Over 1500 years have gone by since the first Vandals ravaged Gaul, Spain, North Africa and sacked Rome. This member of an East Germanic tribe lives on - our newspapers report their existence every day. Our neighborhoods show evidence of their existence. Our cities post warnings to be heeded by this family but their shameless disregard, said to be borne out of malice or ignorance, seems to have thrived instead of diminish. Whatever the cause the Vandals continue to destroy and spoil public and private properties - anything that is beautiful and artistic.

And what is our reaction? Now, as then, 1500 years ago, many often cower in fear, grit their teeth in gut determination that even the Vandals will not dissuade their dreams and mists of attempts to "just have something" that they can call their own. Ah, that could the be the KEY - something "that they can call their own". Ancient Vandals, as in today's society, didn't have anything (they thought) so why should anyone else?

We have heard of the Hatfields and the McCoys. I even know a lady who is an heir of that family squabble. We read and know of the "fighting Irish" and the Missourians who persist at least in slogan, "Show me" what is what. So, why do we act surprised to learn another dysfunctional family exists?

We like to assign titles or tags to our problems and that is not all bad, but we ought to simply stop and consider what and where Vandals "came from". All things have an origin--even if it is a nondescript cobweb indiscreetly lurking in an occasional spot of the home. It is there, the cobweb, because "something is at work". Something is "at work" even when Vandals are the subject.

Could this be a test? Admittedly it is a shame, at least it would be to me, to be a part of a family whose name has been Anglicized to describe some crappy people who get their thrills out of toppling cemetery stones or trash mail boxes along country roads. And it is the same family instinct that is the cause of discarded cigarette butts being thrown wherever they please. It is the same family trait that drives owners of vehicles to drive however they please. And it is the very nature of all of us to sometime, someway, somehow disregard another's feelings, property or existence.

Undoubtedly this family still exists and determines to live on by some odd quirk of providence or purpose to demonstrate unfailingly that some still don't care but the real test is what we do with such information. A bit of caution is in order. In our litigious society ("crazy world" would be another way to say it) you have to be careful. Building a mail box out of ½ thick sheet steel would probably cause such vibrations for a ball bat-wielding vandal that they could sue you - check your rights before you spend money or time unwisely.

#####

THE WORDWRIGHT