The State of Things

There are super bacteria in the water at Brazil's beaches, and Zika virus is still at play.
Sorry Brazil, I don't think we should have the Olympics this year.
The Olympics have lost their lustre in the last number of years - it doesn't mean as much as it used to.  We have lots of competition among countries and the emotional stories at the Olympics are more marketing ploy.

Many American diplomats signed a statement saying the US policy toward Syria is wrong.
Russia bombed American trained fighters in Syria.
That's a mess waiting to happen.

Orlando had a singer gunned down, an alligator killed a little boy, and The Pulse nighclub attack.  That was in one week.

The man who killed the people at The Pulse may have had some personal sexuality issues and used ISIS as a cover.  But, it's made the whole matter hard to pin down.  Bottom line, in my opinion is we need to ban assault weapons, and we need to do better with mental health issues.

Donald Trump is a messed up human being and I don't understand people who would vote for him.  His daughter puts on a pretty show, but she supports him.  It makes me mad, but I have no idea what it would be like to have him for a father and I guess in some ways you have to support your Dad.  But, if this is how you think the world works - you're not right.  Yet - it HAS worked for the Trump family.  So...  crazy world we live in! :)

Hello, again, 9/11

15 years ago this morning.

We've spent the last 14 anniversaries reviewing how we feel about that day.

The family's of those who lost their lives had a personal loss.

The people who survived have memories that must be painful and surprising, given their continued movement from one step to the next, from one day to the next, and from one anniversary to the next.

Maybe they find themselves alive in that moment 15 years ago and are surprised when they realize it's 15 years later and time has continued apace.

Our country has had painful 'conversation' about the difficult questions we had the luxury to avoid for years because of our geographic location in the world and our military might.  

The media describes it as a tragic day.  Horrifying.  We remember and will never forget.  Painful, 

But, we gained as well.

Family's gathered together and continued to love.  

The World Trade Center was rebuilt with art and architecture and beauty.

We've had conversations that bring us together

We had reasons to learn about our neighbors - both in the community, the country, and the world.

People have expressed their joys.

We heard about the heroism of many on that day and the days that followed.

In the end there is still love, there is still beauty, and there is still peace.  Those are the wonders of the world that live on.  

***

We haven't figured everything out yet - but that's the process.  We continue searching for the best way to live in this world.  How do we stay safe and free at the same time?  How do we protect ourselves and share our resources at the same time?  How do we settle arguments with military might and diplomacy at the same time?  How do we get along with other countries, other people, when we have different goals and different beliefs?

I don't think these questions can be answered until each individual in the world feels valued.  

Then, they'll feel less fearful of sharing and accepting and loving.  

When we can rejoice in each person's individual life journey, we will have peace.

***

I've mentioned the idea of being valued in a couple recent posts (recent being relative).  

I can't imagine a person who values their own life would easily take another's life.

That goes for criminals and terrorists and individuals.