family…about the need to work together to build a better future for our children. This little girl brought us all together to mourn the loss of her hopes and dreams for the future…and to be inspired by all that she dreamed each of us could be. Let’s follow Christina’s lead and live up to those expectations.
Sweet dreams, sweet girl. Your star shines brightly.
What a tragic loss…sweet dreams little girl and God bless your family. Please give them strength to carry on without you. Your star will twinkle in the sky forever.