So let's take a look at December 8, 1943:
The United States is at war—over seas
In nations from which my parents fled
Bombs are falling, destroying 'civilized' life, indiscriminately
Servicemen, women and children—and
Every Jewish person whom anti semitism can find
Perish in the wake of mankind's brutish need to
Scape goat, conquer and control—
Makes me wonder what Mother Nature was smoking when
She created both sides of human nature …
1943
It was the worst of times and the best of times—
As proves true historically
While bombs were bursting 'over there'
Factories were booming, here
While men were losing life and limb for country and home
Women were walking through doors of employment which
Had been closed to the fair sex until
The bombing of Pearl Harbor swept our troops into WWII
It was the best of times and the worst of times
As proves true historically
While government programs cared for the poor
And schools produced top honors in math and science
Medical innovation made stupendous progress in
Combating disease, thus prolonging quality of life
On the other hand ...
Widows and children wept across our nation
And the civilized world closed its eyes
To the horrors endured by
Broken spirits of men, women, and children showered with gas
Bodies burned to ash while spirits held true to religious beliefs
If that was then and this is now then what are we to make of
The Twin Towers, 2001
Darfur in western Sudan, 2003
The Ukraine, 2014
Try as I might, I can't contemplate the history of mankind
Without feeling consumed by frustration concerning
The on-going nature of brutality bulldozing strides made
Toward creating change for the better
So, in order to calm my distress each time
Repressed frustration springs out of my depths
Here's what I say to lessen my stress:
The world was messy before I was born
The world will be messy after I'm gone
While I'm still on this side of the grass
I'll do my best to spread insight concerning
Mutually respectful methods of conflict resolution, far and wide
In hopes that differences of opinion
May be resolved peaceably rather than
Watching loved ones engaging in mouth to mouth combat
Then, after soothing my ire in this productive manner
I'll get off my soap box in hopes that you may
Step up on your own—I mean, other than
Passing this baton forward, why would I
Sit down to write, post after post, day after day, suggesting
The availability of communication tools, which
Prove so simple that my youngest child's
Highly impressionable mind absorbed
All five by the time he'd reached the tender age of four …
And having clarified this goal, yet again
I'll be a babe in utero, when next we meet, suggesting that
I'll have no clue
Of developing a brain that will, one day
Choose to lead classes and write a blog in hopes of
Inspiring families round the world to
Embrace a value system where speaking and listening skills
Inject mutual respect into conflict resolution in home after home
And if you ask:
Annie, how might families, gaining insight into mutual respect
Enhance our chance of attaining world peace, I'd reply:
If families, who love one another, can't resolve conflicts
In mutually respectful ways, how can we expect
Nations that mistrust each other to do that very thing?
Attitudes are acquired at home
Attitudes create thought patterns
Thought patterns are habits, which are hard to change
Bottom line: Parents with insight into developing positive attitudes
Concerning mutual respect, influence impressionable, young minds
To seek out solutions that embrace
The concept of lasting change for the better
And having described the jist of my quest
That's it for, today ...
As for tomorrow
Intuition suggests revisiting certain stories
In which unrevealed details will be unveiled ...
Your friend,
Annie
(Who proves determined to leave this world a better place)
The United States is at war—over seas
In nations from which my parents fled
Bombs are falling, destroying 'civilized' life, indiscriminately
Servicemen, women and children—and
Every Jewish person whom anti semitism can find
Perish in the wake of mankind's brutish need to
Scape goat, conquer and control—
Makes me wonder what Mother Nature was smoking when
She created both sides of human nature …
1943
It was the worst of times and the best of times—
As proves true historically
While bombs were bursting 'over there'
Factories were booming, here
While men were losing life and limb for country and home
Women were walking through doors of employment which
Had been closed to the fair sex until
The bombing of Pearl Harbor swept our troops into WWII
It was the best of times and the worst of times
As proves true historically
While government programs cared for the poor
And schools produced top honors in math and science
Medical innovation made stupendous progress in
Combating disease, thus prolonging quality of life
On the other hand ...
Widows and children wept across our nation
And the civilized world closed its eyes
To the horrors endured by
Broken spirits of men, women, and children showered with gas
Bodies burned to ash while spirits held true to religious beliefs
If that was then and this is now then what are we to make of
The Twin Towers, 2001
Darfur in western Sudan, 2003
The Ukraine, 2014
Try as I might, I can't contemplate the history of mankind
Without feeling consumed by frustration concerning
The on-going nature of brutality bulldozing strides made
Toward creating change for the better
So, in order to calm my distress each time
Repressed frustration springs out of my depths
Here's what I say to lessen my stress:
The world was messy before I was born
The world will be messy after I'm gone
While I'm still on this side of the grass
I'll do my best to spread insight concerning
Mutually respectful methods of conflict resolution, far and wide
In hopes that differences of opinion
May be resolved peaceably rather than
Watching loved ones engaging in mouth to mouth combat
Then, after soothing my ire in this productive manner
I'll get off my soap box in hopes that you may
Step up on your own—I mean, other than
Passing this baton forward, why would I
Sit down to write, post after post, day after day, suggesting
The availability of communication tools, which
Prove so simple that my youngest child's
Highly impressionable mind absorbed
All five by the time he'd reached the tender age of four …
And having clarified this goal, yet again
I'll be a babe in utero, when next we meet, suggesting that
I'll have no clue
Of developing a brain that will, one day
Choose to lead classes and write a blog in hopes of
Inspiring families round the world to
Embrace a value system where speaking and listening skills
Inject mutual respect into conflict resolution in home after home
And if you ask:
Annie, how might families, gaining insight into mutual respect
Enhance our chance of attaining world peace, I'd reply:
If families, who love one another, can't resolve conflicts
In mutually respectful ways, how can we expect
Nations that mistrust each other to do that very thing?
Attitudes are acquired at home
Attitudes create thought patterns
Thought patterns are habits, which are hard to change
Bottom line: Parents with insight into developing positive attitudes
Concerning mutual respect, influence impressionable, young minds
To seek out solutions that embrace
The concept of lasting change for the better
And having described the jist of my quest
That's it for, today ...
As for tomorrow
Intuition suggests revisiting certain stories
In which unrevealed details will be unveiled ...
Your friend,
Annie
(Who proves determined to leave this world a better place)