I Just Keep Shaking My Head
Below are some thoughts Jim put to paper right after the attacks of 9-11. Following the piece below is his poem, “I just keep shaking my head.”
The human spirit, I believe, is the most powerful force in our world. Unfortunately, a single evil spirit is often more powerful than a good one.
The reason for this inequity is because it is the nature of evil to be fanatical and aggressive, while the nature of good is to be gentle, often complacent, and sometimes even naive.
The good news is there are more good people in this world than evil ones. But that math only works, to paraphrase Edmund Burke, if the good work together – courageously – against the evil.
We cannot afford to be naive. We don't have the luxury of being complacent. This is no time for gentleness. We owe it to those who gave their lives to never forget the images we saw on September 11, 2001. To never forget what this evil hath wrought.
Let's work together -- all nations of good people -- until we rid ourselves of this evil called terrorism. However long it takes - whatever it takes.
We can claim no other comparable blessing to offset the imbalance between the power of good and the forces of evil.
I Just Keep Shaking My Head
The images are burned into my brain:
The impacts, the fires, the destruction.
I want to wake up from this nightmare.
I just keep shaking my head.
Who could do this?
Why would anyone do this?
HOW COULD ANY HUMAN BEING DO THIS??
I just keep shaking my head.
Four airplanes gone.
So many buildings destroyed.
One rural meadow scarred.
I just keep shaking my head.
Hundreds -- no -- thousands of innocent lives taken.
Thousands -- no -- tens of thousands of families grieving.
Millions -- no -- billions of civilized humans disbelieving.
I just keep shaking my head.
So much love denied.
So many friendships abbreviated.
So many spirits lost to another dimension.
I just keep shaking my head.
Years of productivity gone.
A world of promise stolen.
A wealth of contribution eliminated.
I just keep shaking my head.
Survivors' faces in pain and anguish.
Loved-ones' hearts broken.
The toll -- incalculable.
I just keep shaking my head.
A few evil people.
Thousands of innocent victims.
Why is evil easier to leverage than good?
I just keep shaking my head.
The irony is palpable:
Evildoers with blood on their hands.
Courageous recovery workers with blood on their hands.
I just keep shaking my head.
Why is there despair simultaneous with hope?
How could there be loathing concurrent with admiration?
How can this be?
I just keep shaking my head.
At last I witness hopefulness in unity.
I see selflessness and courage.
Now we unite behind a purpose.
I begin raising my head.
Here there is love being shown.
There we see hope springing forth.
Yonder there are demonstrations of leadership.
I raise my head further.
America is strong -- Americans have strong spirits.
We summon the resolve for which we are known.
We demonstrate the courage with which we have been blessed.
I hold my head high.
I have faith in myself
I have confidence in our people.
We have been here before.
God be with us.
God bless America!
