Thang Nguyen 555

It’s Spring forward. Losing only to gain one hour back. 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, equanimous, magnanimous and upright regardless until…. e.g. KKK assassination trial (justice delay for three decades) or sacrificed Vietnamese fishermen, war allies, for their own ideological and self-interest. The “other’s” lives worth less, lime-like when juiceless, demonized and gone through various 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 coastal counterparts? I empathize with decent folks (divided) 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. Or Pete Hamill’s “There are no young guys here” in Cam Ne.

Casualty of war. This side vs that side, AK 47 vs M 16, civilian vs commies’ death. When we lose just one hour of sleep, we feel it. How much more a whole life worth of residual 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. 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, but no husband (in the Deer Hunter’s case, he drove past his welcome home party). The sorrow of war, in multi-languages, but sorrow, nonetheless.

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.”

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

The world needs influencers and leaders. Iraq, Ecuador, Venezuela, Iran, Lebanon and Ukraine. Even hot spots have to 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 having to wait for 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, news commentators and 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?) 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 in deep-freeze for decades would stay unaffected! Oil above 125 USD per barrel. Hero bread 12 bucks.

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 (when we turn it back to regain).

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.