Just getting down to work and then...the up-dopplering approach of screaming fast movers! Out of my chair, across the street, down to the tree-lined pier--to see Blue Angels swarming back and forth over Ridout Creek. Its the airshow practices working up to the Naval Academys graduation later this week. Lawn darts of lethal beauty ripping near and far, sonic booms rippling up from where they bank out over the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay. And then the great reward: as two swing round to position themselves for a collapsing 4 points of the compass near-miss rendezvous stunt, they go straight overhead. Maximum of three hundred meters; I can see the articulation points of the sectional welds on their dark-blue bellies. The ear-breaking whine as they go over, followed by the dragons-roar of the engines, the sound trailing them just enough to defy the expectation of the senses. My god. I suppose not everyone would find it beautiful and inspiring, not any more than everyone likes the same flavor ice cream. But me? Grinning so widely it hurts, brimming with delight and pride, and filled with the sense of responsibility that such a sight should inspire: that any nation which holds such incredible lighting lances of power in one hand, should always and again have the other hand of friendship out first, in a gesture of compassion and coequal collaboration. Because, the only way such incredible power will not corrupt its possessor is if said possessor has an intrinsically humble heart that turns to force as a last recourse. And yet, that heart must also be firm and brave, resolute not only in the execution of necessary action, but in bearing the costs of constantly improving and maintaining the tools by which it would be carried out. Such is the paradox of any nation that would hope to earn and deserve the title: a superstate that always strives to be just and good. Not quite a contradiction in terms, but a damn tough job that requires vigilance and self-challenge every hour of every day. Laxity in integrity or compassion is a sure invitation to the pride that goeth before every great fall. And the responsibility is upon each and every one of us, all the time.
Posted on: Tue, 20 May 2014 16:18:29 +0000
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