And the World Churns On

So life in general has had plenty to contribute to my moroseness. Both personally and in the news.

Red

First, we learned that a man I’ve known my entire life died this past Friday. Everybody knew it was coming, really… in fact, he’d been stubbornly holding on despite his dismal health odds and living life to the fullest for several years. And you couldn’t ask for a better way to go… he simply sat down to catch his breath (he was home) and then he was gone.

Strangely enough, I don’t mourn Red’s loss from my life. I’m glad I had a chance to get to San Diego and visit him one last time a few years ago. He was an incredibly vibrant, ornery, huge-hearted person and nobody forgets him who’s met him. He was kinda like my adopted grandfather… he and Shorty lived right next door to my folks when I was born.

I can’t imagine my life having never known Red… but I don’t mourn his loss. The sadness I felt Friday night when I heard the news was for Shorty. They were together for so long… her life will be irrevocably changed. She lost her son so many years ago to Viet Nam, and now she’s lost her husband. She still has a daughter (and I know this is an uncharitable opinion) who lives in Vegas and stays in touch with family when she needs money… but I think it’s Shorty’s grandson who will help her through. He’s just a few years younger than me, and adores his grandparents. Now grandparent. He’s the one who called me with the news. Shorty is a sweetheart and a strong woman… but I’m glad he’s there for her.

Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be able to make it the funeral. Both with situations at home and at work, Mom and I can rarely be gone at the same time… and not for very long. So the folks will make it if they can secure a flight on such notice… things were looking a little grim in that department this weekend, but there’s always a chance.

The World

Amway, part of my rousing myself to blog was wanting to document this momentous event in my life… even though it took place hundreds of miles away. I’ve BEEN meaning to blog about various news stories that have had my brain working, but the rousing just wasn’t there. But since I’m here, I’ll comment on one pretty big one that’s pretty damned depressing: the extremely violent reactions of Muslims around the world to the Danish political cartoons of Mohammed. I agree the cartoons were tasteless, but at first I felt contempt for such a gross over-reaction with so little value for life.

But then I realized two things: 1) these people’s resentment over EVERYTHING the West has represented to them has been building for decades… and 2) their entire culture seems to be built on a completely different value system than the one I understand. Violence, death, vengeance… it’s all an acceptable part of their cultural make-up. Not necessarily the religion, as I understand that Islam was originally meant to be a peaceful religion. But a culture takes a religion and shapes it to its own nature. So calling for the death and destruction of friggin cartoonists is nothing unusual to them.

How can one possibly comprehend such a mentality? A mentality that votes in terrorist organizations for their political infrastructure? A mentality that bred "Honor Killings"? I certainly don’t have the answer to that, because I obviously possess no such comprehension.

Of course, the world goes on… news continues to happen whether you like it or not. The other day I was reading an article about dead fetuses and newborns clogging the sewers of Zimbabwe’s capital city. I must have had a shocked look on my face, cuz The Office Whisperer had just looked at me and asked me what was wrong. I didn’t elaborate, but said I was reading a horrible story. Her logical solution… so don’t read it. Pretty sound logic… but news happens whether you want it to or not.

So which is the more sensible approach? Staying informed about the world, or ignoring that which I can do nothing about and will only upset me? I honestly can’t say. Just what is sensible about the world, anyway?