I hadn't planned on writing, but the thoughts just started pouring out.
And I'm not even going to put it behind a cut. It's too important to 'cut'
Every day we wake up to a different world. Drastic or not, it changes.
This past Saturday, July 2nd, eight year old Shasta Groene was reunited with her father after being missing from Idaho since May 16th.
Sunday the high temperature for Key West, Florida was 89F.
Monday, July 4th, America celebrated it's 229th Independence Day.
Tuesday pediatricians announced that abstinence was not enough for teens these days, saying that they need better access to birth control and emergency contraception. Hundreds of babies around the world also now celebrate their birthday on July 5th.
Wednesday some people woke up snickering. It's the first of four 'hump' days for July 2005.
And this morning at 8:51 in London, the first of four explosions hit. 5 minutes later another. 21 minutes after the second, a third explosion. And the final a half hour after.
For thousands of people, each of the days this week ranked differently on a scale of importance. A person would think, however, that today's events ranked pretty high on everyone's lists. That person being me. High enough, in fact, that maybe just maybe in each of their lives, people would take a step back, humble themselves, and perhaps pray or hope that the victims, families, and others involved would be okay. It was, if you remember, not so long ago that we too were faced with an event similar to this. One would think people would remember, join together, and build strength to keep their family, neighborhood, city, county, state, nation... world together in a time of need. Is that such a wrong assumption?
It was my 2 mile drive to work that made me question that. 2 miles and about 20 minutes (10 to get my morning coffee) made me shake my head and wonder whether or not people would pull their own head out of the sand.
I was shaken up by the usual redneck, coming up in my rear view mirror incredibly fast. Driving his big, black truck, he tailed me the whole way until he could pass me. He proceeded to gun his truck through the light, tailing another car until he could squeeze his way into my lane ahead of me, nearly missing a soccer mom's front end. Idiot. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, whether he really deserves it or not, and hope he just hadn't seen the news yet. Or maybe he had. Maybe he was responding to an emergency, or had one of his own. My bets are he didn't, however I would be more than happy to lose that bet. I don't know about you, but days like today put me in my place. They remind me that I'm not invincible, I'm not on top of the world. Days like today humble me. I am reminded to be kind to those around me, to thank those who have helped me, to smile. They remind me that my life really is not so bad. The world is not perfect, and I am right there with them. I am impatient, I do get mad, I scoff daily... but not today.
Days like today should bring us closer, not push us farther apart. It is so unfortunate that events like this are the ones that strengthen a nation, bring people closer. Every day should bring us closer, but every day won't. Everyone in this world is different. Our 'importance' scales differ greatly. Today may have humbled me, but it angered someone out there. It saddened me, however unfortunately somebody somewhere in this opposing world was rejoicing. It's sickening, but it's the truth. Obviously the truth, seeing as someone followed this whole carefully fabricated plan through.
So what do we do now? I can't delegate for the world. Sometimes I wish I could, but there are more intelligent, better skilled individuals delegating, so I will just shut my mouth and continue to be the solitary worker bee in my own immediate life. The question is now, what do I do? And what will you do?
After September 11th, 2001 the United States of America had a surge of patriotism. It was great. Not great that something so terrible had sparked it, but great in that we joined together... For the first time in my small life, I felt the actual united part of our great states of this country of America We strengthened our nation. Would that person in the black truck have acted the way he did if this was the morning in September all over again? I would hope not, but I'll never know. Having this attack occur on soil across an ocean shouldn't be so different. It happened to families, to civilians, to a nation, much like our own. The towers were brought down, shaking the lives of families, civilians, and a nation too. So again, I ask, what will you do?
I know what I will do. I will pray. For those injured, families of the lost, those helping the victims: doctors, volunteers, politicians. I will pray for Britain, the world. Even those who are to blame for this, I will pray, although it will be a little different prayer. I will show compassion and do my best to help, from my corner of the world. I will go out of my way, step out of my box, open a door to helping in this time of need. The worlds on fire, it's more than I can handle. I'll tap into the water, try and bring my share. Try to bring more, more than I can handle. Bring it to the table, bring what I am able.
Maybe you have raced to get online and see if the Red Cross is taking donations so you could help support those in need from your own corner of the world. Then again, maybe that was just me.
Whatever you do, remember, we are in this together. As a family, a neighborhood, a city, a county, a state, a nation... the world.
This is a great country, and it wasn't made so by angry people. We have a sacred duty to bequeath it to our grandchildren in better shape than however we found it. We have a long way to go and we're not getting any younger. Dante said that the hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who in time of crisis remain neutral, so I have spoken my piece, and thank you, dear reader. It's a beautiful world, rain or shine, and there is more to life than winning. -Garrison Keillor, Homegrown Democrat, 2004
Every day we wake up to a different world. Drastic or not, it changes.
This past Saturday, July 2nd, eight year old Shasta Groene was reunited with her father after being missing from Idaho since May 16th.
Sunday the high temperature for Key West, Florida was 89F.
Monday, July 4th, America celebrated it's 229th Independence Day.
Tuesday pediatricians announced that abstinence was not enough for teens these days, saying that they need better access to birth control and emergency contraception. Hundreds of babies around the world also now celebrate their birthday on July 5th.
Wednesday some people woke up snickering. It's the first of four 'hump' days for July 2005.
And this morning at 8:51 in London, the first of four explosions hit. 5 minutes later another. 21 minutes after the second, a third explosion. And the final a half hour after.
For thousands of people, each of the days this week ranked differently on a scale of importance. A person would think, however, that today's events ranked pretty high on everyone's lists. That person being me. High enough, in fact, that maybe just maybe in each of their lives, people would take a step back, humble themselves, and perhaps pray or hope that the victims, families, and others involved would be okay. It was, if you remember, not so long ago that we too were faced with an event similar to this. One would think people would remember, join together, and build strength to keep their family, neighborhood, city, county, state, nation... world together in a time of need. Is that such a wrong assumption?
It was my 2 mile drive to work that made me question that. 2 miles and about 20 minutes (10 to get my morning coffee) made me shake my head and wonder whether or not people would pull their own head out of the sand.
I was shaken up by the usual redneck, coming up in my rear view mirror incredibly fast. Driving his big, black truck, he tailed me the whole way until he could pass me. He proceeded to gun his truck through the light, tailing another car until he could squeeze his way into my lane ahead of me, nearly missing a soccer mom's front end. Idiot. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, whether he really deserves it or not, and hope he just hadn't seen the news yet. Or maybe he had. Maybe he was responding to an emergency, or had one of his own. My bets are he didn't, however I would be more than happy to lose that bet. I don't know about you, but days like today put me in my place. They remind me that I'm not invincible, I'm not on top of the world. Days like today humble me. I am reminded to be kind to those around me, to thank those who have helped me, to smile. They remind me that my life really is not so bad. The world is not perfect, and I am right there with them. I am impatient, I do get mad, I scoff daily... but not today.
Days like today should bring us closer, not push us farther apart. It is so unfortunate that events like this are the ones that strengthen a nation, bring people closer. Every day should bring us closer, but every day won't. Everyone in this world is different. Our 'importance' scales differ greatly. Today may have humbled me, but it angered someone out there. It saddened me, however unfortunately somebody somewhere in this opposing world was rejoicing. It's sickening, but it's the truth. Obviously the truth, seeing as someone followed this whole carefully fabricated plan through.
So what do we do now? I can't delegate for the world. Sometimes I wish I could, but there are more intelligent, better skilled individuals delegating, so I will just shut my mouth and continue to be the solitary worker bee in my own immediate life. The question is now, what do I do? And what will you do?
After September 11th, 2001 the United States of America had a surge of patriotism. It was great. Not great that something so terrible had sparked it, but great in that we joined together... For the first time in my small life, I felt the actual united part of our great states of this country of America We strengthened our nation. Would that person in the black truck have acted the way he did if this was the morning in September all over again? I would hope not, but I'll never know. Having this attack occur on soil across an ocean shouldn't be so different. It happened to families, to civilians, to a nation, much like our own. The towers were brought down, shaking the lives of families, civilians, and a nation too. So again, I ask, what will you do?
I know what I will do. I will pray. For those injured, families of the lost, those helping the victims: doctors, volunteers, politicians. I will pray for Britain, the world. Even those who are to blame for this, I will pray, although it will be a little different prayer. I will show compassion and do my best to help, from my corner of the world. I will go out of my way, step out of my box, open a door to helping in this time of need. The worlds on fire, it's more than I can handle. I'll tap into the water, try and bring my share. Try to bring more, more than I can handle. Bring it to the table, bring what I am able.
Maybe you have raced to get online and see if the Red Cross is taking donations so you could help support those in need from your own corner of the world. Then again, maybe that was just me.
Whatever you do, remember, we are in this together. As a family, a neighborhood, a city, a county, a state, a nation... the world.
This is a great country, and it wasn't made so by angry people. We have a sacred duty to bequeath it to our grandchildren in better shape than however we found it. We have a long way to go and we're not getting any younger. Dante said that the hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who in time of crisis remain neutral, so I have spoken my piece, and thank you, dear reader. It's a beautiful world, rain or shine, and there is more to life than winning. -Garrison Keillor, Homegrown Democrat, 2004