two sentences

A while back, I came across the online journal of Bob Zangas, a Marine reservist who had already served a five-month tour in Iraq when he volunteered to return as a civilian to help train Iraqis in the technology they needed to become journalists. I liked his journal, which had interesting detailed descriptions of his daily life that included his personal thoughts, lots of photos.

While surfing for publishing news yesterday, I was shocked to come across a week-old article containing the following: "Blogger Bob Zangas, 41, Marine Reservist and father of three, has been killed in an ambush outside Baghdad. His funeral is today in Pittsburgh."

People die every day in the news, and I did not know the man. But from reading his online journal, I knew that he played guitar and sang, liked to run, adored soft ice cream, and other small details about him that turned those two sentences into something more personal. According to his sister, Bob was supposed to come home in June.

From Bob's final entry:

"I know it is not my money that I am giving away and I am not interested in receiving thanks. But it points out to the fact that this is a society that is in desperate need of everything. It is like pouring a cup of water out in a dry desert. The water disappears and you are left with the feeling of 'did it do any good?' Sometimes the answer is 'yes.' Sometimes the answer is 'no.' Sometimes you wait for the flower to grow. I donít mean to sound depressed because I am not. I am enjoying this work immensely. It is very gratifyingÖas long as the flowers grow eventually. I have hope that they will."

March 2004 comments: Read | Post | LJ