11 Sep 2001 mperry   » (Master)

Such a day

The photographs and news reminds of other events in my life and the memories seem to flow by with no stop. I remember the fall of Saigon in 1975 while I was stationed in Japan. The sight of the last helicopter lifting the last person was one I thought would never leave me. The Oaklahoma city bombings way after my tour of duty was over in the military left me feeling rather vulnerable. Now this. I was back in NY and went on a boat tour with a bunch of Linuxcare people in February; all 'round Manhattan. The weather was so crisp and cold. I dug the photos out I took. There it was; the twin tours of the WTC standing there. Not to stand any longer though. Surely, our beliefs, our philosophies, our goals and thoughts change too. Should we strike back? Should anyone be allowed to do this in the name of their belief system to us?

I just ask because I am asking the same questions today all through the day. My son asked me, "why would someone hurt us like this?" I looked at him and remembered the carnage that has been inflicted over the years and it seems a lot of it has been based on religion. What does one say to a 10-year old watching his very first catastrophe? There is no paradigm, no belief system to offer. Something went down today which we all will think about, wonder about, and deal with.

Even our 10 year olds.

Nothing more to report, I am sorry to say. As Paul Harvey was fond to remark, "now you know the rest of the story". I remember hearing the words that President Roosevelt uttered..." a day which shall live in infamy". This is surely one of those days. Now with the miracle of modern TV, we can see it instantly and our children can see what a wonderful, but dangerous world they shall inherit.

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