Like many, I watched the Virginia Tech Convocation today. This is what I heard: Representatives from some of the world's major religions spoke. Islam -- I was not comforted, just uncomfortable at the fatalism. Buddhism -- the words of the Dalai Lama were good. Judaism -- reciting Ecclesiastes... "there is a time for mourning and a time to be comforted"... this was good, until it came to the part "there is a time to make war"... no comfort there. Generic Christianity... this was ok. At this point a man in the second row behind the President broke down unconsolably. The President reached back to put a supporting hand on the man... that was good. The Dean of Students spoke, the head of the Mental Health counselling services spoke... There was an emptiness, shock, horror... a terrible bewilderment, bereavement loss, and despair...
Until the poet Nikki Giovanni spoke... this is what she said. At the end the auditorium rose to its feet to applaud her, to applaud Virginia Tech, and the room was filled with "Let's Go, Hokies"
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