Sunday, September 11, 2005

Darkness and Looking Back



I spent a lot of time today considering 9/11 and Katrina. How long will it take until some of the scars go away? I don't think it will happen in my lifetime. And that's made me wonder about the term 'civilization' and when you realize the one you grew up in is not the one you are living in now. I don't like a lot of our world. Oh, it's not completely without its charms, but there is far too much dark here these days. There's nothing that I can do to change it, except on a one-on-one basis, which I try to do as best I can.

You know, everyone mocks the sixties, but at least in those days we believed that there could be a better world if you tried. The sixties were filled with optimism, and that's certainly lacking in the world of today. Yeah, we believed in a lot of unrealistic things from peace on earth, the true brotherhood of mankind, and colonies on Mars. None of it happened. So what? At least we didn't (despite the Cold War) spend all our time staring at every stranger, wondering if we could trust him.

I'd take back the naive optimism any day.

6 comments:

Jean said...

i know what you mean.

diana christine said...

stunning photos. breathtaking! you are an incredible photographer...

Linda said...

Yeah, Zette. I want it back, too.

Linda

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful picture.

Joy said...

Gorgeous photo, Zette.

And yes, I wish sometimes the world I grew up in was still here. Every so often, I find myself wondering if things would be better if I lived in a different country. Or different at least. I never used to think that way.

Eponin

Zette said...

That's interesting -- with the exception of Joy/Eponin people either commented on the picture or on the statement. I wonder if it's an 'age' thing. (grin)

But thank you for everyone who liked the photo. I was just lucky -- out at a local pond at sunset.

I always have my camera with me.