The Power of Faces
when did you cry?
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
I guess it's been a couple of weeks now, so I hope this comparison doesn't seem insensitive. It's a little scene out of my life that maybe has some meaning in this chaotic time that we find ourselves in. It did to me, so here goes.
When the Virginia Tech massacre story broke in all its stunning horror, I was struck by my own insensitivity of it all. As it was registering in my mind, I heard of another gruesome report out of Iraq of yet another bombing wherein a similar number of innocents were suddenly dead, and the categorical part of my brain filed the two away, and I was down with that. Even as the facts and reports showed up everywhere one looked, I was still able to deflect their awful impact into the unique file where they belonged. Right?
The first people we got to see on the tube were those who survived and their stunned and grateful families. This laced in a little light into the darkness that was pressing in. Just a little, and then again my barrier was up and I have enough sorrow I'm dealing with on my own. This was how I was going to get through this madness. And it was working, as it has been for...awhile.
Then came the faces. The funerals were taking place, and the networks figured it was time we got to see who were the victims of this evil. I think they study these things, and the timing was probaly wise. One by one, one right after another, their smiling, warm and bright faces appeared. Why him? Why her? They were all so stunningly beautiful in all their international beauty. A beautiful parade of our beautiful country. They didn't show them, but one could see the grieving families and their grief belonged to all, even me with my files and all. May those faces shine on forever for all the beauty they hold, 'tho now departed. Tears welled in my eyes.
Now another story breaks through. The supreme court upholds the ban on the gruesome practice of partial-birth abortion. Hopeful news to many, rising up through the Virginia darkness. This pro-life victory had come after years of court battles that were an insult to my sense of humanity. This was clearly infanticide, and the evidence, graphic and perfectly descriptive, how could anyone miss it. Yet year after year, supposedly civilized men and women argued for their right to continue this slaughter, this massacre of innocents. The two stories begin to wrap around together as sometimes is the case, and I wonder what would be the affect on us if we had to see the faces of these thousands of fine healthy babies. Babies that didn't quite make it through the birth canal, stopped short with wicked intent, to meet the cruel and cold hand of human murder. Why him? Why her? What became of their faces? Look around and you'll see them. There now with their moms and dads, their brothers and sisters, alive and loving it. You can see them. With grandmas and grampaws, growing up in freedom, to greatness, perhaps. See their faces? Never miss them again, my fellow countrymen. Be sure, the wicked will return seeking new innocent blood. With loving eyes see the faces through, safely to life. May those faces shine on forever, for the beauty they hold.
When the Virginia Tech massacre story broke in all its stunning horror, I was struck by my own insensitivity of it all. As it was registering in my mind, I heard of another gruesome report out of Iraq of yet another bombing wherein a similar number of innocents were suddenly dead, and the categorical part of my brain filed the two away, and I was down with that. Even as the facts and reports showed up everywhere one looked, I was still able to deflect their awful impact into the unique file where they belonged. Right?
The first people we got to see on the tube were those who survived and their stunned and grateful families. This laced in a little light into the darkness that was pressing in. Just a little, and then again my barrier was up and I have enough sorrow I'm dealing with on my own. This was how I was going to get through this madness. And it was working, as it has been for...awhile.
Then came the faces. The funerals were taking place, and the networks figured it was time we got to see who were the victims of this evil. I think they study these things, and the timing was probaly wise. One by one, one right after another, their smiling, warm and bright faces appeared. Why him? Why her? They were all so stunningly beautiful in all their international beauty. A beautiful parade of our beautiful country. They didn't show them, but one could see the grieving families and their grief belonged to all, even me with my files and all. May those faces shine on forever for all the beauty they hold, 'tho now departed. Tears welled in my eyes.
Now another story breaks through. The supreme court upholds the ban on the gruesome practice of partial-birth abortion. Hopeful news to many, rising up through the Virginia darkness. This pro-life victory had come after years of court battles that were an insult to my sense of humanity. This was clearly infanticide, and the evidence, graphic and perfectly descriptive, how could anyone miss it. Yet year after year, supposedly civilized men and women argued for their right to continue this slaughter, this massacre of innocents. The two stories begin to wrap around together as sometimes is the case, and I wonder what would be the affect on us if we had to see the faces of these thousands of fine healthy babies. Babies that didn't quite make it through the birth canal, stopped short with wicked intent, to meet the cruel and cold hand of human murder. Why him? Why her? What became of their faces? Look around and you'll see them. There now with their moms and dads, their brothers and sisters, alive and loving it. You can see them. With grandmas and grampaws, growing up in freedom, to greatness, perhaps. See their faces? Never miss them again, my fellow countrymen. Be sure, the wicked will return seeking new innocent blood. With loving eyes see the faces through, safely to life. May those faces shine on forever, for the beauty they hold.