September 13, 2001
Why

Why are the blinds covering the windows pulled closed this morning? I can’t see the forest! I can’t tell if the sun has risen. I can’t tell if someone is looking in. My stomach has turned; a fear of war might be sitting on the edge of this newly built horizon. I wait for what today will bring. Some say ten thousand are dead. Radio stations have opened their airwaves to listeners who need to vent. I still find it incredibly odd—I remember looking at the clock on September 11th… it said 8:50. Good! I have ten more minutes to paint! Only to find myself singing Amazing Grace a second time that morning.

Do we go to war? Who do we fight? Is there religion involved? Who is innocent? Are we a united people? Why the trade towers? What does it symbolize? Who are we today? Who were we when Pearl Harbor was attacked? Please don’t drop the big bombs… leave the innocent alone. We can’t walk away from this—but who do we retaliate against? They’ve become our friends. They’ve built homes next to us. We’ve learned to trust our enemy. Does this make us weak? Our leaders sit in silent meetings. The media only speculates. Is the million man war about to take place—blood as deep as sixteen hands high. What are we doing to preserve inner peace?