Very nice and thought provoking post, Allan, and I don't think you're alone in asking the hard questions. FWIW, American leaders from all parties and all walks of life have a history of asking themselves the hard questions. We may not always like the answers they give, of course, but now. . . when the whole world watches and waits. . . we must hope that they fully understand the issues confronting them and ask those questions once again. Perhaps I'm naive, but I believe they will do so. I am not so naive, however, to think that their answers will please everyone. That's not possible. And like you, I hope they "do the right thing" whatever that may be.
As to <<When we consider the atrocities and disasters of the last 50 years, it's a little confusing to me that we should only now be driven to such an outpouring.>>
I agree. . . and yet understand fully why the moment has now come. The images and immediacy of what happened this Tuesday past rival nothing I've experienced (in my admittedly less than 50 years). There's a primacy. . . an impact. Certainly, from my American point of view, there's an immediacy and connection. I have never walked across a bridge or dined at a restaurant in Kosovo, but I have eaten breakfast at Windows on the World. I'd dare say that more of the world has seen images of the New York skyline and/or flown on a plane than have a connection with many of the atrocities of the last 50 years. Because of my connections, it's easier for me to understand and react to this atrocity. Similarly, the images of the first few hours on Tuesday. . . their immediacy and tragedy. . . were broadcast live around the world. Certainly, I have seen images of thousands slowly dying in Somalia or other nations as they starve and/or die due to civil wars, famine, and genocides. But it's always been possible to view that in a somewhat abstract way. . . a tragic process played out over time. Yet the images of a plane flying into the WTC. . . of firefighters rushing upstairs as everyone else pours down. . . of people helping people during a moment of overwhelming crisis. . . have an immediacy that prevents any sort of denial or distancing for me, and I suspect much of the world.
Certainly an outpouring of support could have happened before, and one can argue that it should have. Regardless, that this outpouring has happened at all means that we are not all desensitized yet. . . we are all still capable of being moved and perhaps spurred to action. As long as that is the case, there is hope that we can still create change.
And now, Freeplet is home and as I did every day before Tuesday and will every day I can, I shall hug and kiss him, ruffle his too long hair, think of the days ahead when I plead for him to get a haircut then silently curse as he comes home with a mohawk, and try to teach him about his world. I am grateful that he's not old enough to need this tragedy explained to him, but am well aware that in the years ahead there will be more and more complex issues to try and tell one so young and innocent. Much as I hope our leaders have the wisdom to take the right path now, I hope that I, too, can fulfill that mission for my son as the years pass. As always, we will know in the fullness of time.
the freep |
