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My heart goes out to the students of Beslan.

Normally I wouldn’t write about something like this. I prefer to limit my journal to the day-to-day events of my self-contained little world. Ordinary and commonplace, the fabric of my life.

Their lives may well have been the same, before the attack on the school.

Though I may not have an opinion worth giving on a great many things, I know evil when I see it. And this, one more instance of war waged on the helpless and innocent, is monstrous beyond my power to express.

I hope the children are unharmed, though I fear it’s too much to ask. Captors who refuse offers of food and water for their young hostages — how can I believe they will show mercy? Also, and on a deeper level, how can I be confident that nothing of the sort will happen here, in a country where other atrocities have already been, and continue to be, committed against the unprotected young?

It’s a parent’s worst nightmare, being unable to do anything while your child’s life is threatened.

One policeman, carrying his AK-47, whose son was inside the school, said: “The life of a child is priceless, and for their lives I will do everything I can. But if Moscow orders an assault, I will kill the person who gives the order.”

Gut-wrenching.

UPDATE: Other parents share my fear.

UPDATE II: A few were released, but the majority are still being held. Small mercies, indeed.

UPDATE III: Explosions and gunfire. Dammit dammit dammit.

UPDATE IV: It’s over, but the price was too high. How can there be comfort or reparation for this?

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 2, 2004 at 12:24 pm under World. Both comments and pings are currently closed.