I'm still waiting

At work I try not to react to jungle outside, even if for a few minutes a day. Sometimes I succeed. But today the events came rushing in and rudely intruded upon my precariously sustained neutrality.

I was called from home to be told that a nephew of mine was killed in the explosion in the city center. The explosion went off in a central, much frequented market, so there was no doubt it was targeting civilians. Then they called me to say it may not be him after all because there was no way to identify what was left ... only his cell phone in the pants' pocket.

Now I'm waiting, fearfuly, for confirmation either way.

The problem doesn't end there.

If it isn't him, it's someone's son anyway. But if it is him ... whom are we willing to risk going to the Morgue to receive the remains?? If and when we receive him ... where do we burry him?? Almost none who take the path to Abu Ghraib Cemetary return unscathed.

Perhaps we should revive the tradition of burrying our dead in our gardens. It's certainly a lot better that loosing other members of our family on the way to the cemetary or on the way back.

All this is contimplation. For I'm still waiting.

Comments

[broken heart]

I forgot to add that no body talks about real heroes like Lt.Watada, and the courage to he showed. People like him is our only hope.

[broken heart]

I don't know what to say. I do not want to ask God to interfere in this situation as the guilty claimed God as their own and after-all God may be just power. Less than a handful of men's stupid logic brought this unfathomable grief to the world. You are not alone there, most of the world is suffering.
One can only wish for an end to this foolish venture of a super power. But, unwillingness to accept mistakes and hypocrisy takes the solution away from the present to the future. Even may lead to bigger mistakes to drive people's attention else where.
Most of the people supported show of power by Israel on Lebanon. They can never understand what it takes to build the life and what it feels to take every thing away in a moment from the innocents. The dead were probably luckier than living in some cases.
No body talks of cluster bombs. No body talks about land-mines in Cambodia and Vietnam. No body talks of Agent orange. No body wants to know about the damage these things are causing even today.

This war made me a pessimist.

[Maddy]

You have said things I cannot imagine happening in my reality and I am moved to tears as I think of my daughters and how much I love them as you do your family. Just by commenting I am touching you, we are connected by something that no ill gotten war can obliterate, our humanity.

[Laura]

Dear Waiting:

I am so sorry that this is happening to your family and your country. I wish there were a way for us all to reach out to one another. As much as I appreciate the net, words alone can't convey the help and support I wish I could give you.

[jeff]

Thank you for sharing this story. I wish your family well, whatever the news. I hope there is closure sometime, although even from my safe place in Chicago, IL, I can't tell when that will be. I am deeply sorry this (all of it) is happening. It's someone's son. They are all someone's.

[Susan]

That is horrible.

My deepest sympathies.