9/11/2001

Our painting class was quietly working away, soft music in the background from a classical music station,  when an announcer broke in with the horrific news. 

There was no more painting that day, only shocked silence as we listened to the news. 

When it seemed that the worst was over, that no more planes would be flying into buildings, not this day, the class dispersed.

Suddenly life had changed. I had intended to do some shopping after class, but even as I headed for for the mall, I felt a strong desire to be at home and turned around.

And life has changed. Several wars later, we still aren't safe. And I still prefer being at home.

I don't go to the mall and I avoid most crowds. It's partly personal preference (I never have liked crowds or the mall) and partly the growing number of terrorist attacks. 

Not by Muslim extremists, mind you, but by our own home-grown crazies--for the most part dissatisfied young white men with access to automatic weapons. 

I'm not exactly cringing behind the sofa. But these days, I do wonder what worries me more--the copperheads in the rock walls at home or the crazy guy intent on his moment of notoriety at my local Walmart. 

 The enemy within.

A Dark Day. . .

The horrific terror attacks in Paris brought forth the predictable calls for prayers and solidarity -- and, from a certain segment of the American public -- the predictable saber-rattling and cries to defend France by invading ... someone, anyone.

Ironically, this is much the same segment that, when France declined to participate in Bush II's invasion of Iraq after 9/11, called for a ban on French wines and a renaming of French  Fries as "Freedom Fries." (I wonder if there was a spate of Freedom Kissing? But I digress.)

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There were also the predictable calls to ban all Muslims from entry into the USA -- including the Syrian refugees who are fleeing the same terrorists who claimed responsibility for the attacks in Paris.

And the gun lobby was quick to claim that if only France didn't have such strict gun control, the victims could have fought back.

Many on the right blame Islam in general and Obama (of course) in specific, while many on the left blame years of imperialism, colonialism, and a state of things so desperate in the Mid East that becoming a suicide bomber is a desirable career move.

And, as was pointed out, there was a terror attack in Beirut just a few days ago and another in Baghdad -- and more in Kenya . . . but these haven't received similar outpourings of rage and sympathy. 

No answers here . . . just profound sadness at the mess our world is in. And a hope that this doesn't send our nation back to war against someone, anyone -- at the loss of American lives and innocent civilian lives.

And to the profit of the war machine -- the successors to Mr. Cheney's Halliburton and its subsidiaries.

Follow the money. And follow THIS LINK for a historical look at the basis of the turmoil in the Middle East