Written December 17, 2012
I grieve for the 20 children, ages 6 and 7, who were murdered in Newton, CT elementary school last Friday (Dec. 14, 2012).
Then I remember the hundreds of small children murdered by fellow military in numerous villages in Viet Nam 43 years ago. These are just the ones I saw. There were millions of others, all innocent.
Then I remember the 35 children murdered in Gaza this month from Israeli bombardments.
Then I remember the 168 children murdered by US drone attacks in Pakistan since 2006.
Then I remember the 231 children murdered in Afghanistan in first 6 months of this year.
Then I remember the 400 other children in the US under the age of 15 who die from gunshots each year.
Then I remember the 921 children murdered by US air strikes against “insurgents” in Iraq.
Then I remember the 1,770 US children who die each year from child abuse and maltreatment.
Then I remember the 16,000 children who die each day around the world from hunger.
Then I remember that I have been raised and conditioned in the denial of the USA lala/disneyland.
Then I remember just to keep walking, one step at a time, with humility, not taking anything for granted.
Then I wonder when I, or you, may be the next one murdered from the 200 million firearms in the hands of US citizens, living all around us?
Then I wonder how we can control personal possession of firearms when our government, with our tax money, possesses most of the weapons of mass destruction in the world, and regularly uses them on other men, women and children, making the USA murder machine the largest source of profits for our plutocracy and oligarchy?
Then, I realize, it is madness beyond grasp of people to comprehend the diabolical nature of it all.
And, then, I remember once again, that we are not worth more, and they are not worth less. We are all one – the real universal truth. Dignity trumps longevity, and I must walk the truth as I know it, without knowing where it leads…..
Brian (Dec. 17, 2012)
