We need to move beyond disappointment, grief and confusion.
Some of us remain
in denial, the first stage of grief. In this stage it is
typical to refuse to believe what has happened. It is hard
to admit that we are fighting the
wrong war, and have sacrificed precious resources, our
reputation, and our dignity in the process.
Others have
progressed beyond denial, to anger. They blame others for
these losses. When confronted with the reality of what has
transpired, they become easily agitated and indulge in
emotional outbursts... attacking those who question them or
who try to reach beneath their anger. Each new death or
atrocity adds fuel to the fire.
Many have reached
the point of bargaining. They blame religion, try to
rationalize loss, or retreat to other futile tactics, trying to make things right. There is understandable
melancholy over the deaths of innocents and even depression
about misplaced priorities. This difficult stage of
grief inspires confusion and feelings
of helplessness.
Before election
day comes, we need to face
facts. We must understand that life has to go on, let go of
our anger, and stop trying to bargain. We will still
experience feelings of loss, but these will become less
intense and less frequent. When we accept the mistakes made,
we can regain energy and refocus our efforts on the future.
This fall we can
vote for peace, freedom, reconciliation, and renewal. John Kerry can lead us to national
regeneration by stemming the flow of resources and red ink. Instead of allowing this
conflict to bleed us dry, we can persuade our allies to help
fund the reconstruction. These savings can be redirected to building a future for our
children.
As
Elie
Wiesel said,
"We have to go into
the despair and go beyond it."
We can move
beyond despair, accept our losses, and replace
disappointment and confusion with resolve. Responsible
leadership will allow us to reconcile our grief and put this
tragedy behind us.
best regards, Tim Flanagan
