Dear President Thomas M. Mengler;
Hope or is well in San
Antonio, wish the same could be said over yonder in Uvalde, merely 2 short
hours away. But that short distance has
meaning, or it did for a 10-year old named Alexandria. OK, erase that “it did”
emotion, as it still has meaning for “Lexi” as she was known and for the rest
of us the erasing of that “it did”- the reason I write to you this day. Hope I
am not wasting your time, or intruding, please hear me out. That said, what
erases a tear and brings out a smile even in the face of tragedy, when one
reads of a 10-year old kid who received a “good citizens” achievement and was
already reaching out and researching a program at your coveted institute of
higher learning in education. As is noted by her loved ones through their final
respects, “as a fourth-grader, her recent aspirations were to earn a
softball scholarship to St. Mary's University, where she planned to major in
math, before attending law school to become a lawyer. And as a
reinforcement her early on steadfast that growing up meant sooner then later a
role in society, “She jumped at any opportunity to help her mom, a
current student at St. Mary's, with technology-based assignments.” A
10-year old, with a dream, with aspirations so early on in youth to become a “Rattler”
classmate, indicative that with this kind of interest and reasoning ability at
such a young age, sure sounded like a success story in the making. A dream fulfilled,
it meant a better society! Which unfortunately, it will never ever be fulfilled
due the innocence of youth shattered, dreams forfeited, to a kid along with
other school mates that fell victim to a horrendous and heinous assault on
one’s right to be left alone, the dignity of peace dismissed. I am talking that
assault at Robb Elementary. Wherein it was supposed to be a place to feel safe,
to play, when at a school and learning the fundamentals that would one day
allow admission to that higher learning. That dream of Alexandria “Lexi” Rubio,
to one day attend St. Mary’s to study “Mathematics” and prepare for then a “law
degree”, not anymore as Alexandria was one of the victims at Robb Elementary.
Sorry if it is annoying that I am regurgitating things you are already most
aware of, for that my apology. Like
“Lexi”, how can we forget also Maite, the 10-year old kid Matt McConaughey
showed us how to shed a sorrowful tear, when at the White House, when the
Uvalde born actor went talking about this cowardly act the passion of
forfeiting the life of children with the almighty mission that complements the
barrel noise of an assault rifle nuisance. I will never forget, when Matt
showed off to the world Maite’s green high-top Converse with the green heart,
now her only remaining trademark in individuality. I’m pushing 70, even though
retired I did take out of the retirement closet my old green high-tops, and
with an unsteady hand painted a green heart in honor of that little girl and
her class-mates – it was all I could do in remembrance we shall not forget.
Funny, how people notice that “heart” when I am out shopping, so people are
aware of this tragedy as it is still fresh in our minds, broken hearts yes. At
night, I wake up in distress thinking about what a 10-year old, what her lasts
thoughts in a desperate last breath of air, the thought process – that maybe with
Lexi, her last will and testament rested in the realization that she saw
herself in cap and gown, her parents looking on with joy, at a St. Mary’s graduation
ceremony. And when the cap toss found smiles and hugs and everything else that
goes along with that graduation ceremony after years of study and tests and
finals, the friends made along the way that will become forever associates, the
mentors that graded all those research reports, it would mean the beginning of that
“sky’s the limit” career ahead for Lexi. Maybe a career that would instigate a re-write of the
“Principia of Mathematica” principles or legal opinions that would help
reinforce the jurisprudence in justice being served and who knows, at a young
enough age that would mean future vacancies at the Supreme Court that challenge
may have interested Lexi. A 10-year old kid, that had her sights set on the
study of “Mathematics” and then using that learned logic to study for a “Juris
Doctor” and getting that education at St. Mary’s University, talk about
planning, talk about a dream! But, that dream is gone for now, yet maybe we can
do something about it, to show we humans do care, that a kid’s dream can come
somewhat true now and forever Amen regardless of the circumstances that may
interfere to forfeit meaningless that “dream”. So please take under serious
consideration, better yet how about an obligation, to honor Alexandria, with an
“honorary degree” in Mathematics or whatever works within the bounds of things,
as how else can we tell her and the others we “still love them”? And think
about how the upcoming graduation ceremony would sound in lasting satisfaction,
out-of-the-ordinary of years’ past, when a 10-year old Lexi’s name is
announced, receiving that “honor” not with tears of sorrow from her classmates,
but tears in joy! Take care, and thanks for hearing me out.
Respectfully, Michael S.
Kelley/CEO Project Maite(can be reached at 916-259-6715)
For reference, Lexi’s preliminary
“Obituary” as posted:
Alexandria
“Lexi” Rubio, 10
Lexi’s
mother, Kimberly Rubio, posted on Facebook that her daughter was honored for
earning all A grades and received a good citizen award in ceremonies at the
school shortly before the shooting. The fourth-grader was a softball and
basketball player who wanted to be a lawyer. Lexi’s father, Felix Rubio, is a
deputy with the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office. The couple told CNN that he was
among the law enforcement officers who responded to the shooting.
As a
fourth-grader, her recent aspirations were to earn a softball scholarship to
St. Mary's University, where she planned to major in math, before attending law
school to become a lawyer.
PS: Project Maite’s “mission” is to strive
for getting institutes of higher learning, or trade schools, to provide “honorary
degrees” to the Robb Elementary “victims” as a reminder we are still with them.
~ EOM ~
No comments:
Post a Comment