Conversations...

Sitting around the fire tonight talking about family matters with my sister and her wife while the rest of the family slept and fresh colorado snow fell outside, we ended up on the subject of the state of the world, the US education system, etc - one of those good all around conversations that you wish you had with people more often (rather than talking about how ridiculous the last Top Model episode was...). It was really great to finally be able to sit down with my sisters and have a real conversation about stuff like this, and I got a few things out of it. Some of these lessons aren't necessarily new, but are the type of lessons you need to remember, but often forget:

1. The world is inhabited by people. People are human. Humans are fucked up.
2. Humans, however, evolve. Thus, eventually will not be as fucked up in the future as they are today.
3. The world is changing. More specifically, the systems and assumptions we grew up with are changing.
4. The sooner we accept that these things change, the easier it will be to adapt. Or at least, the sooner we will be able to adapt.
5. A huge part of the problem with certain domestic and international issues is poor information and lack of knowledge (ignorance)
6. If more people could break outside of their bubbles (i.e. leave their hometown, or even leave their country), the external and macro perspective would create a better understanding for their personal situation and the situation of the world.
7. Pay it forward. The bottom-up, ripple effect tends to work much better than top-down systems (in our opinion)

Bittersweet (a reflection for Veteran's Day)

It's going to be a beautiful day
One of the clearest I've ever seen
There's a soft breeze
that cools my skin
bringing the scent of dry leaves
and dries the tears on my cheeks
The blood on my hands washed clean
Far away the children sing happy tunes
and play games in the sun
while heartbreaking screams for home
echo through this godforsaken landscape

The sun brings a comforting warmth
The temperature a perfect in-between
The sound of running water
reminds me of the stream back home
which now only exists in memory
since nothing will ever be the same
I wonder how many of them are all sitting down
eating dinner and watching TV, unaware
as I sit over his limp body in the street
the only one I know in a sea of nameless faces --knew--

I don't hold it against them
the ones back there,
the ones laughing in their safe homes
whining about the change of seasons
or their dead-end jobs
Rather than watching their brothers and sisters sacrifice themselves
for some greater good that we've all but forgotten
This time it was harder,
he was my closest friend
I should forget about the others
It'll be easier to lose them then...now...later

He was always brave, you know,
at least until the very end
he knew what he was here for and happy to do it
at least until he saw his life flash before him
even the hardest of men cry out for those they love
as that grim angel slowly steals him away
-- and I could only watch...helplessly
It's those cries for home, for mom, for love
as the life drains from a pained face
that beg the question--
not what are we fighting for --
no, but why are we fighting in the first place?

Look at that sky,
it really is going to be a beautiful day

Sweet!

Tunisia, here I come. Next semester is going to be insane...