survivor

My second cousin, Pat, is one of the funniest, most genuine people in the world. One of my favorite family stories to tell involves how he had a costume specially made in a tailor’s in downtown Birmingham, Alabama to be in garb for my wedding. We have a lot of stories like that about Pat. He’s just that kind of person. Pat is also a survivor of the attack on the World Trade Center. “After the crash, and amid the screaming, he started to pray out loud. ‘I said, “Jesus save me and these two guys with me.” Neither one of them complained.’”

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Posted on 13 Sep 2001 | Comments Off

the current situation

I am exhausted in every way, and you will still find no words of retribution here. The recent attacks on Muslim Americans have proven that violence and revenge accomplish nothing but more suffering. And rushing off to war? Do any of us truly believe our brand of violence is so advanced that it ensures only the guilty parties are killed? Instead of discussing retribution, why don’t we consider how we got to this point? Can we see ourselves as others see us? Can we at least try? I’m disappointed and dismayed about what has happened, but I cannot sponsor the short-sightedness of an immediate campaign for more violence and destruction. If what matters most to you is a brief period of “got you back!” then clearly you should not be reading...

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Posted on 13 Sep 2001 | Comments Off