I am deathly tired. I was planning to come straight home into my bed and sleep, but then I got caught up in the Collective for a while, and now I feel like I need to put something here too.

Just this: Today, several of us went to lunch at the mall, which had reopened. It was not crowded. We had no trouble getting a table. There were a fair number of people around though.

There is no magic that heals a damaged spirit quite as effectively as the sight of people out enjoying the day and playing with their children in the sunshine.

I said this in the collective, but I'll repeat it here: I do not believe going to war would be wise. What I posted earlier were heated, reactionary words triggered by a thrust of outrage at what had happened. Attacking people on the streets in other countries will not help.

Those who initiated this horribleness must be brought to justice. Those of them that are still alive must be tried in a court of law, with a jury and a judge. (Good luck finding an impartial jury pool for that one.)

We must not go on a rampage against populations, 99.9% of whom are more impoverished than members of our own lower class. This holds true even if, for whatever reasons, they hate us so bitterly as to celebrate our loss.

Below I will iterate some semi-related tangent comments posted mostly for the sake of my own self-indulgence. They may be trite, trivial, stupid, or whatever else, but they are my thoughts. If you just wanted the condensed version of my view, you just got it, and can move on. Otherwise, here goes indulgence... (So I guess it turns out to be more than a "just this" thought.)

Today, I was thinking about some of the favorite television shows over the years, and how their plots relate. I was thinking about the Dominion War. I was thinking about an episode from Season 4 of Xena Warrior Princess titled "A Good Day". (I'm somewhat tempted to dig out my VHS archive copy a little later this evening, but in that, I face the same dilemma I did last night when I considered watching "The Siege". Maybe not such a great idea right now.)

I remember Gabrielle, kneeling alone in an endless field of dead soldiers, both Romans and villagers, tears streaming down her face, looking off into the distance. I wonder what the modern equivalent looks like.

I remember the Federation nearly being torn apart by paranoia when the changlings made their attack on Earth. All it took were a few carefully placed hits. Maybe even just one Founder. After that, they would let the humans finish the job for them, as everyone started suspecting everyone else, and nobody could trust anybody. Then martial law would be declared, and everything that followed would come in its wake.

Is that what's happening here? I don't see evidence of it at home. We may bicker between one another sometimes, but that's normal. I don't see it at the office. Coworkers are calmly getting things done. I myself was moderately productive today. At the mall, people were going about their business. The man who served me a slice of pizza did so with a smile on his face. Our life is a good one.

The primary place where I see cause for worry is the television. Besides the recurring footage of the carnage, the sadness, the grief, there is also a lot of talk about "punishment" and revenge, much of it coming from the nation's leaders. I don't blame them for being mad. We all are mad. We all want justice.

I believe one of the responsibilities of a leader is to be level headed in times of crisis, or at least to do one's best at it. This morning, I watched with uncertain numbness as they interviewed a man I once admired as a representitive of the people. Newt Gingrich said, with his usual authoritative tone of certainty, that this must not simply be treated as a criminal matter. We must declare war, because it will allow us to not only get those who carried out the attack, but those who knew and supported them. He came right out and said that it must not be brought to trial, but that retaliation must be swift and severe.

Although the man himself appeared quite calm in his demeanor, those are not words I would describe as well reasoned or level headed. Certainly not from someone who claims to advocate democracy and justice.

(This "go after those who supported them" talk sounds very similar to some recent high profile cases involving the DMCA, as the MPAA waged war against those who they claimed were supporting copyright violators. Something else to think about.)

Ok, I think I've indulged enough for now. I might now get a little food before I rest. Don't be surprised if I disappear off the map for the duration of the night.