Manchester bombing
I had not planned to post anything today. I was going to spend lunch reading some Sherlock Holmes. However, the world will do as it wills, and some loser decided that innocent children were valid targets.
I have no idea who the performer was, nor do I really care. I stopped following pop singers several years ago. What I do care about is that many of the concert goers were children.
A few lines from an old filk song have been running through my mind all day.
“What kind of heartless monsters would kill children without even tears
And yet you call me demon as you die
I cry for the lost broken children
I weep for the last dying spark
And if only you could weep for the children
You would not call me demon in the dark”
(“Demon In The Dark” by Kathy Mar)
My soul cries out that those who would target innocent children deserve neither succor nor mercy. Hunt them down in their holes and burn them out.
“She is wedded to convictions-
in default of grosser ties;
Her contentions are her children,
Heaven help him who denies!-
He will meet no suave discussion,
but the instant, white-hot, wild,
Wakened female of the species
warring as for spouse and child.”
(“The Female of the Species” by R. Kipling)
Kipling was correct; the female of the species is more dangerous. Too often we do not pause our fury to think. But if we strike without thought or fear, are we any better than those who hide in shadows?
I do not know the answer.
Peter Grant, over at Bayou Renaissance Man, is talking being safe in the modern world. He asked a couple of thought worthy questions.
“Do we want to maintain those values no matter what? Or are we prepared to give up some of them, or modify them, in order to have greater security?”
My answer is yes, keep those values. Do not surrender them one inch. The answer comes from two places. One is pure stubbornness: If we change, if we cower back, then those losers have beaten us. They have beaten us without raising a hand. The other place is from a calmer source: Christ walked into Gethsemane. He knew what was coming but he did not let his fear stop him.
I’m not saying walk around like sheep. Peter is right, be aware of your surroundings, be aware that there are those who would harm you, try to kill you, but don’t cower. Don’t hide. Don’t surrender.
And remember “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
May God welcome those innocents murdered in the attack into his arms and give peace to their families.