4 Dead in Ohio

Watching a DVD about Neil Young he sang the song Four Dead In Ohio.  It brought me back to a different time.  In 1970 four students were killed at Kent State University for protesting against the war in Viet Nam, they were killed by the National Guard.  In 1980, I was working in the video lab at Minnesota State University.  One day I went to work and the video I was to fix was about the murders at Kent State.  Seeing what the film was about got my curiosity up, so I decided to watch the entire film.   It was horrendous, to hear the gun shots, see the fear and witness the students running, screaming and falling down.  It is etched in my brain.  I was 11 years old in 1970, by 1980 I was 21, a college Junior and I really did not understand the extent of what had happened to young people speaking up only 10 years before.   

Now I look at how we are reacting to the wars and violence that the United States is involved in and all I can do is shake my head.  I do not understand how I/we can just sit by and watch what is occurring around the world.   Then I realize that it is not in our face like it was in 1970.  The Viet Nam war was the first war in history to be televised.  It was also the last war to be televised.  I do not believe we would accept what we are doing on the other side of the world if it was on the news in our face every day like the Viet Nam war was.  At the same time I really do not like watching the news either, it’s to sensationalized.   

So how could this be my Wonder Filled Moment?  It was a moment that took me back in time, reminded me of my innocence, the state of the world we live in now and my human responsibility to be a peaceful guardian of this planet, my home.  And to ask the question, what can I do? and do it. Just like us, our world is awakening to a new consciousness, and we are the only ones that can make the changes.  We begin by keeping the love and peace alive in our own hearts. 
Nameste.