Safe?

The recent events at Virginia Tech are very troubling. Not because 32 people were killed. Not because the 23 year old student took his own life. Not because of the traumatic event that unfolded. Not even because of the media's sensationalistic coverage of it all. The most troubling thing about the whole event is that no one is asking the tough question. What is amazing about this question is that it is so simple. ARE WE SAFE? Can we be protected from such events? Society demands protection for all its' citizens from all forms of danger. But, what if the danger is ourselves? Our insatiable thirst for money, power, sex and fame have brought us to this point. Disassociation from everything. Narcissistic views. Are video games to blame? Is it the media's fault? I believe it is the lack of parenting in the homes. There are to many broken homes. Economic factors have forced both parents into the workforce leaving others to raise and teach our children. Day care, schools, churches, neighbors, anyone can raise them. Our children are growing up without any forms of discipline. Teachers cannot punish them for fear of their job. Parents cannot punish them for fear of child services. As a result our children grow up with no real repercussions of their actions other than detention and groundings. Video games, television, movies and the media desensitize our youth to violence and sex. People are objects to be manipulated and played with like some sort of game. Yes, it is the hardest thing to do, but we must as a society look in the mirror. WE ARE TO BLAME. We must make the changes necessary for the future of our children, our planet, and our way of life. I fear if we do not, things will only continue to get worse. Are we safe? Simply, no.

Looking Back

I stood atop the mountains overlooking the hills and hollows as far as my eyes could see. A Celtic song came to mind. Uillean pipes played in my head. I sensed I had been here before. Right here, or somewhere eerily similar. I stood and gazed over the landscape, amazed at its' beauty. Enjoying the colors, scents, sounds and feelings as I let my mind wander. Closing my eyes I felt at peace with all around me. A piece of heaven right here on earth. I opened my eyes and began to have a different vision. A coal mine in the distance formed a black and gray pock mark in the far off valley. A strip mine in the hill to my right looked as if a giant had taken a bite out of the mountain. Men busy in their trucks driving along the roads below going about their business like tiny ants. Old logging roads winding up and down the surrounding hills leaving timbers strewn about like pick up sticks that had just been dropped out of the sky. Iron colored water runoffs from production of the states number one resource and this countries number one favorite fossil fuel. I began too look around me and saw evidence of wildlife amongst all the hustle and bustle of mining and timbering. The animals, apparently, do not seem to mind. Cows lick the gob piled up outside the mine absorbing minerals. Deer droppings dot the ground along the trail meandering up through the thicket. Matted grass areas surround me where white-tailed deer had been laying. Birds flew high above and enjoyed the cloudless blue sky. I closed my eyes again. Looking back I had been here before. A piece of heaven right here on earth.

Encounter

Greetings from the hills of West "by God" Virginia; We have settled in quite nicely here, as if we have always been here. People are genuine and humble. I am grateful to be in such presence. I took a walk this morning around the perimeter of our property and came across a log placed equilateral to the creek running along the back of the land. I was watching the birds go about their business of eating at the local food banks provided them by myself and neighbors. I watched a family of mallards swim upstream against the current. I enjoyed 14 wild turkeys pecking at the seed in our yard. I watched the red and grey squirrels go about their food recovery from the winters storage locations. I was just about to get up when I turned my head and caught a sign of 3 deer walking between myself and the house. I froze and watched them for about 15 minutes while they fed in our yard. I have been in the mountains before and seen plenty of wildlife, but this was something different. I came to the realization that our two dogs were not even barking. I could not believe how close they were. I could almost hear them breathing as I watched the air come out of their nostrils. They almost seemed to ignore me. They slowly moved off and left me to my own thoughts. What a wonderful move we have made to come here. Everything is perfect. I pondered where I have been in my life and where I am now. I thought about my mistakes, my triumphs, my trials and tribulations. As I watch these animals go about their business I thought about what we as humans do in our daily lives. How eye opening an experience to have confirmed by nature what I have always known in my heart. Our lives are not about property, bank accounts, who we know and what we do. Nor is it about what legacy we leave behind. Have we become so predictable and delusional in our daily lives that the very essence of our souls is buried deep within. A kind word here, a gentle touch there, a simple thank you or hello sometimes makes another persons day. I know it makes mine when a stranger waves and acknowledges my presence. How awesome it felt to be acknowledged by these animals. In the big cities this is lost sometimes. I beg you all to recapture this part of your lives if you have not already done so.