Judging from our Friday poll results from last week's question, folks in Texarkana have strong views about young folks rallying about gun violence in schools.
Many support the students. Others do not.
We are sure events today will provide both more kudos and criticism, since this is the day when young people, adults and even whole families, will gather in Washington, D.C. and cities around the country to demand that school safety be a priority and that our leaders work together to end mass school shootings.
Called March For Our Lives, the rally was organized by survivors of the February massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., along with others from around the country. In addition to the Washington march, there are hundreds more in other cities and towns, even other countries.
The march's mission statements makes the purpose clear.
"We cannot allow one more child to be shot at school. We cannot allow one more teacher to make a choice to jump in front of a firing assault rifle to save the lives of students. We cannot allow one more family to wait for a call or text that never comes. Our schools are unsafe. Our children and teachers are dying. We must make it our top priority to save these lives."
We don't think anyone can argue with any of that. The problem comes when we try to figure out exactly what to do. There are plenty of ideas and plenty of disagreement. We don't know whether these students have the answers.
But they are doing something.
There was a time when we worried the younger generation was becoming apathetic, too busy playing on smartphones or sitting in front of a TV to get involved in important issues.
It looks like that's something we don't have to worry about anymore. And no matter your opinions about the march itself, it's deserving of respect.