shielded

i live in a bubble. i live in a bubble where i can take in sanitized knowledge, feel anger, talk to my peers about the injustice of this war, but not have to feel the immediate pain of loss associated with this war. as i have no family in the military aside from my little cousin, who has returned after being deployed to kuwait, i can remain reasonably sure that i can continue in my bubble and not have to go through the anguish of those losing loved ones. i know people who have family there, and i live in fear on their behalf, but i know that that one degree of separation is a critical degree that allows me to stay safe in my bubble.

i was shocked to discover today the brother of someone i knew in high school was a casualty of this senseless war. i was looking around on www.moveon.org which led me to check out the ad clips on www.realvoices.org, and stumbled upon an ad that turned out to feature yet another brother of that schoolmate, which led me to some old articles, which led me to the salon article. reading the words cannot help but conjure the voice of the schoolmate i had casually known. i can hear the note of anguish in his writing, and i am so saddened by his family’s pain. at the same time, i’m inspired by the words and the conviction behind them.

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i read my words above and they seem so hollow and devoid of meaning and relevance.