Irene: The Morning After

Psalm 124

A song of ascents. Of David.

If the LORD had not been on our side—
let Israel say—

if the LORD had not been on our side
when people attacked us,

they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;

the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,

the raging waters
would have swept us away.

Praise be to the LORD,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.

We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;

the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.


9/11: Without A Prayer

Unimaginable. Unbelievable. Unthinkable.

No, not the attacks of September 11, 2001. We know with far too much certainty that those could, and did happen.

Rather this is the commemoration of that event, 10 years later, when New York Mayor Bloomberg and the enlightened ones planning the event have invited neither the first responders nor clergy to participate in the 10 year commemoration.

Never mind that a priest was the first to die. Never mind that the first responders rushed into the building while others were rushing out.

The Anchoress tells it much better than I: Bloomberg: No Clergy, No FDNY

There will be no prayers at his little shindig. Heaven, forbid.

Apparently, there’s just not enough room for all the First Responders who want to be there, because there are so many important people who must be there! They cannot be denied their photo-op, and their speechifying, and their postures and poses, even though most of them were not even in office on that dreadful day.

Read more.


In the days and months following the 2001 attacks we sought to find the reasons why they hate us so.

And now, we’re asking why Mayor Bloomberg does.