Blacksburg

The last time I felt like this in April was when those four contractors were hung from the bridge in Fallujah and burned back in 2004. I don't think I ever felt lower about the war than I did after that sunk in. Bad stuff often happens in April, it seems: Waco, Oklahoma City, Columbine, and now Blacksburg. It's not to the level of a superstition, just a faint, gnawing dread when April comes around. It's hard to get excited about spring when you just want the month to come and go without something happening, something like happened today.

Not much more to say; what needs to be said right now needs to be said to God. There'll be time for the the politics later, ad nauseum. It's started already, of course; everyone jumping in with their hobby horse on this before we know all the facts. Especially the gun control advocates, who were all over the twenty minutes of CNN I caught this evening.

Later.

For Our Country.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favour and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honourable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.