Silence begets violence?

As the news of the school shooting in Connecticut broke on my ipad during class on Friday, I happened to be reading this article on Busted Halo challenging our society's silence over the rise in gun violence.  It was perhaps prophetic, as the conversation about violence in the media and video games, gun control and mental health treatment have come to the forefront of the political agenda, news stories and radio conversations.  Another recent article after the tragedy in CT connected it with our advent journey: 
We are a people who walk in darkness. In the mire of wanton death and destruction, we scratch and fumble and claw for some glimpse of light. And we have seen a light … small and fierce … beginning to penetrate the gloom. We have seen the people of Newtown wrap their arms around each other in love and solidarity. We have seen the people of this country — people of all races, faiths and walks of life — express their care and support and outrage in the wake of Friday’s tragic events. We have seen an outpouring of love from all across the world. It is a precious ray of hope in this time of deep sadness. But love and goodwill (in and of themselves) are not enough.

We are called to recognize the fact that we have failed each other and to own the horror that our failure has been visited on the innocent among us. We — the grown-up people of this country — need to have the courage to engage in some difficult conversations.

We have heard a call. Terrible and deafening. We have heard a call that must shake us to our bones. We are called to be changed. We are called to recognize the fact that we have failed each other and to own the horror that our failure has been visited on the innocent among us.

Why has this particular event demanded such a direct call to action?  How do you think we, as a society should respond?  What does Catholic Social Teaching compel us to consider?  Where will we go from here?  

Factory Fire

As you have heard and we discussed in class, there was a large fire in a factory in Bangladesh last month that killed 112 of the factory workers.  The working conditions were horrific, with a lack of safety measures in place.  Many of the items produced in the factory were eventually exported to US stores.  Please read this (or any other articles you find on your own research) about the situation and respond with your reaction.  What does this mean for us in the US?  Are we responsible as consumers to know where our products are made, how workers are treated, etc?  Is it the governments responsibility?  Corporations?  Or is it fair that workers at least have jobs in places like Bangladesh and they are grateful to have a wage though we might not call it a 'living' wage?