Are you weary of the depressing News?

Well, I sure as hell am.

The news is depressing as hell. Hurricanes destroying our country, leaving people begging for food, shelter, and water. My heart breaks every time I see how many people are without water.

WATER, for the love of God!

And now another devastating shooting in Las Vegas! Unbelievable! Horrible!

Like so many of you, I spent Monday glued to the TV, vacillating between great sadness, anger, and helplessness. What could I do? I’m too far away to donate blood. I don’t have millions to give. Even the people WE elected to enact laws are doing nothing to help this problem. So what could one little ole writer do?

Then I read a post by Sarah Brentyn and realized something is better than nothing and the collective little can become large.

“The pen is mightier than the sword” were first written by novelist and playwright Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839.

So, I’m joining in Sarah’s challenge to help the ravaged people of Puerto Rico and taking it a step further by issuing a second challenge for the victims of Las Vegas. KEEP READING.

Sarah’s challenge: Flash Fiction Prompt for Hurricane Relief #Flash4Storms by Sarah Brentyn

Sarah Brentyn aka Lemon Shark has issued a flash fiction challenge in support of hurricane relief. She will donate $1 to hurricane relief for every flash that is posted (up to $50). She even gives a link to ligit charities.

Here is my flash fiction contribution to Sarah’s Challenge:

A Mother’s Nightmare

I rise, stumble and fall among the debris. A soft cry penetrates the ringing in my ears. On all fours, I dig and claw through what is left of our home. Tears streak my face with mud. I pray God send help, I am but one.

Sarah’s challenge inspired me, I will match her donation $1.00 (up to $50.00) to One America Appeal (https://www.oneamericaappeal.org/) for hurricane relief to the first 50 writers who link or tag me in the comments section with their 50 word Flash Fiction story.

However, I want to issue a second challenge in honor of the Las Vegas victims.

My challenge is: for the first 50 people who TWEET your Congressman demanding Congress do something to stem this terrible wave of violence, I will donate $1.00 (up to $50.00) to the Go Fund Me Page for Las Vegas Victims set up by Steve Sisolak, Clark County Commission Chair from Las Vegas.

Unfortunately, Congress does have one bill ready to pass but it will not stop the violence. The SHAREACT. And may God help us all if it passes. I shudder to think what the body count in Las Vegas would’ve been without the sound of gunfire for the first-responders to run toward. This does not make any sense!

Silencers, Armor-Piercing Bullets: Congress Looks to Roll Back Gun Laws by ALEX SEITZ-WALD

Now before anyone gets their panties in a wad, I’m a big believer in the constitution and in the 2nd Amendment but I also believe we must enact smarter laws that protect life. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. I’m tired of hearing, mowed down like sitting ducks, fish in a barrel, or other stupid metaphors. Children in a school room, people praying in their church, Congressmen practicing on the ball field and now a crowd enjoying a fall evening concert. Still, our government does nothing.

It is time for we the people, not the lobbyists, to rise up and be heard. Let the pen be mightier than the sword or gun as in this case. There must be a way we can stop our country from being turned into a war game.

Join my challenge:

Find your Congressman here: Members of Congress
Tweet requesting that Congress pass common-sense gun laws, use the hashtags #CommonSenseGunLaws, #jeanswriting
Paste a copy of your Tweet in the comments section on my blog