Death on the Wing
Sep. 11th, 2001 07:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nyykiI find myself overwhelmed. The events of today take me right back to Challenger. (I didn't watch OKC coverage much because I was working.) And as I watch the coverage today, I find myself looking at this entire tragedy on several levels.
Some of this is not pleasant to think about. A lot of death is in the air today.
First off, I wonder about things. Is it over? Was this all that was planned, or did we nip it in the bud? Or, was our reaction planned, and they have more in store for us? and of course, I wonder who was responsible? Islamic interests? Balkan forces? Or even more frightening, someone from our own land?
The total of ten thousand plus people dead is more than I can fathom. It is eerie being outside -- when you live at LBJ and Central in North Dallas, you become used to the planes and helicopters quickly, not even noticing their passage. Now, it sounds odd -- like something is missing.
More has died today than just people. The naivete of Americans was shattered. And now, the careful balance weighs heavy on us again -- what price freedom? Do we chose safety over liberty?
And of course, I've been noticing some trends. In fact, I've been seeing "the box." (from the classic phrase of thinking outside of the box.) It seems that there is an assumption that the perpetrators are Islamic. I'm not ready to make that decision yet.
And of course, here is the hardest part of this. What is our part in all of this? It has been said that so goes the man goes the nation. In other words, nations behave like individuals and have a similar life cycle. In light of this, I over the classic phrase, "You teach others how to treat you." along with this I add, "You get what you give." and looking at that, I find myself wondering what America's accountability is for this. And on an extension, I really start asking what Israel's accountability is in the fact that they are reviled by most of the population of the planet.
It's hard, because it can come across as blaming the victim, but I don't see this as that cut and dried. There is more to all of this, including some things I suspect we are not being told.
And so we will move forward, a bit more cynical, a bit less trusting, and a bit more of our sense of wonder sold away to fear. And the terrorists will win at least a partial victory because of that.
Some of this is not pleasant to think about. A lot of death is in the air today.
First off, I wonder about things. Is it over? Was this all that was planned, or did we nip it in the bud? Or, was our reaction planned, and they have more in store for us? and of course, I wonder who was responsible? Islamic interests? Balkan forces? Or even more frightening, someone from our own land?
The total of ten thousand plus people dead is more than I can fathom. It is eerie being outside -- when you live at LBJ and Central in North Dallas, you become used to the planes and helicopters quickly, not even noticing their passage. Now, it sounds odd -- like something is missing.
More has died today than just people. The naivete of Americans was shattered. And now, the careful balance weighs heavy on us again -- what price freedom? Do we chose safety over liberty?
And of course, I've been noticing some trends. In fact, I've been seeing "the box." (from the classic phrase of thinking outside of the box.) It seems that there is an assumption that the perpetrators are Islamic. I'm not ready to make that decision yet.
And of course, here is the hardest part of this. What is our part in all of this? It has been said that so goes the man goes the nation. In other words, nations behave like individuals and have a similar life cycle. In light of this, I over the classic phrase, "You teach others how to treat you." along with this I add, "You get what you give." and looking at that, I find myself wondering what America's accountability is for this. And on an extension, I really start asking what Israel's accountability is in the fact that they are reviled by most of the population of the planet.
It's hard, because it can come across as blaming the victim, but I don't see this as that cut and dried. There is more to all of this, including some things I suspect we are not being told.
And so we will move forward, a bit more cynical, a bit less trusting, and a bit more of our sense of wonder sold away to fear. And the terrorists will win at least a partial victory because of that.
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no subject
Date: 2001-09-19 12:30 pm (UTC)Hugs! and I have missed you!
no subject
Date: 2001-09-19 07:22 pm (UTC)You asked Diana? Well, by all accounts, she is not overly fond of me right now. But she would know who I am.
I hope to se you and D at Samhain. I'll probably be camping in either the RV area or at Krew/Drum camp.
no subject
Date: 2001-09-24 01:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2001-09-24 02:58 pm (UTC)I gave her a six letter response.
Why the hell *should* I be fond of you???