Few of us need to be reminded we’re approaching the thirteenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01. (Because I think it’s appropriate to append the 2012 terrorist attack of the US embassy in Benghazi that also happened on 9/11, I’ll refer to both despicable acts under one general heading: The 9/11 Attacks.)
With the world situation as it is right now (radical Islamists rampaging and killing and beheading elsewhere and threatening to spread their terror into the United States), uneasiness over the upcoming anniversary of 9/11 would be a natural response. As with the UK raising its terror threat level to severe, heightened awareness is warranted … but fear / worry / hysteria, etc. is not. The Islamists would like nothing more over the next two weeks than to cause hundreds and thousands of Americans to lose sleep and to act like scared children. Continue reading “No Fear”
Tag: Do Not Fear
What Drives You?
This is the story of a little girl, fun-loving, intelligent, warm. During her early years, she was blessed with the love of a supportive extended family and meaningful friendships with her peers. Only the most minimal misfortunes or disappointments have crossed her path and her life was generally good.
It’s hard to identify a single event or set of circumstances that created what I’ll call a wrinkle in her psyche, but that wrinkle rooted and grew. She developed an almost insatiable drive to be noticed.
Though short of stature, the child was blessed with a lovely voice as well as musical talent. Before she entered school, she’d already played the title part in a Christmas musical, The Littlest Angel. While still an elementary school student, she played another title role in a school-wide musical production of Hansel and Gretel. Audiences applauded the child’s clear, strong vocal delivery and the poise of her youthful presentation.
So strong was her voice, it became an issue during one choir recording session. Because of her diminutive stature, the girl stood front and center in the first row with other choir members. After an initial run-through, studio engineers suggested changes, one of which was to relocate that little girl standing in front. Continue reading “What Drives You?”