My granddaughter, Sophie, 11 and I were in the car having a conversation about Downton Abbey. "They're in World War I now", she said of the British T.V. series.Her insights and interests are extensive, from Shakespeare to politics. I take her thoughts seriously and responded not to reassure her alone, but myself as well.
"Oh, Honey, I hope never."
"Oh come on Grandma, you know how people are!"
I do indeed. I was driving and needed to focus on getting us home safely, so I repressed my all too at the ready imagination about the possibilities of a World War with nuclear weaponry. I repressed my memories of hiding under school desks as a child, believing that I'd be safe the way I believed I'd ever see my family again; never! Night terrors about walking home in a devastated landscape without a single recognizable landmark haunted me. Airplanes overhead sometimes made my heart race thinking it might be the "Russians". They were an enemy then.
This morning we had an achingly beautiful sunrise, good coffee, and I am happy to have a family I love, a beautiful place to live, good food, and to know people who feel the way I do and try to make a world of peace and justice.
But when I look at how many wars are raging, how many cruel decisions are made in our own country, let alone everywhere else, when I hear about yet another heinous act of terrorism, I have to admit, yes, my darling, all too wise. granddaughter, I know how people are. Some of us are good, they are our hope, and some......
