It was a kinder, more gentle kind of morning when they awoke. The morning radio voice was saying in a rather hushed voice "Nuclear devices were exploded by both sides last night....". The rest of the words seemed to simply disappear, like the soldiers on that distant battle field.

The families slowly went on about their morning chores, packing lunches, getting ready for work, or school...Those words from the past ..."a kinder, more gentle nation" seemed to haunt them that morning...

In the classrooms across the nation, teachers still with tears in their eyes, were trying to explain to their charges why it wouldn't be necessary to write those letters to the soldiers today...or any other day. They weren't having much success...

Mothers, fathers, wives and husbands found themselves staring off into space a lot that day. How could this happen, they asked...over and over and over...

If only they had taken a more active interest in the government..

If only they had exercised the right of the ballot...

If only...

If only....

I did this back when Operation Desert Storm came upon us. Re-reading it today it still sounds appropriate. This, too, is offered up to Public Domain if you think it worthy.