Sept. 11

Why can’t we live

            forever in the ethereal

shadow of juvenile disbelief?

Lofted upon clouds of hope,

innocently unknowing

what lives in the shadows.

But:

Are we ever unaccountable of our own sin?

When does our innocence turn to ignorance?

An awakening; fruitions of a new world:

Oklahoma City. Kaczynski.

Columbine. Waco.

African Embassies.

Dahmer. Desert Storm.

O.J. Rodney King. L.A. Riots.

Twin Towers Part One.

Hale Bopp & Heavens Gate.

Cobain.

But, look not to deicide or inaction.

Share. Respect. Educate. The battle

over ignorance is merely in the

depth and extent of your reach.

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Childhoods are full of memories like capturing fireflies on a summer evening, the first snow that cancels school, or the first girl (or guy) that struck your fancy.  But there is also a moment of memory when something happened, a chord that changes how the world resonates around you. 

Thoughts on explaining epic trauma to students always evokes personal memories of your own experience, that: where was I when this happened, feeling.  But also cognition of even earlier awakenings of first evil. 

Somewhat inspired by this CNN story: Teaching my child...