Congratulations to the Colts!!!

We’re headed to the Super Bowl!

I was listening to some Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds again tonight - Seek Up to be specific. The lyrics ring of the irony society has in material wealth, selfishness, and complacency in general. We recognize the plights of others, and realize it takes action to result in action. Yet, for the most part, we do nothing. Truly, we do nothing. Where’s our moral conscience?

Talk is cheap, and good intentions are meaningless. It’s time to step up, and pay it forward. Make a difference. For as it’s said below, when we’re gone, we’re all swept away. Find a worthwhile cause, and follow through - you can make a difference. For me, it’s St. Jude’s. What will it be for you?

Seek Up (Dave Matthews Band, performed by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds 3-20-03, Univ. of Rhode Island)

Sometimes I feel like I’m falling –
Fall back again. fall back again.
Fall back again. fall back again.

Life it seems - the struggle between what we see and what we do
Well I’m not going to change my ways just to please you or appease you
Look at this crowd - six billion proud willing to punch it out
Right, wrong, weak, strong — ashes to ashes, all fall down.
Look around about this round about this merry-go-round and around
Well If at all God’s gaze upon us falls –
It’s with a mischievous grin, look at him.

Forget about the reasons and the treasons we are seeking;
Forget about the notion that our emotions can be kept at bay;
Forget about being guilty, we are innocent instead –
For soon we will all find our lives swept away.

Look at me in my fancy car and my bank account –
How I wish I could take it all down into my grave,
God knows I’d save and save.
Man, take a look again, take a look again,
All the things I have collected –
Well in the end it all will pile up so tall to one big nothing - only nothing at all.

Forget about the reasons and the treasons we are seeking;
Forget about the notion that our emotions can be kept at bay;
Forget about being guilty, we are innocent instead –
Soon we will all find our lives swept away.

You seek up an emotion and your cup is overflowing.
You seek up an emotion, sometimes your well is dry.
You seek up a big monster for him to fight your wars for you.
But when he finds his way to you,
the devil’s not going–ha ha, ha ha.

(I condition that the following are my personal sentiments as they relate to current events.)

I’m a mother. My son is 16. In a couple of years, he may be put in a position of mandatory draft and military service. That doesn’t bode well with me, considering the current state of affairs globally. Even moreso when considering most of the kids don’t understand/support the rationale for this war. Deja vu.

Based on information available to me, the war in Iraq has no foreseeable and/or favorable conclusion. Hope for the eminent withdrawal of U.S. forces is no longer a vision and, instead, Bush has called for increased involvement including the deployment of tens of thousands more soldiers. (Soldiers currently over in the Iraqi area have been informed their tours may be extended.) Congress isn’t supporting this initiative, and Bush’s own advisors - including current and retired generals, are not favorable of this either.

For all of the missions (related to this war effort) carried out by our military, to the everyday citizen, it appears we’re no longer making significant progress, just regressing. The ‘democratic’ elections anxiously anticipated, planned and carried out last summer in Iraq have not provided a sense of calm and/or balance within a country ravaged by divide.

Iraqi forces trained by the U.S. have become infiltrated with enemies, creating in-fighting. Who’s on our side? It’s hard to say anymore. Every day, we hear more and more reports of bombings, and stepped-up brazen attacks. Casualty and death toll statistics are staggering, while overall support for the war effort is diminishing.

Despite this (and although I’ve lost the optimistic hope that the U.S. involvement will soon be relieved), I will continue to support my soldiers and thank them for all they do to protect our interests. But I have to wonder, can the U.S. ever escape the vacuum we were sucked into in the first place? Is this the prize garnered for our righteousness and arrogance as a world leader?

There’s a political rant coming soon. Just as soon as I compose my thoughts. Our nation is out of control - and it isn’t looking promising for what’s around the corner. Stay tuned.