Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Day 5 - Reflection by Leon Dunkley

Reflection...At the roadside memorial for Viola Liuzzo...

In the late afternoon, we approached a lonely altar, her singularly brave stone of remembrance. We approached eagerly and with trepidation. We strode to the place at which we believe that we have stowed hopes for the flowering and the subsequent triumph of the human soul. I knew and perhaps, we knew-again and for the first time-that empathy is the revo-/evolutionary force of love in our world. Genuinely, empathy is a life-affirming, life-giving force. It is the soulforce through which we enter and become one another as family.


In the one we remember as Viola Luizzo as well as in the one we call James Chaney, in the one that we remember as Jimmie Lee Jackson as well as in the one we call James Reeb, the fiercest of serpents and the most gentle of doves, in their strong hearts, remain well met. In their strong hearts and in one anothers, what is best in us remains well met.


Every blessing,

Leon Dunkley
(photo also by Leon)

2 comments:

  1. Gini.....I am Viola's youngest daughter Sally. I have a FaceBook page for mom called Viola Liuzzo Civil Rights Martyr. I would love to repost this there if it is OK with you. My Email is sal97527@gmail.com. Thank you for remembering my mom,
    Sally

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