I'm floating with you. My protests in Montana about Kent State got me targeted by a right wing city councilman in my hometown who wanted me fired from my beloved city road crew summer job -- but my blue collar boss, also a right-winger, refused because: "This is God-damn America and Jim can believe and say any damn thing he wants."
We marched from UofM Minneapolis to the State Capitol in St. Paul. I long hike. I spoke to city council to get a parade permit without the cusomary 6-month advance request, and we got it.
Thank you so much for articulating this. I have been having a terrible time carrying on with daily life even though it's important on a personal level and-since I am a professor of law-on a societal level.
Literally yesterday my daughter loaned me your latest novel (with rave reviews, I might add). I appreciate that you are responding to and challenging how the world is, but more generally I am beyond grateful that you're writing. We need roses as well as bread- and I am particularly grateful for the roses you are growing.
Thanks. I was at a total loss until I suddenly remembered those undergraduate musicians, asking what they could do *as musicians*. Decades ago and they're still inspiring me. You never know where the ripples will spread.
I recall Bono from U2 saying he realized concerts weren’t going to change the world and he’d have to do his social justice and human rights work separately from the music. But yes, you never do know the ripple effect any art could have at any time- a song or story is never in vain. So you carry on with that in mind, but when you have to shut down, shut down. What’s those Bible/ Byrds lines - to everything there is a season, etc. 👋
Me too. And I know you’re not giving up. We may not live to see the outcome, but we will do whatever we can with the time we’ve got left. We only live once.
I had a sudden back & hip problem on rising yesterday--could barely walk. I think that it was my body's chosen response to the horrors, in place of recent nausea, dread and apprehension. Those effing a**holes have gone WAY too far. Arrest them all, including the stupid Barbies mindlessly carrying out the vengeful baby's tantrum orders.
Hang in there, SJ. We're with you. Thank you so much for sharing the Requiem. I remember Kent State all too well. I never knew about Oberlin's response. Thank you for telling about it.
Absent Friends was brilliant, but I can imagine challenging in so many ways to write. Happy to read whatever you choose to write—hope you are taking good care of yourself and your creative spirit.
I was at Fordham University at the time, but going to the night/ adult school. My wife is from mainland China, I told herwe couldn't complain about Tiannemen Square, since Kent State was no different. I also said , to my wife and others, that we can';t complain about Putin invading Ukraine, since we did the same thing to Venezuela, and are threatening Greenland, Cuba, Panamka, and Colombia.
Thank you for the reminder and for your writing. By yesterday evening, I’d moved from buzzing anxiety to heart-pounding dread. I remember the feeling of despair after Kent State. One of my greatest regrets is having missed the immersion in the Mozart Requiem after the march. When I arrived back home from Oberlin, I asked my father how he would have felt if I had been one of those students at Kent State and he said he wished they had shot more students. Distressing to recall that up close and de-personalized aggression.
Writing and reading nurtures imagination and makes room for possibilities while our political reality seems to be closing them off.
I remember Kent State. And 9/11, of course. We are all shocked and in mourning now, at a time when I thought I couldn't be shocked any further by their heinous actions. Thuggery since that Jan 6th. Now murder of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Paul Krugman's Substack puts the blame on the enablers of this vile administration as well as the administration itself. He's right.
As for your work, it's OK to take a breather. Your fans understand. I find comfort in immersing myself in fiction, where the good guys usually win.
I'm floating with you. My protests in Montana about Kent State got me targeted by a right wing city councilman in my hometown who wanted me fired from my beloved city road crew summer job -- but my blue collar boss, also a right-winger, refused because: "This is God-damn America and Jim can believe and say any damn thing he wants."
Go boss! This IS God-damn America, still.
We marched from UofM Minneapolis to the State Capitol in St. Paul. I long hike. I spoke to city council to get a parade permit without the cusomary 6-month advance request, and we got it.
Thank you so much for articulating this. I have been having a terrible time carrying on with daily life even though it's important on a personal level and-since I am a professor of law-on a societal level.
Literally yesterday my daughter loaned me your latest novel (with rave reviews, I might add). I appreciate that you are responding to and challenging how the world is, but more generally I am beyond grateful that you're writing. We need roses as well as bread- and I am particularly grateful for the roses you are growing.
Growing roses is about all I can do right now, so I'm so glad you like my garden!
What a wonderful post. I'm listening now.
Thanks. I was at a total loss until I suddenly remembered those undergraduate musicians, asking what they could do *as musicians*. Decades ago and they're still inspiring me. You never know where the ripples will spread.
Yes!
It was awful. It was just before we moved here. Had we been here, I absolutely would have been at the Cathedral, my stomping grounds.
I recall Bono from U2 saying he realized concerts weren’t going to change the world and he’d have to do his social justice and human rights work separately from the music. But yes, you never do know the ripple effect any art could have at any time- a song or story is never in vain. So you carry on with that in mind, but when you have to shut down, shut down. What’s those Bible/ Byrds lines - to everything there is a season, etc. 👋
Thank you. I’ve been unable to do anything as well. But cannot give up now. We’re all in this together.
No, there's no giving up. But I'm letting go of the idea that I'll live to see how this finally comes out.
Me too. And I know you’re not giving up. We may not live to see the outcome, but we will do whatever we can with the time we’ve got left. We only live once.
Thank you for the writing and the music.
The writing is all I can do. Not as powerful as the music they made back then, but maybe a link in the chain.
Thank you, SJ.
I had a sudden back & hip problem on rising yesterday--could barely walk. I think that it was my body's chosen response to the horrors, in place of recent nausea, dread and apprehension. Those effing a**holes have gone WAY too far. Arrest them all, including the stupid Barbies mindlessly carrying out the vengeful baby's tantrum orders.
Hang in there, SJ. We're with you. Thank you so much for sharing the Requiem. I remember Kent State all too well. I never knew about Oberlin's response. Thank you for telling about it.
listened, sobbed, remembered and will continue standing up and standing out
Litening now. Sobbing and remembering.
Absent Friends was brilliant, but I can imagine challenging in so many ways to write. Happy to read whatever you choose to write—hope you are taking good care of yourself and your creative spirit.
I was at Fordham University at the time, but going to the night/ adult school. My wife is from mainland China, I told herwe couldn't complain about Tiannemen Square, since Kent State was no different. I also said , to my wife and others, that we can';t complain about Putin invading Ukraine, since we did the same thing to Venezuela, and are threatening Greenland, Cuba, Panamka, and Colombia.
Sigh. It's true. I think that's what Carney's speech was about, in Davos.
Thank you for the reminder and for your writing. By yesterday evening, I’d moved from buzzing anxiety to heart-pounding dread. I remember the feeling of despair after Kent State. One of my greatest regrets is having missed the immersion in the Mozart Requiem after the march. When I arrived back home from Oberlin, I asked my father how he would have felt if I had been one of those students at Kent State and he said he wished they had shot more students. Distressing to recall that up close and de-personalized aggression.
Writing and reading nurtures imagination and makes room for possibilities while our political reality seems to be closing them off.
Wow. Your father...
Yeah, that Requiem moved the anger and helplessness of the day onto a different plane.
I've been madly reading, fiction, just to get outta here.
Hope your family's well.
I remember Kent State. And 9/11, of course. We are all shocked and in mourning now, at a time when I thought I couldn't be shocked any further by their heinous actions. Thuggery since that Jan 6th. Now murder of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Paul Krugman's Substack puts the blame on the enablers of this vile administration as well as the administration itself. He's right.
As for your work, it's OK to take a breather. Your fans understand. I find comfort in immersing myself in fiction, where the good guys usually win.
Thank you for sharing some beauty at this time.