Do You Remember?
By John W. Vander Velden
Do you remember the first
moment you knew? The first moment you
heard or saw. The first moment your
heart believed what your ears or eyes revealed.
How did you feel then? Was it
shock, fear, anger or did your heart break at the loss of the brave and
innocent. How did you feel…then?
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How do you feel now? Remembering the attack upon US soil…the
attack on our way of life…the attack that killed so many…drew ordinary people
into another’s war. How do you
feel? Each time you travel… waiting in
what seems endless lines…asked to remove you shoes…seeing armed men. Do you feel anger at those that brought fear
into your every day…those that allow hate to drive their actions…those that do
not value their own lives? How can they
value others? How do you feel?
The world changed that
day…the day that hate found places to strike.
Do we return hate for hate? Do we
allow the world to spiral down the path other have chosen. Do we grovel in fear? Hide as we wait for some other atrocity to
strike the defenseless. What do we do? Our actions show more than our words.
In a confusing world of
blurred lines, we search for simple solutions to complex questions. We wonder what made our country the target. Why others shake angry fists our way. Each day the rhetoric grows…each day blame
cast…each day tensions fester...and we wonder.
The towers fell and a new
building stands defiant. We have not
surrendered…but at what price. The
violence comes closer. Metal detectors
and guards stand in our courthouse.
Schools are locked down. And
though these may seem unrelated to that September day, can we say they are
fueled by different problems…different mentality. Was the actions of Sandy Hook, Columbine, and
Oklahoma City not driven by hate and aimed against the innocents? Were they not some grand way to gain
attention for some confused or mad soul as they lash out in places long
considered safe. What do you think?
So we live our lives, think about tomorrow,
hope that somehow…someone…returns sanity to a troubled world. And wonder, just wonder what the new normal
might be. But today, on this September
day, I ask…Do you remember?
(386 Words)
Good reflection, John. Some small edits needed. I found myself wanting you to land at some point and say, "that's what I think," instead of offering another rhetorical question. (A good place seemed to be the end of the next to the last paragraph,). However, maybe your intent is to drive home the need to ask ourselves those questions in this day. Maybe the most important question is "What am I doing to counter the change made by hate, slaughter, and blame?"
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comment, as always. I will give your words some thought.
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