I've been crying a lot the last two weeks. I'm crying now.

I cry for my mother. She passed away last week at the age of 75. She was laid to rest on 8/26. We all miss her so much, especially Dad. (I know anyone who reads this will want to express their condolences, but it is not necessary.)

I cry because the road ahead for our nation and our allies is filled with danger here and abroad for all of us.

I cry for those killed and injured defending us and for those yet to come.

I cry because our nation stands up for what is right and good and true. This is such a good place with good people.

I cry because there are those in this country that don't see that this is a good and decent place.

I cry because I'm so proud and thankful that George W. Bush is our President and likely will be for another four years. We are truly blessed to have this strong and decent man as President.

I cry for these people in Russia. No explanation is needed.

Forgive me for being so emotional, but I just had to get this all out. The personal, national, and international events of the last several days have really gotten to me.

This morning I got up, I did my usual thing,
I made coffee and went to my door to get my
newspaper.

The words across the top were. "The Slaughter of
Children" No hiding anything in our press, the
truth is there in the words.

There is a picture seen on the top fold of the
paper of a man carrying a child.

I saw the picture like that, but when I sat
down to read the front page, I saw the bottom
of the picture which showed the blood all over
the child.

I just lost it, I can not describe how I felt,
I could not eat or drink my coffee. I just sat
there crying for the children who will not
go unscared from this even if they survive.

The sheer wanton killing of children is the last
straw, we all know now what the terrorists are,
people who no longer have even a feelilng of caring for what they do, they can shoot at running children and explain that, HOW?

What will wake people up to the fact there are
enemies in the world that would not think twice
about killing children, wounding children and
scaring them for life with the feelings of fear,
pain, and will never have a sense of security
again.

Wake up, they are out there, and the longer we
choose not to see them, the more we are likely
to lose the battle with them. The liberals can
say it is not important and live with that,
well, stuff them. They are cowards who would
put the safety of America in second place because
they think debating with people like the above
will solve the problem. Sure, Kerry could fly
over to where? Where can a person go to "talk"
with terrorists like these? If the likes of
Kerry win, we are in very serious trouble, even
if he did four months in Vietnam. Right?

Ya know, Gerard, I'd been trying to dodge this particular emotional bullet. What, between other life stresses and the impending 9/11 annual wound-reopening, I just didn't want to add to the burden.

It's been floating around the perfery of the wall of shock. I don't know if I wanted to breach that barrier, or wanted to remain cocooned, in my heart of hearts.

Well, it seems that I've finally gotten nicked by some the emotional shrapnel from this whole thing.

I guess the pain is neccessary, in some sense. In much the same way that development of muscle is often accompanied by discomfort. For the pain must come before it can lead to an anger that will fuel a long term resolve.

I guess it's needed. But I sure wish it weren't.

Bad news folks. This event did not really happen.

What happened was that a very large storm named Frances slowly went into Florida.

That is what happened. That is all that happened.

350 deaths are just not enough to wake us up.... not when there's a REALLY cool storm, and all those brave reporters on the beach, and stuff.

Sorry. Didn't happen. I know. I'm (not) watching it.

This tragedy is beyond anything the cruel terrorists have done. I do hope that people in the USA wake up and stop slandering our leaders
who are trying so hard to protect our nation from such barbarity. Perhaps seeing the Russian families and a community which could easily be American will help them realize that this is not just a problem in the middle east.

Beautifully done. Thank you.

Please--where are the photos? I've done a google search, but can't seem to find them. Anyone know?

If you're feeling helpless after reading this, you can donate to help the children who survived. On the Russian Embassy website, there is a link to a fund which is a legally constituted 501(c)(3)) organization in the US. Originally established to help the victims of the Moscow theater disaster, it is now collecting funds to be distributed to the orphaned children, and those children who were injured as a result of the Beslan school massacre. Go here to help: http://www.moscowhelp.org/

I was looking through all the AP pictures of this tragedy a few days ago when I also came upon this picture. I started crying, I haven't cried in years, hell I don't even have kids. I guess for me, I was expecting to see examples of death, fear, sadness, etc. in the photos. I was never expecting to see love.

As the shock wore off and anger set in, I could see why these conficts can get so ugly like in the Balkans. If I had lived in that town, my first response would probably be to find me a sniper rifle and take a road trip down to Chechnya. But then all first thoughts on these matters are irrational.

What a powerful post. I am in tears. I see my son. Keep this article and pass it on.

    "I am willing to do anything, anything at all, no matter what it may be, to keep him out of that photograph. That's my answer to what I saw. My question is, 'Are you?'"

    That's the question, all right.  And my answer is "Yes, indeed.  Whatever it takes, however long it takes, however many of them we have to kill."

DELENDAM ESSE SAUDI ARABIA!

Your writing on this subject is exquisite- beautiful, tragic, and honest. Thank you for giving voice to unspeakable fear.

Pieta...upon searching through the rhetoric of art, to inform a painting who's visage came to me in prayer, I came across this piece of writing titled "Pieta for the 41st Photograph". While the author finds disgust in his actions, we all must realize that he is wielding the greatest weapon of all. It is a heavy sword, raised with quivering lips, unrelenting tears of sadness, and collapsing knees. This sword is not swung and it does not stab. It is compassion. Its mere presense terrifies both the unlikely warrior and the enemy. The author holds his sword high, but stares at the ground in humility. Would you follow him into battle?
This is the pieta that will haunt my painting...and what I will paint is love. To the author, thank you.

Homo homini lupus. -- Man is the wolf of man.

There but for the grace of God go we.

A beautiful piece of writing, and to your question, "I am willing to do anything, anything at all, no matter what it may be, to keep him out of that photograph. That's my answer to what I saw. My question is, "Are you?" our answer must be yes.

God grant us the wisdom to know what that "anything at all" is, and the courage to do it.

"God gave Noah the rainbow sign, / No more water, the fire next time!"

If you are religious: God gave us minds to understand and wield the fire at the hearts of stars. Time to use it?

Thank you, Van.
As Captain (soon to be Major) B. says:
One team, one fight.
We all have a duty to fight evil, and you are doing your part.
Keep on fighting, Sir!
Sincerely,
Ben

This was Russia's tipping point. No quarter for these devils. As a strong, committed Christian, I find it appaling in my heart, that I have lost absolutely all compassion for these Islamists. If anything ever fit the perfect description of the great whore of Babylon, this is it. Evil this wicked , this perverted, is the religion of Satan, it can only be described in theological terms. The Glory of the Christian faith is mercy and forgiveness, I have never seen or heard or read anything, anything in the religion of Islam that leads to this, only death and insanity. I will do anything to defeat this evil so that my children do not have to face it, anything. Our tipping point is coming. Thank you for your lucid writing and great insight, it is helpful to many, many people.

I wish it WAS Russia's tipping point, Tim. But oil money talks, which is one reason why Putin and Co. continue to sell arms to Iran. The Russian leadership WANTS high oil prices. And they will dance with the devil to get them.

I understand completely your response to that photograph. A very brave and beautiful rendering of your pain.

I know a man, highly educated and sucking off the government teat for his green start-up company.

He would do nothing to prevent slaughter - even in his own family. A pacifist who will never condone war. I loathe his cowardice.

I would die for my child, but not before I'd emptied a few clips.

For the innocents who are targeted throughout the world - I support and give thanks for the might of the American military.

Remembrance of things present.

Thanks for keeping it alive, Gerard.

http://www.thekidalog.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/09/11/beslan_mother_grieves.jpg

9/11 was one thing, I thought. Thought that was it for me, watching the whole world change before my eyes.
And then there was Nick Berg. To top 9/11 because we went back to work. Someone's son; to realize he had a father. Like I have a son. And then he was my son.
That was it for me again. Because they will stop at nothing. Things we can't imagine.
How could some call them freedom fighters.
I'll never vote Dem again, I swore. I question anyone's judgement who would run in that party.

Oh Gerard, now you've gone and made me cry.

I know that dreadful feeling well, ever since 2/2006, when my girl had her first seizure. While that seizure affected her for a while (and then she resumed her college life), I was forever changed. Every phone call from her conjures a moment of panic until I hear her voice, and not someone else's asking, "Uh, hello, is this Katy's mom?"

I can empathise with you, as well as the grieving woman. However, as the course of my life has never included being a parent, perhaps there is some level of feeling which I cannot comprehend.
It doesn't seem to fit the agenda of our media to show the atrocities committed in the name of Allah. Political propaganda and hidden agendas will not serve America well when dealing with religous fanatics bent on world domination. If we cannot somehow get back to politicians serving their constituents instead of spending their lives lying to get ever more power and influence at the taxpayers expense, I fear that I will be like the grieving woman. The only difference is that I fear I shall be grieving the downfall of the greatest nation that God ever created on this planet. I do not know if that would be an equivalent emotional experience, but I pray that I never find out.

PS Is it JINGOISM to claim that your country is the best ever if it's true?

A more recent searing image.

The thin Afghan farmer, his eyes averted - perhaps from the camera's stare, perhaps from the reality of his severed ears and nose.

Now his regret that he dared to vote in the recent election as he crouches on a cot.

That image of that white white gauze against his weathered skin - hiding the horror.

This will always be with me.

*oof*

Thank you for writing this and for remembering.

Your pen is indeed your sword and you wield it well.

My two young children started school in a German school the same week that the Beslan Massacre occured. It hit too close to home for me. I watched the whole thing go down in real time on the internet at a site set up for moment-by-moment updates. It was like watching the twin towers fall in slow motion over the next four days. I was outraged and stricken.

I don't think I'll ever forget Beslan, and there is not a day that goes by that I don't pray, as my children go off to school, that we never experience something like that here in the US.

After Mumbai, my first thought was "Beslan," and when reports came out that lots of school buses have gone missing, I bought the book, "Terror at Beslan." It's been sitting on the shelf ever since.

I hadn't been unable to bring myself to start reading it, until today, five years later.

Sorry. Double negative. Correction: "I hadn't been able to bring myself to start reading it, until today, five years later."

Luke 9:59-60

59 - And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father."
60 - But Jesus said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God."

Ten years on, I hope your stepson has grown into some of that promise.

I read this while my kids played today, and had to fight back tears. Lord, have mercy.

This piece brought me back to the morning of 9/11. As I watched the tower burn, I knew that I had family in one of the topmost floors, a cousin. Then the second plane hit and removed all doubt as to the cause. Our cousin died that day.

As the years slip by, I realize that there are so many of my countrymen who do not, or no longer, feel the personal element in beheadings of Arabs a world away. I always will. Never forget. Nor forgive.