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The Waking
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I cannot go.
We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.
Light takes the Tree, but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.
This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.
--Theodore Roethke
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Joy's Updates - Straight from the Horse's Mouth.
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Sunday, February 17, 2008
We Were Right
Born on the Fourth of July is on HBO today about Ron Kovic. He and I are close to the same age and grew up in small towns during the 50's. We were inspired when President John F. Kennedy challenged us to ask what we can do for our country. We believed him and thought we could make a difference. During such an idealistic time we lost our innocence when he was assassinated and came of age during the 60's.
I am reminded of how similar that war was to the one we're still involved in. The main difference between what's not happening here between Vietman and Iraq is there is no draft. If there were, there would probably be protestors to this one, too. Perhaps people are trying to express their feelings in other ways or different generations react differently. I don't know. What I do know is that we didn't need to become involved in either war. Military and top governmental officials (e.g. Robert McNamara and Lyndon Johnson) said we were wrong to be in Vietnam. Comparable leaders are saying the same thing about Iraq. It's been mishandled from the beginning and has made the situation worse in the Middle East. We get into wars we have no business getting into and run our military in the ground. The National Guard has to do things they aren't trained to do and then aren't here when we need them for what they are trained to do. This has been a foreign policy based on fear and a domestic policy that charges anyone who disagrees with this administration as unpatriotic. We weren't in the 60's and aren't now. The tragic loss of lives and humanity is heartbreaking and unjustified. They're so young.
2:41:00 PM
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