I’ve read two fictional accounts of totalitarian societies this fall– British George Orwell’s “1984″ and Russian Yevgeny Zamyatin’s “We”– both frightenng stories about a one Party-ruled government that decides to forcibly brain-alter their citizens, to prevent dissent and crush imagination. Let us hope we never ever have to live under such governments.
Click here for my review of “1984″.
Here we are at 2011, the 21st Century — healing ourselves after that horrific mass murder of six of our citizens on January 8, 2011 — and praying for the healing of the wounded of that day, including CD 8 Congresswoman Gabrielle Gffords. It has been a tough year for Tucson, but we are slowly healing and moving forward. Stay tuned for Beyond: Commemorate Celebrate Commit events on/about Saturday January 7, 2012 to reflect on what happened that fateful day when Jared Lee Loughner took a gun into his hands and went to that Safeway shopping center. Gabby has undergone a terrible brain injury and continues to inspire us by her determination to get well & return to her job.
On Monday my husband and I attended the 16th Annual Inter-religious Thanksgiving prayer service at the First Christian Church, 740 E. Speedway Blvd. There were Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Baha’i, and Zoroastrian selections, music, prayers, & reflections, sharing similiar messages of faith, unity & gratitude. The last program selection was “Let There be Peace on Earth (and let it begin with me)”.
So since it is Thanksgiving 2011, let us also reflect upon what we are thankful for, in our city and elsewhere. Reflect upon what is good and positive about your life, and be grateful for the turkey meal you may be eating tonight.