Thoughts on a Tragedy

Sad tonight.  I haven't had much time to write - recovering from minor surgery, still in the process of moving houses and taxes aren't done yet (filed for an extension). But felt the need to write.

 Once again our nation was visited by evil - some might say insanity, or a personality disorder, and that may have an element of truth, but I think evil was the overriding condition.  People who respect life: human and animal don't go around shooting people who have nothing to do with their troubles.  Assault weapons are far too easy to obtain, and apparently to use,  Though I don't imagine the relatives and friends of these victims will be reading my blog I do send healing wishes and prayers their way.  Once again our nation is in mourning over a senseless tragedy.  May God hold them and their families  close and help them heal, and may those who lost their lives find peace and rest in the hereafter.  No one deserves to die at the hands of a maniac.  Nothing they could do to that person would be enough and it wouldn't bring the dead back either.  So in the next few weeks remember the people who are close to you, show them your love, and be grateful for the ones who are still with you, and maybe it will become a habit.  I wish everyone a safe night.


04/27/2013  

As I was reading the previous entry I realized that I hadn't mentioned a name or location associated with the above entry, but I think it was in response to the shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in  Connecticut. More recently we had bombs (2 at least) explode at the Boston Marathon.  Right now I can't remember the numbers, but  several people were killed, some lost legs or an arm or were badly burned.  I don't remember the numbers, but again innocent people who were challenging themselves to complete the race (I think it's about 26 miles) were killed or seriously injured.  It did seem to bring out the best in the people who were there, even though people were running and screaming, many others stopped to help those who were injured.  The fatalities were less, than Sandy Hook, but it was simply awful, senseless really.  The 2 young men later identified as the perpetrators  were brothers who seemed to like the US at some earlier time, but somewhere along the way became twisted, and I think evil and radicalized during a trip back home to Chechnya. I wonder why, if they hated us that much they didn't just stay in Chechnya.  We wouldn't have objected (we meaning the citizens of the US).  It scares mebecause this type of radical extremism is growing and spreading.   They are angry with Americans and hate us because we don't follow or believe in their religion, though they are free to believe what they wish they don't want anyone else to have that freedom.  It reminds me of the Crusades and the religious persecution during that era.  One can follow the dictates of an oppressive religion and still not believe so what is gained by coercion? I think it's insanity, organized, oppressive insanity.    As I am reading this again I had a different thought about the hatred that is being used to justify that which is unjustifiable. I think they hate us because we have a better life here in America then they have, and so they find ways to disrupt our lives and our peace. They use violence against children, women and even their own relatives at times. Their method is to produce the most deaths and destruction from one assault or simultaneous explosions in different areas (as Sept. 11,2000 showed us. I hope there is a God and that these mass murderers have to answer for what they did and are punished appropriately. I also hope the victims are there to see that.


 

Only a few days to go

Christmas really will be here soon.  I hope the generosity that has started to spread through our country continues.  It was nice to hear about the secret santas who paid off "lay-a-ways" in Walmart and KMart. I wish I could so some of that too.  But right now is not a good time for me.  I hope I can make up for it when I'm in a better position financially.  I really believe that Oprah Winfrey was a major factor in the generosity this year even though her show is off the air. Her network continues to set the example and spread the word.  Our country has been through some tough times.  People like to say that we all survived it, but I know that is an exaggeration.  Some made it through the depression, some barely survived and some suffered horribly until they died and were then at peace.  Children were the worst hit and are the worst sufferers today.  Homelessness, hunger, sometimes left alone, separated from their siblings, waiting in foster care for adoption- hoping against all hope. The sadness, the deprivation, the fear, are terrible to be experienced by little children.  Even animals are suffering from the economy yes, but also from the humans who leave their houses without the animals and let them slowly starve to death. And property laws won't allow anyone to take them home (what craziness is that?)  I don't know what the answer is, but I see the problem and I see the Senate and House doing little to help - they are fighting to gain seats, push their own agendas, to win nominations, elections - everything but help their constitutents.  Would they behave differently if their survival depended on coming to a consensus and helping the nation?  I really don't know.  I do know they don't care about anyone other than themselves.  I presume one day they will have to answer to a "higher power" for their behaviors as we all wil someday . And in the meantime the "beat goes on".

Sad Movie, True Movie

I'm sitting here in my living room watching a sad movie.  It's Flight 93 on A&E network.  It would be sad even if it were not a true story.  It is true at least the basic facts.  No one really knows the whole story and details of course, but what we do know is that no one survived. An unusual mix of very brave, smart, heroic, and simply good people ended their days together on an airplane and prevented a much worse ending somewhere else.  It still makes me cry to see or hear the stories from Sept 11, 2000.  I still don't understand how such an act can be committed in the name of God or religion.  I'm sure I never will.  Since that time so many more people have died in the wars that followed that day.  Do they really think they have achieved something good? Only a very sick and twisted mind would believe that.

 I never really believed in the existence of devils, but the events of that day have made me reconsider. Certainly there was evil at work that day.  People always say "may God have mercy on their souls" about people and groups that commit horrendous crimes and acts of cruelty, but I'll leave that up to God when it comes to the perpetrators of those terrible events that day.  Instead I pray "May God have compassion for the victims and survivors and help them build new lives."

I hope the victims and their families and friends will meet each other in the afterlife. I believe they will. And if there is a Heaven I don't believe that the people who commit atrocities like the Sept 11 events will be there in Heaven.