Quotes of the Week: 'One Tragedy Is Not Going to Push Us Away'

Dec. 22, 2012— -- intro: It was a somber week in Newtown, Conn., as the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School were laid to rest, but even in the face of tragedy, mournful residents remained resilient. Click through to see some of the quotes that made news this week.

quicklist: 1title: 'One Tragedy Is Not Going to Push Us Away'text: The people of Newtown, Conn., and the surrounding towns are filled with fear and doubt in light of the rampage that turned their worlds upside down. Despite the uncertainty, however, there is one thing parents are adamant about: They're not going anywhere.

"I know it's an awful thing, but this town and the towns surrounding it, it's a big community where people come together and people know each other," resident Chris Roman said. "Growing up here, I would definitely stay."

He paused a moment, before saying with great resolve, "I'm definitely going to stay. One tragedy is not going to push us away."

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quicklist: 2title: 'He's Like An Old Soul'text: Though he was only in first grade, Daniel Barden was very much an "old soul," his family said. He was one of the 20 children who died Friday, Dec. 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

At the age of 4, he displayed an empathy for others remarkable for a child so young. It didn't go unnoticed -- teachers chose Daniel to be paired with a special education student at his school.

His mother, Jackie Barden, said she was always struck by "how unusual he was."

"Our neighbors always said, 'He's like an old soul,'" Barden said during an interview on "Katie."

Daniel carried that kindness with him as he got older.

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quicklist: 3title: 'The Fact That This Problem Is Complex Can No Longer Be an Excuse for Doing Nothing.'text: Five days after the deadliest elementary school shooting in U.S. history, President Obama said his administration plans immediate action early next year on proposals to curb an "epidemic of gun violence."

Obama announced the formation of a task force to be headed by Vice President Joe Biden that will formulate a package of policy recommendations by January.

"The fact that this problem is complex can no longer be an excuse for doing nothing," Obama said. "The fact that we can't prevent every act of violence doesn't mean that we can't steadily reduce the violence and prevent the very worst violence."

The president said he intends to push for implementation of the proposals "without delay."

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quicklist: 4title: 'He Understands That We Have a Responsibility to Use American Power Wisely.'text: President Barack Obama nominated Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., to be the next secretary of state on Friday afternoon.

If confirmed by the Senate, Kerry will replace outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as head of the State Department. Clinton has said repeatedly that she plans to leave early next year.

"I am very proud to announce my choice for America's next secretary of state, John Kerry," Obama said. "He understands that we have a responsibility to use American power wisely."

Obama added that Clinton "could not be more excited about the announcement that I am making."

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quicklist: 5title: 'The Actresses Don't Want to Say, 'I'm Curvy' ... These Actresses Want to Shout, 'I'm Talented.''text: You may have noticed them on "Mad Men," starring in their own sitcoms, or rocking the red carpet at the American Music Awards: Curvy women, from Christina Aguilera to Christina Hendricks, are raising their profile in Hollywood.

But according to America's first plus-sized supermodel, Emme Aronson, the rise of full-figured women is more about their talent than their curves.

"The actresses don't want to say, 'I'm curvy,'" Aronson told ABCNews.com. "These actresses want to shout, 'I'm talented.' If they continue doing their incredible work, they're in it to win it."

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quicklist: 6title: 'I Fully Intend to Make Amends and Get Back to Being a Good Mother, Wife, Daughter and Friend.'text: Former U.S. Olympian and decorated middle-distance runner Suzy Favor Hamilton said she had worked as a high-paid escort in Las Vegas for the past year.

In a story first reported by The Smoking Gun, Favor Hamilton, 44, said that she worked as an escort under the alias "Kelly Lundy" with Haley Heston Private Collection escort service based in Vegas.

According to the website advertising her services that was saved by The Smoking Gun, Favor Hamilton offered appointments to johns in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. She advertised her price as $600 for one hour or $1,400 for three hours.

Favor Hamilton, who lives with her husband and 7-year-old daughter in Madison, Wis., makes frequent public appearances to discuss running, including motivational speeches and a spot in a Nike ad.

She told The Smoking Gun that her husband, Mark, 44, knew about her escort activities and did not approve.

"I was drawn to escorting in large part because it provided many coping mechanisms for me when I was going through a very challenging time with my marriage and my life. It provided an escape from a life that I was struggling in. It was a double life," she wrote.

"I cannot emphasize enough how sorry I am to anyone I have hurt as a result of my actions and greatly appreciate the support from family and those closest to me. I fully intend to make amends and get back to being a good mother, wife, daughter, and friend."

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quicklist: 7title: 'Am I Really Going to Read the Manual 'What Your Results Mean' If the Test Is Positive?'text: Do-it-yourself home testing for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, has arrived.

The OraQuick In-Home HIV Test -- the only one approved for over-the-counter use by the Food and Drug Administration that captures testing and results in one sitting -- hit drug-store shelves two months ago.

Aimed at those who might have avoided getting tested in the past either out of, fear, stigma, worries over confidentiality or inconvenience, the new home test has been hailed as a breakthrough.

"We generally like this thing," said Dan Tietz, executive director of the research and advocacy group AIDS Community Research Initiative of America, or ACRIA. "It decreases some of the barriers to testing. It kind of puts HIV in front of people, but there's a bunch of cautions."

For one, there's what Tietz called the "freaking out by themselves problem" -- for the first time, there's no live counselor present -- not even a voice over the phone -- to deliver the results, offer support and make referrals.

Tony Martinez, 40, who works in New York's fashion district, took the home test as an "experiment."

"If I didn't know I wasn't HIV positive, the test would be a different ballgame. I put myself back many years ago when I went to a clinic and took the test and was terrified," he said. "[The home test] was a lot of steps. I don't think I would have followed the directions in that [terrified] state. Am I really going to read the manual 'What Your Results Mean' if the test is positive? It's like asking someone to read a drivers' ed manual after an accident."

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