THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 30, 1995 TAG: 9504300037
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ELIZABETH SIMPSON
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
If evil has a sound, it's the blast of a 4,000-pound bomb shattering the federal building in Oklahoma City. The roar ricocheted off buildings, hanging in the air like an echo without end.
If hate has a look, it's the stony gaze on the pinched face of Timothy McVeigh, the man accused of planting the bomb. His clenched jaw and crew cut gave us a stark vision of a cold world.
If hope has a soul, it's in the hundreds of people who rushed to the scene, from next-door office workers, to doctors and nurses and rescuers who crawled to victims even under the threat of collapsing concrete.
If courage needs a name, it's Dana Bradley. Bradley's leg had to be amputated to be freed from the bombed building. ``Do what you have to do,'' she told the doctor. ``I just want to live.''
If compassion is a person, it's firefighter Chris Fields, whose caring look at the bloodied baby he carried from the bomb site connected with hearts around the globe.
If innocence is a child, it's the baby he carried, Baylee Almon. She celebrated her first birthday the day before, then left us feeling empty inside when we discovered she'd died.
If grief is a lesson, we learned it from Edye Smith. We watched her sweep away tears and cradle teddy bears at the funeral of her two sons, 2-year-old Colton and 3-year-old Chase.
If shame has a home, it's in those of us who too quickly looked for Middle Eastern suspects. We blamed a culture removed from us, too afraid to look within the damaged soul of our own country for answers.
If callousness has a radio talk show, it belongs to G. Gordon Liddy. He cynically called grieving parents foolish for taking their children to a federal building day-care center, which, in his twisted mind, was an obvious target.
If faceless bureaucrats needed a face, they found one in the rows of victims' photographs that made the rest of us realize government is not a building full of desks. The government is us.
If duty wore a uniform, it belonged to Marine Capt. Randolph Guzman, who was found dead five days into the search, still manning his post.
If serendipity had a badge, it was pinned to Charlie Hanger, the by-the-book state trooper who stopped McVeigh 90 minutes after the bombing - for driving a car with no tags.
If resiliency is a spirit, it's embodied in Oklahoma City residents, who rescued the living, mourned the dead, then set about helping the people who were there to help them.
If love needed a heart, it came from a nation that embraced Oklahoma City, whose president said, ``We will stand with you for as many tomorrows as it will take.''
If sadness has a sound, it's in the silence of a day-care center where no more children will play.
If reason has a voice, it was mute at 9:02 a.m. on April 19. by CNB