just wondering

[Problem Child]

I have to wonder about those who are willing to sit back and do nothing. Those who feel that cowering, and appeasement, and turning the other cheek to have it slapped time and again. I wonder about those people.

I wonder how they got the idea that doing nothing is better than taking decisive action. I wonder how they got so weak...so weak that to them the best way to deal with a bully is to hide in the bathroom and hope he doesn't beat you up again at recess. They whine and complain that we shouldn't waste our time trying to set things right because whatever comes next just has to be worse than the evil we face now. I wonder how they ever get anything done in their lives.

I wonder about the people that always look on the dark side. The ones that sit in the darkness becaues they are afraid they will stub their toe if they try to find the light switch. They are the ones that never see the good side, only the bad. They have no memories of battles won, of wrongs righted, because they choose to block them out, or they haven't taken the time to learn about what can be achieved.

I wonder why some people are afraid to take a risk to achieve an ideal. Are they afraid that the risk is cannot possibly be outweighed by the gain? Have they failed at everything in their lives, and so naturally think that others will fail as well? Did they have bad childhoods? Did their parents beat them? Did their dog run away some cloudy sunday and never come back?

I wonder too, about the naysayers that take their freedom for granted. The ones that have not studied history and do not understand the way the real world works. The ones that think that if we could all just get along, everybody would be happy and everyone's farts would smell like potpourri. They are the same ones that have never had to face sacrifice, and don't understand the chill that runs up your spine when you are called. They've never heard the stories of our grandfathers and the price they paid.

They are the ones that believe all people are good. There is no such thing as evil. Everything is relative, including morality. They are the ones that think that any evil act has to have a root cause born of righteous indignation, and there is blame enough to go around, that we deserved it. They are the ones that feel somehow disenfranchised, and seeing those more powerful finally get their just desserts makes them feel empowered, in a childish, sort of immature way.

I wonder about those that place religion, or politics, or money before country, and country men. I wonder how they think they got the opportunity to live in a place like this and take advantage of all it has to offer.

 

[nasty]

I wonder about you. WELL...SOMEONE HAD to say it.

 

[modest mouse]

*Tucks snide comment in pocket.*

Well conveyed thought PC.

 

[nasty]

Seriously, some nice ideas, PC.

 

[Kymberley]

I wonder about...

So many of those same things.

How can anyone with any level of intelligence possibly ignore all that history has taught this world about survival. How many children understand the basic rules of survival of the fittest?

In the wild, the weaker animal is hunted by the stronger. The animal that lays down against a fight is devoured swiftly. The animal that runs, is taken down, and becomes dinner. The animal that fights back, at least has a chance to live and fight another day.

Name one society throughout time that has given in to the stronger power, laid down their arms in battle and lived to tell about it? Is there any group of people who have given up their fight in hopes of resolving it through peace and not lost all their freedoms?

How can a person believe that reasoning is always the best way. The non-violent approach to life is truly a more pleasant path, but how far down that path will it lead you?

Has it been so long since we as a people have been witnessed to the horrors of death by dictators that we have forgotten what life is worth?

What kind of life do you want to leave for the future inhabitants of this planet? Spring forward 100 years. Let's pretend we all gave in to the likes of Usama and Sadam. Do you want to be responsible for those two and the hundreds of thousand monsters like them ruling the Earth?

Would you want the history tellers to recount a world so full of cowards, so full of people to scared to stand up against evil? A world that was once a free society that became the slaves and victims of evil just because it was less painful than standing up to them all.

Think about the legacy we will leave our children? What world will they live in if we all just back down and hide?

 

[Oliver Clozoff]

I can't understand PPman either, PC.

 

[Starfish]

I wonder...

About those that are truly hungry, in fact starving. What is it that keeps them from rolling over, that so many who have no reason to, do. I see a lot of options for things to find hope in if I were in their shoes, and with calm repose I admire their will, and remember their strife, while being grateful for the life I've been given. I wonder if others will see it. I mean really see that it is only about what you are willing to face, learn and grow from.


I wonder if those who root themselves in the evil that is so omnipresent in it's potential wrath know that their souls have been cut dry from those roots that draw up goodness, loyalty, love, respect, and honor to the soul. I hate to think it, but I bet they don‘t.


I wonder if those who do nothing and hide will dry up too. I hope not but that is what happens to those without the strength to stand up and face the truth.
I wonder if valor will ever be consistently found in us all without limitation to or reference of nationality, creed or ethnicity.

 

[Desert Amazon]

 

[LukkyKnight]

I wonder if our children

...will ever hear the first peal of distant thunder and not worry if it's a bomb. I sat here last night, knowing better, but the first thought which came into my head was, "I hope that's thunder."

Do the children of Bosnia enjoy thunderstorms?

Do those who endured our waves of B52s over North Viet Nam still wonder at every rumble if it's weather or war?

I listened to a storm roll over me last night, like a lullaby, and decided that today I'd reserve part of my time for preserving that very question. We were all keyed up over the airliner down in Queens, the media couldn't answer jack-all about it so they spewed speculation intended to keep us from tuning out during the next commercial break.

Will our children enjoy thunderstorms?

I wrote a page, carefully dated today, to be read later. Many of today's children - mine, and yours - may not be able to recall the idyllic innocence of what should be childhood. Is it irreversible, and spreading across the planet?

That's what I wonder.

 

[miles]

well said, pc

To add one thing to your post - there are lots of people who simply don't believe there is anything worth fighting for.

 

[PowerOfOne]

Re: I wonder if our children

...will ever hear the first peal of distant thunder and not worry if it's a bomb. I sat here last night, knowing better, but the first thought which came into my head was, "I hope that's thunder."

Do the children of Bosnia enjoy thunderstorms?

Do those who endured our waves of B52s over North Viet Nam still wonder at every rumble if it's weather or war?

I listened to a storm roll over me last night, like a lullaby, and decided that today I'd reserve part of my time for preserving that very question. We were all keyed up over the airliner down in Queens, the media couldn't answer jack-all about it so they spewed speculation intended to keep us from tuning out during the next commercial break.

Will our children enjoy thunderstorms?

I wrote a page, carefully dated today, to be read later. Many of today's children - mine, and yours - may not be able to recall the idyllic innocence of what should be childhood. Is it irreversible, and spreading across the planet?

That's what I wonder.

Yes, LukkyKnight, it is reversible even if it is spreading across the planet. It is the very children you speak of that will change it all. And it is up to you and I, as well as all parents, to make sure they have the skills necessary to make the changes, to recognize what can be changed and what cannot.

It is up to us, as parents, to insure the children do not mistake thunder for a bomb. Let them be children. Let them believe that the Angels are bowling when they hear the distant roll of thunder. Or that the Angels are using their flashlights to look for lost souls when they see lightning.

In my opinion, it is the worst thing that we could do to our children to make them afraid of living. I have faith in them. I have faith in me to have the ability to arm my daughter with the skills necessary to make a difference.

And if it helps, my ex was a Viet Nam vet and no he did not get thunder mixed up with the sound of bombs. This too faded as did other bad memories for him. He learned a hard lesson, we all did and continue to do so. Our children will learn from us so let it be positive things they learn and the skill to know when to fight and when to walk away; when to be afraid and when to know there is very little to be afraid of. You can never go wrong by putting your faith in a child.

 

[Trinka]

i can't remember who said this now...

"people are evil and choose to do good"

 

[erosman]

good reading!

Thanks PC! and all who have contributed here.

I too am amazed that people are so dull as to miss the important catalyst that freedom is to the human will and spirit. We enjoy the privileges, but shrink from the inseparable responsibilities that insure the privileges will survive for the next generation. I hope our children are more mindful than we.

 

[Cheyenne]

Re: Re: I wonder if our children

Great thread, PC! I think many of us wonder the same things.

It is up to us, as parents, to insure the children do not mistake thunder for a bomb. Let them be children. Let them believe that the Angels are bowling when they hear the distant roll of thunder. Or that the Angels are using their flashlights to look for lost souls when they see lightning.

I have fond memories from when I was young of my grandmother telling me about the angels bowling in heaven. The big booms were the "strikes."

I'd never heard the one about the flashlights before, but that is a good one, too.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Re: Re: Re: I wonder if our children

The truly sad part is, those weak willed, apathetic, and ignorant people will be the first to stand up and say Look what we did! if this all comes out the way we hope, and if not, they'll be the first to say I just knew it was a stupid and pointless war.

They're too afraid of their own minds and what they might contain to ever search for an original idea. Their opinions are fed to them by the media, the propagandists, the 1-900 tarot readers, but never ever formulated from actual research and investigation.

They're the sheep of our society. And I suppose it's the nature of the rest of us to watch over them like a sheepdog. All the while the sheep never realize that their freedom, their life without fences and predators only exisits because the dog is there to frighten, fight, and even kill the predator before the sheep know it's there.

 

[Guest]

Re: I wonder if our children

 

[sexy-girl]

i believe that sometimes its harder to do nothing


its harder not to be angry and strike back


sometimes the hardest thing is to turn the other cheek or show compassion to your enemy


its easier to be vengeful to feel hate to hurt the bully without knowing why he was a bully


but isnt being good and being just something that can really make us better as human beings


violence is sometimes needed to preserve what is good ... but to always resort to violence is a flaw to always have to act for the sake of action is wrong


i think you have to be flexible between both sides ... and i think its very wrong to condemn someone just because they look for another way before violence

 

[Cheyenne]

"Give me freedom, or give me death."

That sentence was just words before, easy to recite. It has more meaning since Sept. 11th.

*psst* I know it should be "Give me liberty, or give me death." But "freedom" seems to fit better right now.

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

Re: I wonder if our children

...will ever hear the first peal of distant thunder and not worry if it's a bomb.

(I realise you were mostly speaking of children in war zones. I've never experience those conditions, but I have experienced DC post 9/11.)

Is it a loss on innocence or naivety?

My girls saw the F-16's flying over our house, they saw the ships off of DC, they knew exactly what they were there to do. They are aware there are nations of people that hate the US and want us destroyed. They are also aware we have people here who are willing to die to stop them, their grandfathers, their uncles and aunts, even their mother.

My daughters have no disillusions of death. They have lost family members. They have seen predators take down prey. When they hear liberty or death, they know precisely what that means. They don't believe the world is full of "nice" people and I don't think that's a bad thing.

But have they lost their innocence? I would have to say no. My oldest still believes in the Tooth Fairy. My youngest believes wearing pink or purple will guarantee a good day (they're special colors, you know). They both believe if you want it enough, broomsticks can fly, and they both believe they can make their lives good ones.

Their life isn't as simple as mine was at that age, but they are still as silly as little girls get. They just have a better understanding of when to turn it off and pay attention.



Back to the original post, I don't understand those people either. I do believe it perpetuates itself, passing down through generations until finally, the individual doesn't even know why they feel that way, it's just always been there.

 

[Silverlily]

The above was me, I got timed out.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Re: Re: I wonder if our children

But have they lost their innocence? I would have to say no. My oldest still believes in the Tooth Fairy. My youngest believes wearing pink or purple will guarantee a good day (they're special colors, you know). They both believe if you want it enough, broomsticks can fly, and they both believe they can make their lives good ones.

I believe those things too, sometimes. ;-)

While I was reading your post and thinking about kids... something my daughter (she's almost 5) said on 9/11 came back to me. She was watching cartoons when my sister called and told me to switch to the news. we watched the second plane hit.

when she saw that i was upset, she asked if that building was real. when i told her it was, she said "it's sad that all those people died, but sometimes god has to get our attention."

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

The greatest threat to liberty is not tyranny or anarchy, but complaceny.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Re: I wonder about...

How can a person believe that reasoning is always the best way.

Working to obtain goals from well reasoned thoughts is always the best way. But sometimes, the people who say they are "reasoning", and are calmly calling for "peace" and submission, when force is what is called for, are not really reasoning, they are rationalizing their fears and emotions - willing to sacrifice anything, including their freedom, for "peace" and seeming security.

The bumper stickers that say "there can be no peace without justice" are correct, but sometimes (often?) force is required first to bring criminals to justice and to protect the innocent.