Yes, but.....

We say we won't let the terrorists win

We say we will become stronger - we won't be broken
by the senseless bloodshed, the fear, the evil
We say our hearts are heavy
we are sad, devastated, heartbroken
We say this time, things will change

Yes, but.....
how much more must we take?
When will we all awake to the reality that we can only
win if we are not out for ourselves but are there for our fellow man and woman
whether we know her or not, whether we agree with him or not
How much more?
How often must we repeat "Our thoughts and prayers are with (fill in the current blank)"
Strikes me that we are headed toward what is the daily norm for people
in Syria, and Afghanistan and most of Africa
Is this to be our new normal - bombs, mass shootings, random terror?
Do we respond by arming ourselves even more heavily?
Is this the change we believe in?
Is this how we make the violence stop?
Or is there another way - if we will only take it - if we will only
move past the fear that drives our hardened stance
move past the lack of understanding that prevents us from
seeing each other as beautiful, and worthwhile and familiar
We have ceded our compassion, our love, our empathy, our selflessness
We say we must be strong, we must have hope

Yes, but -
perhaps we must also change

I despair at the moment....

Quote of the day:  It is clear that the way to heal society of its violence...and lack of love is to
                               replace the pyramid of domination with the circle of equality and respect.
                                                                                              ~Manitonquat