My current "job" allows me to spend my time listening to whatever I wish while I work. Lately - in a desperate attempt to acquire some cerebral stimulation - I have been listening to NPR, and BBC World News. Of course the big story here in the US was the shooting at Virginia Tech. For a number of reasons, this event has hit me very hard. I don't know anyone there, have never been to the campus, yet the death of 33 people has been difficult for me to cope with. For those of you that really know me, this should not really be a surprise. I am sensitive, and want to stay that way. (*g*) Note that I say 33 people died. On the news we keep hearing 22 died. For some reason the death of Seung-Hui Cho is not included in that count. Does his death count even less than his life? Hearing more & more about his troubled behavior, I cannot help but wonder; If those around him utilized the mantra "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone is fighting some kind of battle", would he have been able to overcome the daemons that must have tortured him?
Another thing that bothers me is how many people seem unaffected by this. My husbands response was "This is nothing compared to what happens in Iraq every day." While this is in part true, the sad truth is that war is death. One does not expect to violently die, or be violently threatened while at college. And still I find his response bothersome because it also illustrates that we (being American) are only aware of or concerned about Americans dying - or some about those being killed by Americans. But what about the horrific situation in Darfur? (http://www.darfurgenocide.org/) Or the continuation of Child Slavery in India? (http://www.hrw.org/reports/1996/India3.htm) as well as other nations.(http://www.hrw.org/) Oh yeah, lets not forget Global Climate Change (http://www.climatecrisis.net/ http://www.globalwarming.org/) and the other host of environmental issues that we - US this generation, not our children nor our grandchildren - will have to deal with.
Yet, somehow, amidst all of this hatred, violence, and general shitty behavior by people I find that I am often overwhelmed with the beauty of life. Last weekend I went for a bike ride to a friends house. The sun was warm the breeze was cool, Spring is upon us - flowers are beginning to push up through the cool soil, cherry & apple trees have bended boughs of fragrant blooms, maples are beginning to unfurl fragile green leaves, neighborhood residents out in force, walking dogs, children and selves. Taking a deep breath, I let the pain of overwhelming beauty pass through me and know,
Life Is Beautiful.
