To Lincoln-Sudbury Students and Faculty: 'Reflect on What Each of Us Can Do to Diminish Feelings of Hate'

SUDBURY, MA—As students returned to classes on Monday morning, many struggled to grasp feelings surrounding the mass killing in Orlando over the weekend, school officials are offering support.

As part of the morning address at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, Bella Wong, principal and superintendent, said the following:

"I am speaking to you this morning for us to acknowledge together the tragic event that took place early Sunday morning at an Orlando night club, The Pulse. In the days to come there is no doubt we will hear others, in the media, in particular, try to define and explain what happened. For me personally I don’t know if that will matter so much, be all that helpful, than what I understand right now, that what happened was just horrible in so many ways, enormous not only in its magnitude but its complexity.

But, also, however it unfolded, at the core was hate. Was it hate for him self or against others? How did he come to that hate? Was it from a lack of knowledge?

A lack of understanding? A lack of empathy? Was he the target of aggressions himself? Lack of knowledge, lack of understanding, lack of empathy, being a target himself… could interventions along the way have made a difference? We will never know the answers to these questions. But we can believe that this wouldn’t have happened but for the hate that was at the core.

I ask that we share a moment of silence at this time to reflect on the lives that were lost but also to reflect on what each of us can do to diminish feelings of hate within ourselves and among us through efforts to learn more about, develop better understanding and empathy for each other and to intervene and show compassion when we witness others being targets of aggressions or learn of them in the aftermath. All of you, our students, you are our future. And I believe in this way you can make a difference.

Let’s take a moment to reflect.

[Silence]

Thank you for your attention. I remind any of our students or staff if you are feeling in need of some support regarding your feelings because of the recent event I encourage you to go see any of our clinical counselors in B336, our school counselors in any of the houses or any other trusted adult in the school."