Kathy,
Thanks for sharing while you process all of this. This is all so frightening and sad. I am struck by how one sick young man can walk the knife edge of his existence, pulled by his disease and pushed by the distrust and fear of those around him. This isn't about gun violence, campus safety or even clinical/institutional failures. I believe this is a call for a revolution within our American culture. We need to radically change how we think about each other. We */must /*be our brother's keeper. No more peeking out at our neighborhood from behind a curtained window, we must engage each other. We must get connected and stay connected to neighbors, classmates, colleagues; even sisters and brother who can annoy so much. We don't need a legislative, clinical or other cynical solution for this tragedy.
We need a revolution of the heart, of every heart. Or at least enough hearts. How many opportunities does a compassionate heart have in a to touch each of those around us in a single day? These opportunities must be sought and our inclusive and caring acts towards others, especially the marginalized, sick, and scary souls among us, must multiply.This is about enough of us getting out of our safe little cocoons and make sure we seek opportunities to make sure someone else gets the help, the love, the answer, the directions, the spare change, kind glance, the helping hand that each of us needs to give them. Compassion is a need of the compassionate. We need to give it and we must.
You and Dennis are in my thoughts every day.
Love,
Rob
And Kathy, words may be hard to find but when you find them, nothing is more powerful
In talking to both guests, Mark and I have been amazed that both sides think their position has been significantly strengthened by the VT incident..... We had planned this debate for later in the spring but have moved it up because of it's current significance.
If you get to listen to or watch it, I would love to hear your comments as well as those of anyone else. Everyone who works on these shows are all un-paid volunteer Democrats or non-partisans. We use none of the paid employees to produce the over 100 shows we have done so far.
On the note about writings, I too for the first time in years was at a loss for words. It's a strange feeling for a writer not to be able to practice their craft (I consider all bloggers to be 'writers', blogs are a tool/medium, what we produce are strings of words known as writings). Yet, the written word seemed inadequate, almost a "cliche" response to such a tragedy.
I participated in all sorts of spoken word expressions this past week including vigils, conversations with my mother, conversations with other students, etc... and yet, I didn't know what to write on a blog, or even whether I really wanted to.
But your brother, his letter was very appropriate and I thank you and him for getting on RK.
-Nate