I was in the process of posting this Happy Birthday photo of Robin, my granddaughter, on her fifth birthday. She held the vulture I sent her, and I’m not sure what the other present is.
It’s a happy image, and I enjoy posting happy images. I want very much for the blog to make people feel hope and also to help people think.
I need to stop and consider alone what happened today in Afghanistan.
As I was writing this, I heard the awful news from Kabul and could not help but think of the people who died helping people get to freedom. The innocent civilians, parents, and children, slaughtered in the street, hoping to get their families to freedom.
To get to America, still the beacon of hope and light for so many people.
In my childhood, I was surrounded by people I loved who were also desperate to get to freedom and forever grateful to the United States for giving them their lives back and offering them lives of hope and safety.
A lot of American soldiers died then so they could come here and live their lives.
And so I could live mine. They understood patriotism in a way I can never forget, but that so many people have.
Before I could understand what happened, politicians starting attacking one another; even tragedy and crisis can’t seem to bring us together.
Many of these politicians suggested the Afghan refugees risking their lives for freedom were just terrorists, worthless people, global garbage we should not admit to our country, just what people said about my grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles.
It sometimes feels that our hearts and souls are shriveling and turning into prunes.
We are sick and selfish in so many ways. Some of us have forgotten who we are.
And then I learned that 12 American soldiers had died trying to give people their freedom, and they paid for it with their lives, as so many Americans have for so long. And it hit me very hard, a series of traumas one after the other.
I could not stop thinking of those people who gave their lives for freedom.
Tomorrow, Maria gives me a delayed birthday present, two days in Vermont, reading, sleeping, walking, talking. (Trying out my new camera).
I want to pause the blog in honor and memory of those killed today and those who are risking their lives to help others in the coming days.
I’ll be offline for two days, hopefully in reflection and empathy. I’m leaving Robin’s birthday photo up because it is the right note, and it will make people smile. There is always hope in the eyes of children.
I pray for these victims, I’ll think of them, I’ll consider how I can be constructive and positive, and compassionate in the coming months and years. I’m dedicating my blog to that and to those who gave their lives today for freedom.
And I will think long and hard about the sacrifices people have made for people like me, who are not warriors but yearn to be free.
Robin is perhaps too young to understand this, but I hope that someday she understands that these soldiers who died sacrificed their lives so that she could be free as well.
I’m beginning to understand just who the real terrorists are and where they live.
I’ll check in tomorrow on the blog before we leave but won’t write again today or tonight. I wish you all peace and compassion today and tonight and in the days beyond.
I do this in memory of those who lost their lives and their freedom today; I want to find a way to feel good about humanity, even as we are drowning in inhumanity.
Love to you all. Later.
Amen.
Love and peace to you also, Jon.
This could have been avoided if we had a leader…but we do not.
Hear, hear
How sad, Ruskin, you can’t take a minute off of blaming and hating..
How very sad, Sally, if this is all you took out of what I wrote, it’s an especially inappropriate and sad note to an awful day. You really need to find yourself another blog to read, and please take Ruskin with you…maybe Fox News or MSNBC..they will love you there…
pausing to reflect on what freedom, and the *hope* of freedom means……. the tenacity, fierce devotion, and (often) sacrifice it requires to pursue that freedom……. has all been brought to the forefront especially today. That concept, and this post is powerful, and I thank you for giving me impetus to more deeply reflect and pause also. May you both find a quiet respite in your time in Vermont.
Susan M
Thank you Jon again, for reminding me to keep choosing kindness, open-hearted connections, compassion, and to do more good.
in peace and gratitude, Carol Frischman?❣️
Men always seem to find something to fight for and die for … when are they going to find something to LIVE for? Will there ever be peace in the Mideast? Why do we keep hurting each other? No answers, just hope for a better tomorrow.
Love, peace and compassion to you also Jon.
If you two need more time, you take more time. Self care is a must for all of us. Don’t short yourselves.
Peace and joy.
What a beautiful child! I pray they all can grow up to a better world than this.
God bless you Jon.
This is trivial compared to the main subject of the post, but I think the other present Robin is holding is a giant “5” balloon.
Can’t get the events of the day out of my mind either. Freedom carries a high, sacrificial price. Another very sad day.
The outpouring of support for refugees from my Air Force compatriots ihas been heart warming. They have been fund raising and collecting donated items to ship to resettlement areas when our cargo planes fly there. Small acts of great kindness that refresh my faith in the goodness found in the common man. Most would eagerly put themselves right back in harm’s way in Afghanastan to help the people there without regard for their personal safety or the disruption to their lives created by deploying.
How interesting that you gave Robin a Vulture ,which survives on the carrion of death as we must survive these tumultuous times. Thank you for your perspective.?
I gave Robin what she asked for, not what I asked for..
Vultures are cool! I’m happy that your granddaughter thinks so too.
We should all weep, pray and then rest and then go to work….Take care Jon.
Yesterday I learned that a composer of a truly “American” sound, Aaron Copland, was born of Russian immigrants. I wonder what kind of Americans our Afghan refugee neighbors will become. I want to find a way to foster peace with them. Peace to you and Maria and safe travels.