Evil Empire?

On this day in 1995, at 9:02 a.m. Central Standard Time, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City was destroyed by an act of domestic terrorism. 168 people were killed, ranging in age from 3 months to 73 years old.

The bombing was allegedly perpetrated as an act of protest against the conduct of the federal government in the siege of Randy Weaver’s home at Ruby Ridge, Idaho in August 1992 and a similar standoff at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas - which ended on this day in that same year. The former resulted in the death of Weaver’s wife and 14-year-old son, while the latter ended in an inferno that consumed the lives of self-styled apocalyptic prophet David Koresh and 75 of his followers.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial opened on October 9, 1997. The largest of its kind in the U.S., the memorial spans 3.3 acres. Bronze arches, known as the “Gates of Time”, marked 9:01 and 9:03, signify the moments of peace before and chaos immediately following the explosion. The reflecting pool , representing the moment of destruction, is an immense abyss created by a thin sheet of water flowing over black granite. The effect is somber and contemplative – even under bright sunshine on an otherwise carefree day.

The other most significant feature of the memorial is the Field of Empty Chairs, with individual bronze chairs crafted for each victim of the attack, including smaller versions for the 19 children killed in the blast. Glass blocks form the base of each chair and are illuminated at night. Overall, the memorial is a powerful cenotaph marking a sad moment in American history.

Timothy McVeigh, convicted and executed for his involvement in the incident, said in reference to the victims of the bombing that “They may be individually innocent, but they are guilty because they work for the Evil Empire." A tragic sentiment when one considers that as Americans, we have not only the right but also the responsibility to voice our dissent and take our leaders to task when our government fails to operate within those parameters proscribed by law. This great nation, our “Empire” as it were, is a direct reflection of those who choose to actively participate in the shaping and molding process. To wage war upon it is simply to attack ourselves.