WAG - Wicked Bad Insomnia
Okay, before I get started, I'll admit it's foolish to be complaining about insomnia shortly after midnight, but I tried to go to bed early and have had no luck.
I did get a one-hour nap in late this evening and maybe that's what screwed me up. Scientists say the average person has 25-hour circadian rhythm-which is why it's easy to stay up a bit later, but still stay on a regular schedule.
I've long believed I had a 27- or 28-hour circadian rhythm, which is convienient in a pinch, but means waking patterns are screwy.
Of course, ANOTHER reason why I may not be able to sleep is the number of thoughts going around my head.
I think I may have read too much today. You know what they say about books: reading them teaches you things, and knowledge is very dangerous.
In Journalism 306 lecture, my teacher went over a long list of recommended readings. After I went to the Missourian today, and found out my source wouldn't be able to talk to me till tommorrow, I decided to cruise downtown Columbia.
Actually, I went straight toward Acorn Books. It's one of those bookstores where it's impossible not to find anything interesting, and almost as hard to walk out without purchasing anything (more often my goal is to walk out with only one selection [maybe two if the price is good]).
I had a short list of books on my mind, from the lecture, and was surprised to see the top recomendation perched atop a pile in a random corner of the store (and a bit removed from the Journalism section).
The book was "Hiroshima" by John Hersey.
It originally was a 31,000 word article that appeared in The New Yorker in 1946. It tells the tale of the first atomic bomb used in war from the perspective of six "survivors" [NOTE: The term "survivors" is rarely used in Japan, out of traditional respect for the dead. The term "hibakusha," literally translated "explossion-affected persons," is more commonly used to describe witnesses and survivors of the blast].
I pretty much read the book in one sitting. The author gives a straight forward account and lets the stories tell themselves and let the readers draw their conclusions/morals from there.
The book was pretty powerful. It's definately thought provoking; especially on the edge of another war.
From here, a person could make an anti-war statement pointing to tragedy that stuck innocents AND one could make pro-war statements about taking out Saddam's weapons of mass destruction to keep the pledge carved at the Hiroshima memorial: Rest in peace, for the mistake shall not be repeated.
Rather than picking a side and/or play devil's advocate, let me just type this: war isn't pretty. People forget or sometimes consciously avoid reminders of that reality. When you go to war, people get injured and die.
That doesn't mean one shouldn't go to war. There are a handful of things worth dying for out there. I wouldn't say there's a lot, but they're out there.
People need to be aware of both of those concepts. I won't personally savor the thought of all the Americans AND Iraqi that will die (especially when one knows people who have shipped out). I also don't think putting off war will avoid long-term bloodshed (when one secretly works on weapons of mass destruction, they are meant to be used, rather than weapons which are worked on out in the open which are meant to be a deterrant).
I looks like a new chapter will start in the Persian Gulf later this week, for the record, I don't say Gulf War II because technically Saddam never signed a peace treaty, only cease fires tied to disarmament.
Over the weekend, there were several articles of how Coalition and Iraqi troops were being moved into final positions. Nobody seems to question what's going to happen next.
In the final calm before the storm, I think it is important to reflect upon the bigger picture. In my updated edition of Hiroshima, there is an extra chapter written almost 40 years after the article ran where the author attempted to trace what had happened to his original six interview subjects.
I was extremely surprised to see they all lead happy, successful lives. Some even rose to national and international recognition (one got to speak before the U.S. Senate and another got an invitation from the Pope). Others simply carried on, rebuilt, and ulitmately thrived.
Even after the darkest of times, one can still work toward a brighter, better future. I hope you can find some comfort in that.
For you J-School viewers, or other people who are
intrigued or would appreciate a good read, here's a
site that gives you more information on the novel and the background of the original article.
Look for it a library or bookstore near you.
In the meantime, take care of yourselves and may the Lord be with you.
'9'
