Report from Cheyenne

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

We are very thankful that our own friends and family in NY are all right.

 

But looking at this attack -- as a student of history, i can testify that

rarely in all of recorded history has there been an act of barbarity on this

scale. Even the A-bombs pale in comparison, because in this instance ONLY

civilians were targeted, and the main target had no military significance

whatsoever.

 

Here in Cheyenne, we are just innocent bystanders. Few of us have been

directly affected. Some of us who have ties to New York are feeling a

little shaky, but there is nothing we can do. Even donating blood here

won't help much as it can't go out. There are no airplanes in the sky now.

Since all of us here live near the airport, this absence is conspicuous.

Only an occasional fighter jet zooms over, on the way to somewhere.

 

The only thing i can do is work hard with the kids in the little Christian

school where i work, comforting them as necessary. What they learn during

these days will hopefully help them deal with whatever comes up during

future years, so that's the only importance there is to my work. Sometimes

i pass on information about how the Koran does not condone acts like this.

Maybe that will help some.

 

We in America are now constantly getting fed TV news about the situation. I

am personally fascinated by the rescue operations. I mentioned this to some

people at the school, and one said, " This proves that you're a real

Christian. We naturally think about rescuing others. "

 

Here is one poetic suggestion. We should set up the most powerful TV

transmitter ever in the Middle East, and employ Arabic translators to repeat

this blanket of news there. Let the people know that the possibly 30,000

dead were family people; aunts, uncles, fathers, mothers, sons and

daughters. Let them know how similar our families are to theirs.

Intersperse this coverage with quotes from various sources, including the

Bible, the writings of L. Ron Hubbard, and the Koran, which stress the value

of confessing one's sins to others. Perhaps this will stimulate remorse in

some, who will come forward to identify the criminals who did this. And

perhaps letting these people know about what this action really meant will

in some way prevent repeats of it in the future.

 

For those who are directly dealing with grief, music can help.

Historically, the institutional church used the key of A minor to help

people recover from the shock of sudden death. This is something that can

help people get back to necessary work quickly. For longer-term recovery

from grief, music in Lydian mode is recommended.

 

-- Michael Riversong **

Professional Harpist, Educator, and Writer **

RivEdu ** Phone: (307)635-0900 FAX (413)691-0399

http://home.earthlink.net/~mriversong