Thang Nguyen 555

It’s Spring forward. Losing only to gain that one hour back in the Fall. Losing life? No way to gain it back. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life so others may live. We are told to be honorable, good, true, patriotic and upright regardless until…. e.g. KKK sacrificed Vietnamese fishermen, war allies, for their own ideological and self-interest. The “other’s” lives are cheaper and worth less more so after all the demonizing wash/dry cycles.

I woke up to the news of another serviceman (7th) who lost his life. BTW, he is from KY. Does a heartland life count less than its coastal counterparts? I empathize with decent folks (divided country) back during the Vietnam War, who watched in numbness and helplessness the 6 o’clock news from the Five O’clock follies in Saigon. At least Paul Tillich did not stay silent.

Casualty of war. This side vs that side, AK 47 vs M 16, civilian death vs commies’ death. When we lose just one hour of sleep, we feel it. How much more one’s whole life and its devastating effects on families, friends (among whom girlfriend), neighborhood and nation.

That said, I remember sleepless nights, watching Nightline. 444 days of hostage taking. Unresolved and dragged on seemingly indefinitely. Of course, Carter looked weak. No doubt: Sunday school teacher with tool-belt in retirement to barn raise and build houses for Habitat for Humanity (but could not bring home hostages). Yellow ribbon on the oak tree outside newly built house, but no husband (in the Deer Hunter’s case, he drove past his welcome home party). The sorrow of war.

Hey now hey now. Don’t dream it’s over. One life to live, one hour to lose. Make it count.

Help others see the front page and backend of war e.g. spillover, unintended consequences of displacement and defoliating, genocide and ecocide, before they “flip right over to the TV page or the TV guide.”

Long ago, the five o’clock news briefing was held at the Rex hotel before newscasters did their close comment: “only time can tell…. that remains to be seen etc.…” on the Caravelle Hotel rooftop. Around then, Hit Parade featured: “I will follow you” by Rickie Nelson before “Reflections of my life.” One song played along the theme: “Ask not what your country can do for you,” and “follow me” to the far shores “leave no men behind”; the other: “I don’t want to die” when cost and casualties of war racked up to the tune of 58,220 US service personnel.

The world needs influencers and leaders. Iraq, Ecuador, Venezuela, Iran, Lebanon and Ukraine. Even hot spots compete for attention and aids. How many Tomahawks will it take? “The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind”. “It’s expensive to kill bad guys”.

I wake up to the sound, not of “Mother Mary…” in Let It Be, but of bombardment. War again. Give it a chance! the times they are a changing, Mr. Tambourine Man.

The heroes this time are those who posted – not printed – digital Pentagon Papers. No xeroxing. You swipe right on TikTok screen, any hour of the day, not just the 5 o’clock briefing. Round the clock in-language youtubers and podcasters, everyone is a SME (subject matter expert), from medical to legal advice, health to nutrition/beauty consultancy, news commentator to afterlife consultant.

Everyone is losing sleep, others life and limb. AI accelerating itself. AI is the new “system”, with its own systemic existential problem (now that we’ve raised Trillions of OPM, what are we gonna do about it?) 24 hours a day are not enough. Not when you have to Spring forward the clock. Isn’t there no time to brew, simmer nor reflect. ” Oh, but I don’t want to die….” an NPR commentator said, “war is expensive”.

Humanity without war and waste? You must be kidding! At the tune of 2B a day, only Dr Evil after deep-freeze for decades would feel shock! Oil above 100 dollars per barrel. Hero bread 12 bucks per loaf.

Don’t wake up till September…” I tried so hard…and in the end, it doesn’t even matter……” I am glad Henry James said, “Live all you can – it’s a mistake not to”. I guarantee you will not have lost that one precious hour comes the Fall.

Six months long or lifelong sleep. Sgt. Pennington is his name. Fact-check me. He is in the news today. But then most of us flipped “right on to the TV page”.

Hey now, hey now.