The Sound Of Silence

Here is a song we all know
I just watched Paul Simon perform this song at the 10 year memorial for 9/11.
Was it appropriate?

What does the song mean?
It seems to mean different things to different people.

Maybe that is good. Maybe it just holds up a mirror to help you see yourself in the dark.

Is it about how people don't communicate?
Is it about idolatry? "THE NEON GOD"
Is it ZEN? What is the sound of silence?

Is it about prophecy itself, and the ambiguity of prophecy?

"VISION PLANTED IN MY BRAIN"

I was not sure it fit with the memorial. The event is so specific. A lot of people died all at once and left children and spouses and friends bereft. And that is a terrible and sad thing and impossible to understand. So a song that cannot be understood may be appropriate.

But I am left with a doubt about the whole thing.
Not to denigrate anyone...but we are all bereft, we have all had losses, and we will all lose everything in the end. So why this special attention for these folks?

I also now am thinking of some recent natural disasters like the tsunami in Japan and the tsunami of 2004 in the Indian Ocean. The latter killed more than 200,000 people.

So, what I hear is an egotism. I hear a cry that my problem is important. I hear a lot of ME! ME! ME!
And that is all and each. We are all doing that for our own situation. We are all praying for help and salvation and to get what we want.

In conclusion, I wrote a lyric recently. It is a work in progress, it talks about these issues of hope and faith and truth.

Take time
for imagination
what you wanted is here
now look
just open up your eyes
the truth
shining like a star
the light
shining around you
so much brighter than the light
you
imagined

hope was
something to hold
onto
let it go let it go
and faith
you got down on your knees
to pray
now your prayer is answered
so
what was the question?
does it matter when you find
truth
delightful?