In Memory -- 9/11 and beyond

In Memory -- 9/11 and beyond

written on Sep 11, 2006

It was a vicious attack and a terrible loss for our whole world. I remember that day as if in a bad trip. I, and so many people around our world, lost friends, family, acquaintances....

For well over a week, my family did not know if some relatives survived or not in the Pentagon. (They did, but still cannot discuss anything....) And, also, we live just seconds or less airtime from where the one plane went down in PA. I had even heard the "boom boom" and smelled the fuel and smoke.

Then more and more lives were and are lost as the Hate continues....

Wars, terror strikes of many kinds from all sides.....

We humans must learn peace. We must. Or, the alternative is just too horrid for thought.

If I could have one wish, I'd wish for us humans to learn to wage peace...
to live and breath and have our being in peace... within ourselves, with each other, and with/in our world/universe.

Peace, my loved ones. May you have peace... real peace.

some further sad reflections

It would be long overdue for the pain and agony of the tragedies of September 11, 2001 to have at least healed considerably, but that is not going to be allowed by those powers that be who need to keep dredging the memories up for various agendas. Nor can those who suffered and do suffer the most rest and begin the really deep healing while there are so many questions left unanswered... and more questions continually are brought up... questions that truly demand answers and accounting for. I don't see this happening either... at least not any time soon.

And with the never-ending war on terror still going on and on, will our world ever find a place for peace and healing? I certainly hope so, but I am not holding my breath just yet.

And yet, I still dream of a time when humankind will finally say Enough! to war and then learn to wage peace. "You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one..." (Lennon, "Imagine")

And, sometimes dreams are not just all we have... sometimes it is the seed to grow....

May we grow peace.

(C) 11 September 2006, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.

Hard Facts Harder Faced

Hard Facts Harder Faced

Who said our soldiers could not be psychos?
Who said we always are saints?
Where is it written we do the right thing
And never show evil or taint?

War is hell, lest we forget it,
And crimes of war even much more…
Can we train a human to kill, not to feel,
Without evil allowed in that door?

Rape is a tool and an agent of war.
So is massacre, torture, mayhem.
Even a good man can snap to a monster
And live only to slay ‘em.

None of us are guiltless, much to our pain,
But we are trapped in this way,
If ever we forget the humanity of victims
From Coshocton to Mai Lai.

© Copyright, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw, 2000.
All rights reserved.

Who Determines Human?

Who Determines Human?

What makes difference too very different
To be considered human?
Does one particular type of person
Have only that special numen?

Does the phrase “not like us”
Have to equal “deserve to die?”
Can someone very different
Still basically be like you or I?

Many wars have been fought,
Many millions be killed,
These questions stay unanswered
And our hatreds remain unstilled.

© Copyright, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw, 2000.
All rights reserved.

Never Forget: War Is Hell

Never Forget: War Is Hell
With that joystick of computerized toys,
You destroy the enemy most foul—
From your safe distance.
But, your unaffectedness cloys…
Deep grumblings, gurgling in the bowel—
Older veterans’ sentence.

What your safe distance doesn’t show,
You think everything’s just fine
Except you might be bored.
The misery you don’t know
Could get you without much sign
Until you have been gored.

© Copyright, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw, 2000.
All rights reserved.

Never Forget: War Is Hell

Never Forget: War Is Hell

With that joystick of computerized toys,
You destroy the enemy most foul—
From your safe distance.
But, your unaffectedness cloys…
Deep grumblings, gurgling in the bowel—
Older veterans’ sentence.

What your safe distance doesn’t show,
You think everything’s just fine
Except you might be bored.
The misery you don’t know
Could get you without much sign
Until you have been gored.
© Copyright, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw, 2000. All rights reserved.

Dark Is the Night; Bright Are the Stars that Shine

While listening to an old song from 1970 -

Rare Bird - Sympathy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvCd4LT0VBI&feature=related

Part of the lyrics:

...Now half the world

hates the other half

And half the world

has all the food

And half the world

Lies down and quietly starves

'cause there's not enough love to go round...

When looking at the world around us or even at our own lives, it can be hard to believe things will improve. True. But, please look around with me at some other things -- and yes, I try to remind myself of these things often as well to keep my heart strong...

Huge numbers of people worldwide have been gathering to protest and demand the end of atrocities of many types... growing over decades... including all types of people. They even get killed or jailed or tortured... and still the numbers grow. Growing numbers of people just like you and me are willing to stand up and count it worth the price paid to do so.

Also, look at all the small groups of people who are re-learning to grow life... gardens, forests, animals in rescue, animals in wild ... whole devastated lands recovered or recovering, more animal rescue sanctuaries, and so on.

Also, look at the outcry against slavery, against child exploitation, against rape, against violence... against tyranny... it is widespread and growing... it was not so widespread before. We humans are learning it is not acceptable to do these things anymore. Sure those who are in power or have moneys or positions to lose if these evils are gone will fight back viciously. That is a given. But, people are standing up despite the ruthless push-backs of power.

Look at how afraid the "rulers" are. They are becoming more ruthless and pushing the poorest and most defenseless into the ground with the rest of us slated for the same. BUT, that ruthlessness shows their fear. They know they are outnumbered once the people realize where the real power truly is. And it is happening... worldwide.

The road ahead will be very difficult, dangerous, costly, and bloody perhaps. But, there is joy further ahead too. Humans truly are mostly good, I think, if given the chance to be. If we weren't, we'd have been all dead long before now. I see the weaving of hearts and minds together. I see healings all around despite the sufferings.

Sometimes it does take us humans hitting the very bottom and having nothing else to lose before we find a way out of our messes.

And we can climb out. We can. We will. Hope is not dead. Love is not gone. Mercy is still there to pour down on us every day.

Just remember to always look for the bright side too... there is much to be grateful for and to fight for still. I know it is often too difficult to see the good when the evil around is so strong and seems to be winning. But it cheers me to remember that the darkest night is when the stars are seen to shine brightest because I can see them more clearly at that time. I am determined to follow the good -- to pursue it, plant it, share it, cultivate it, and nurture it ... whenever and wherever I find that goodness. I have been around gardens and farms all my life. I know that although there are crop failures sometimes, what is sown will be reaped in larger measures than the seeds planted. So, I hope to be a very good seed planter. I want a bumper crop of compassion, of love, of kindness ... of hope for us all. I will have to start with me, of course. And, there are many other such gardeners around, too. Yay for that!