A
half-replica of the Vietnam Memorial arrived in Santa Fe the same day
as I, so of course I wanted to visit it, having never seen the
original.
A chill
breeze sapped the warmth from the sun as my sister and I walked
across the field to the low, black, reflective memorial, and I began
to cry as we drew closer, my flesh puckering into chicken skin just
from the sight of it.
The low,
mournful sound of taps played repetitively, hauntingly, and it took
me a moment to find the source: a man on a park bench, back to the
memorial, dressed all in black, from head to toe, blowing into a
harmonica. At the end of each rendition, he would pause briefly, and
then begin again. I wondered if he was homeless, a veteran, what
brought him there to play that dirge again and again and again.
My
sister and I walked the length of the memorial, reading the names of
men we did not know — men who once were fathers, brothers, sons,
lovers, friends. Such a waste, she murmured, such a waste of life.
Yes, I
agreed. And we just keep doing it.
Over and over and over again.
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10 comments:
There would be less wars if the leaders and politicians who start them went first to the front lines and not sitting on their behinds.
Are we genetically predisposed to making wars, becoming greedy, subject to acts of cruelty, and the addiction to power and control? Or is it a chronic mutation of the "spirit" which causes one to lose ones' compassion and humanity?
Perhaps we are just an experiment, a game God plays with humans wondering when we will wipe ourselves out of it?
Dr Shibai
Perhaps earth is where we are sent until we learn to play peacefully with others
And americans still clamor for war. Can't seem to get enough. What they do best. USA!
Americans and war? How about the neo-violent anti-GMO fistees at the Council meetings and threats to the Mayor? Osh Gosh B'Gosh, I guess it is only war when you are the ones going all agro' li' dat.
How's the hyperbole? Anti gmo protesters were ill behaved at times but to compare their rudeness to war like aggression? Must be a chemical company troll.
2:30 War is also social disruption and economic destruction.
The social disruption has started and has set new thresholds for civil behavior. What Haole? You go try tell us locals how for live, li' dees?
The economic destruction isn't being spoken about. The Council knows that the lawsuit will cost big time and the if Corn goes bye-bye, the harsh economic reality is unknown.
Humpin' Harem of Hyperbolics, Batman- I ain't no Chem troll, but I know that when one group tries to take another groups jobs, land rights and lifestyle away, it is just a short thrust away from a real eruption.
jobs (maybe), land rights (perhaps) and lifestyle (seriously)? just tell us what's being sprayed where and what we're eating, batgirl!
War causes or may be caused by social or economic disruption. But equating rudeness to a smart bomb leveling several city blocks? Holy you've got to be out your mind, Hyperbole Man!
What started as a kind remembrance of young people who served and lost their lives in an unpopular war, long gone but missed all this time, has morphed into a ludicrous tug of war over a fractious dilemma we are in. Better minds and better people would have found a way out of our problem; but we clearly lack both. And this silly squabble not only illuminates that sad deficiency but it demeans the author’s intent.
Perhaps the "original sin" as described by some Christians is this DNA damage to our psyche that promotes humans to be "naturally" greedy, selfish, power hungry, and war like with countries and each other?
We need to evolve some more while the human race lasts.
Zero Seven
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