And so we come upon those dreadful anniversaries of April, the tragedies of Waco (1993) and Oklahoma City (1995), Hitler's birthday, Columbine, the Armenian Genocide, Chernobyl, and so on (including Fort Sumter).
I remember Chernobyl, Waco and Oklahoma City all very well. I was married on the very day of the first one (1986) and was living in Philadelphia while in graduate school during both Waco (1993) and Oklahoma City (1995). I have Armenian friends, have seen the Dachau Concentration Camp and Berlin and the still-ruined parts of Dresden, and was teaching the day of Columbine (it was a Tuesday). I've since visited the scene of the Branch Davidian disaster.
I remember Chernobyl, Waco and Oklahoma City all very well. I was married on the very day of the first one (1986) and was living in Philadelphia while in graduate school during both Waco (1993) and Oklahoma City (1995). I have Armenian friends, have seen the Dachau Concentration Camp and Berlin and the still-ruined parts of Dresden, and was teaching the day of Columbine (it was a Tuesday). I've since visited the scene of the Branch Davidian disaster.
April is the cruelest month, but only one of twelve. And we pretty much get a taste of all these things all too often. After reading -- and living through -- enough, very little surprises me. Really, mostly good things still surprise, like the Obama presidency, which is a wonder to behold so far. And April includes Earth Day, too, yes?
Today's Rune: Initiation.
5 comments:
There is still plenty of time for April '09 to excite some new insanity and cause another shiver through the collective consciousness.
It is a pretty sad commentary when the capacity for evil no longer surprises and the capacity for good is a source of amazement.
WELL ERIK I HAVE SURVIVED THE DEPRESSION, WWII, KOREAN WAR,VIETNAM WAR, BOTH BUSH WARS AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOU MENTIONED PLUS THE DAY BY DAY CHALLENGES OF LIFE. I RECOGNIZE THE CAPACITY OF HUMAN KIND TO INFLICT GREAT EVILS BUT ALSO GREAT GOOD DEEDS. DESPITE IT ALL I REMAIN AN OPTIMIST AS THE WORLD DANCES, CHAOS SWIRLS AND LIFE PERSISTS.
It was in April my father died too. Bad month all around.
April can be one of the most cruel, for sure. Do you suppose it has something to do with the weather change? Personally I get refreshed and renewed but maybe no for everyone, I guess.
Why is it that the right-wing whackos remember the burning of the compound-- by the Branch Davidians themselves-- and all of their nutjob conspiracy theories, yet can't remember the four ATF agents shot to death, and the others who were wounded, while trying to serve a warrant for the possession of illegal firearms and explosive-- which the Branch Davidians had? And why don't they remember that Koresh was having sex with children? He's in a way the true symbol for the far right in this country-- out of touch with reality, egomanical and violent.
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