“When our perils are past, shall our gratitude sleep?” - George Canning
The World Trade Center disaster anniversary is occurring at the same time this year as the horrible gas explosion in San Francisco, which has destroyed homes and taken away lives. In both, the efforts of the emergency workers to protect the community have been foremost in my mind. So much altruism and work for the common good that highlights the meaning of humanity, kindness, strength of spirit and true Christian charity.
At the same time that these brave humans are risking their lives to save their fellows, some “men of God” incite hatred and organise burnings of holy books. The burning of any book is an act of blind barbarism, an absence of culture and civilisation, a dark and despicable act of a narrow mind which cannot see beyond the blinkers of its own prejudice and ignorance. How much more so if the book burnt is considered holy by others? How much more so if this act of hatred is espoused and incited by a "man of God"?
How have we come to this? This day and age of enlightenment and civilisation? An age of abundance and tolerance? One would think that we were living in the ages of the Crusades or the Inquisition. The age of the Conquistadors or the Borgias. Why so much hatred all over again?
Here is Bach the second movement – adagio – from Bach’s second Violin Concerto in E Major BWV 1042 with Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert.
You found just the right tone with this beautiful selection, Nick. I could listen over and over. So suited to both this anniversary and your thoughtful words.
ReplyDeleteThis is soooo beautiful, I had to play it twice!!! I agree with what you say about the brave firefighters and other public minded staff that risk their lives daily to try and save their fellow human beings!!!!
ReplyDelete