( – promoted by buhdydharma )
Flarebombs bloom on the dark sky.
A child claps his hands and laughs.
I hear the sound of guns,
and the laughter dies.
But the witness remains.
-Thich Nhat Hanh (date not known)
May 25 2009
May 25 2009
( – promoted by buhdydharma )
Flarebombs bloom on the dark sky.
A child claps his hands and laughs.
I hear the sound of guns,
and the laughter dies.
But the witness remains.
-Thich Nhat Hanh (date not known)
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..the Memorial Days of my childhood in the 40’s, so vividly. It was a day the entire community came forth carrying flags, to gather at the cemetery for long and dignified Memorial services, complete with bands, speeches, 21 gun salutes and Taps. Then, in a long line of flag draped cars, we’d go to the Mississippi River Bridge, for the tossing of the Wreath on the waters.
How my child’s heart nearly burst with pride and deep love of my country. MY country, tis of thee…
I mourn the loss of that pride now: that beautiful, sacred image of my country that was so deeply imprinted on my mind that I never once questioned any part of it, not until the horror of Nam blasted it away.
I received my little brothers one and only letter from Nam, two days after we were notified of his death. In it, this innocent little brother of mine, a patriot to his core, cried out a broken heart: “..but, sis….I didn’t come here to kill innocent people” …
Yes, witnesses remain to reflect, on this somber day, whether the day will come when we will travel a different road. When we, as a people, have the courage to stand together and elect leaders who are strong enough, and principled enough to build that new road.
War on ____ fill in the blank
Usually a war is titled that name or idea
To crush that name or idea
But you can’t have a war on a name or idea
Once it’s out there, it’s out there forever
So it’s not a war on terror or even a war on drugs
Terror is an idea
drugs are a thing
The war is on people