On this the eve of nine-eleven, I am reminded that the volatility of our world remains much the same as it did during the Vietnam era of which I was a part.. I just watched the movie, “United 93″ which depicts the sequence of events of the fateful day when Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked a commercial flight from Newark, NJ to San Francisco. And the heroism of the passengers of that flight who did not allow the terrorists to win this particular battle. Four planes were hijacked and directed toward specific targets. Three planes hit their mark, two flew into the World Trade Center in New York, one crashed into the Pentagon, but one did not hit its mark, United 93. Realizing that they were a part of a suicide mission, the passengers took it upon themselves to thwart the plan of the hijackers of that United flight. The plane crashed into the ground killing all aboard. Its intended target, the US Capitol, in Washington DC, was spared.
Some have said that it’s too soon to show the events of that day. Its too fresh in our minds to relive it now. That is not for me to say. We should all feel an obligation to ensure that this story is preserved and carried forward lest we forget the horrors of that day. To borrow from a poet and philosopher of the early 1900’s, George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Our world has gone through many changes. I have been a part of the resistance in the late sixties when we were embroiled in the Vietnam War and I have been a supporter of the establishment when I believed in the cause. Yet I do not believe always in “an eye for an eye” from Exodus 21: 23-27. I suppose that is the hippie in me still. We have had many, many anti-war songs over the years. One in particular was released on January 1, 1965 by Barry McQuire called “Eve Of Destruction“. The sentiments expressed in that sixties song still fit the turmoil we find in the Middle East.
Where can we find peace? Through the love of God is my answer. I have found without God’s grace in my life, I would surely succumb to the evil that surrounds us. He is the only One who can deliver us from such a tumultuous world.
There are other anti-war songs that come to mind. Do you recall Bob Dylan’s, “Blowin’ In The Wind“? How about John Lennon’s, “Give Peace a Chance“? Then there is the ballad of Billy Jack, “One Tin Soldier“. Buffalo Springfield’s, “Stop! What’s That Sound”, The Kingston Trio’s, “Where Have All The Flowers Gone”, Kenny Rogers, “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love To Town”, Creedance Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son”, “Sky Pilot” by Eric Burden and the Animals. And last but not least, there was Country Joe and the Fish’s, “I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die“.
Well, enough of that. Has any of them made a difference? Who really knows for sure? I certainly don’t. I can only pray for peace and hope my neighbor does too.
Powered by Zoundry
