Comments on: Brookline, Massachusetts, 1994 http://therumpus.net/2009/06/brookline-massachusetts-1994/ Books, Music, Movies, Art, Politics, Sex, Other Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:46:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Shannon's Friend http://therumpus.net/2009/06/brookline-massachusetts-1994/comment-page-1/#comment-14940 Shannon's Friend Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:57:03 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=21095#comment-14940 thank you for telling the story so well. Shannon was a dear friend and is missed very much. This event changed the lives of so many people. Your account, your story, allows the memory of what happened live on. thank you for telling the story so well. Shannon was a dear friend and is missed very much. This event changed the lives of so many people. Your account, your story, allows the memory of what happened live on.

]]> By: Erik Nelson http://therumpus.net/2009/06/brookline-massachusetts-1994/comment-page-1/#comment-4063 Erik Nelson Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:26:35 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=21095#comment-4063 I used to work on page layout for CNC, the regional newspaper group that owned the Brookline Tab. When the shooting happened, we were near deadline and just wrapping things up and putting the paste-ups in a box to send to the courier when we got word of the story and had to make an instant decision to re-work the whole paper, resulting in some of us pulling an all-nighter. So that's a weird thing about journalism; you work harder when catastrophe happens, and you are profiting from the misfortunes of others in a way. I used to work on page layout for CNC, the regional newspaper group that owned the Brookline Tab. When the shooting happened, we were near deadline and just wrapping things up and putting the paste-ups in a box to send to the courier when we got word of the story and had to make an instant decision to re-work the whole paper, resulting in some of us pulling an all-nighter.

So that’s a weird thing about journalism; you work harder when catastrophe happens, and you are profiting from the misfortunes of others in a way.

]]> By: Linnea Alexander http://therumpus.net/2009/06/brookline-massachusetts-1994/comment-page-1/#comment-4054 Linnea Alexander Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:52:24 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=21095#comment-4054 I’ve read this powerful essay several times. Dr. Tiller’s death and the shooting in the Holocaust Museum make the 1994 killings in Brookline sadly relevant. As others have said, there are no easy answers here. Jep’s essay captures his own evolving emotions. He’d like to assure his son that the danger has past but then comes to realize he was wrong. He avoids judgments but he does note that the “isolated individuals,” disavowed by anti-abortionists, created a great deal of fear and destruction in just one year. He implies that this hatred must be confronted even though we struggle with fear and incomprehension. His answer is love and respect. The tenderness he shows his son, especially in their encounter with the deer, helps to balance the irrationality and intolerance that is so disturbing. This is a beautifully written piece filled with details that perfectly evoke a time and place as well as the universal ties of community and relationships. I’d like to read more from this author. I’ve read this powerful essay several times. Dr. Tiller’s death and the shooting in the Holocaust Museum make the 1994 killings in Brookline sadly relevant. As others have said, there are no easy answers here. Jep’s essay captures his own evolving emotions. He’d like to assure his son that the danger has past but then comes to realize he was wrong. He avoids judgments but he does note that the “isolated individuals,” disavowed by anti-abortionists, created a great deal of fear and destruction in just one year. He implies that this hatred must be confronted even though we struggle with fear and incomprehension. His answer is love and respect. The tenderness he shows his son, especially in their encounter with the deer, helps to balance the irrationality and intolerance that is so disturbing. This is a beautifully written piece filled with details that perfectly evoke a time and place as well as the universal ties of community and relationships. I’d like to read more from this author.

]]> By: Mac Dewart http://therumpus.net/2009/06/brookline-massachusetts-1994/comment-page-1/#comment-4015 Mac Dewart Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:43:42 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=21095#comment-4015 Fine writing with energetic forward motion and great details. This battleground in our culture is starting to seem like The Thirty Year War. Maybe Jep Streit should write a book along these lines. There's a distinct and original and valuable voice here, a wide compassion that reminds me of Thomas Merton's best work. Fine writing with energetic forward motion and great details. This battleground in our culture is starting to seem like The Thirty Year War. Maybe Jep Streit should write a book along these lines. There’s a distinct and original and valuable voice here, a wide compassion that reminds me of Thomas Merton’s best work.

]]> By: Bud Cederholm http://therumpus.net/2009/06/brookline-massachusetts-1994/comment-page-1/#comment-4012 Bud Cederholm Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:33:51 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=21095#comment-4012 Knowing the writer as I do, I was not suprised by the emotion and way in which he can draw a reader into a story. What touched me was the compassion and empathy with women and victims of violence as well as how fear can grab hold of all of us children of God. With parents, priests, friends and writers like Jep, we know we are not alone and are strengthened to care work towrd non-violence everywhere. Knowing the writer as I do, I was not suprised by the emotion and way in which he can draw a reader into a story. What touched me was the compassion and empathy with women and victims of violence as well as how fear can grab hold of all of us children of God. With parents, priests, friends and writers like Jep, we know we are not alone and are strengthened to care work towrd non-violence everywhere.

]]> By: Polly Bannister http://therumpus.net/2009/06/brookline-massachusetts-1994/comment-page-1/#comment-3959 Polly Bannister Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:00:03 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=21095#comment-3959 A strong piece of writing. Thank you Jep for drawing your readers into a well-crafted story through which we are reminded of a timeless message: walk quietly, hold your hand out to those who are afraid, and go in peace among all living beings. A strong piece of writing. Thank you Jep for drawing your readers into a well-crafted story through which we are reminded of a timeless message: walk quietly, hold your hand out to those who are afraid, and go in peace among all living beings.

]]> By: Judy Orme http://therumpus.net/2009/06/brookline-massachusetts-1994/comment-page-1/#comment-3955 Judy Orme Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:52:09 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=21095#comment-3955 I was so moved by Jep’s wonderful piece. It is particularly timely with the recent murder of Dr. George Tiller, underscoring the need to forge a path through the darkness of anger, violence and intolerance. Jep’s work extends a strong, compelling voice to this sad issue. I look forward to seeing more of your work published. Thank you, Jep! I was so moved by Jep’s wonderful piece. It is particularly timely with the recent murder of Dr. George Tiller, underscoring the need to forge a path through the darkness of anger, violence and intolerance. Jep’s work extends a strong, compelling voice to this sad issue. I look forward to seeing more of your work published. Thank you, Jep!

]]> By: Mark Hollingsworth http://therumpus.net/2009/06/brookline-massachusetts-1994/comment-page-1/#comment-3952 Mark Hollingsworth Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:06:51 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=21095#comment-3952 The mark of Jep's writing, as well as his preaching, is the gentle companionship with which he guides the reader to face the hard burdens and responsibilities of life. It is a blessing. Please publish more of his work. The mark of Jep’s writing, as well as his preaching, is the gentle companionship with which he guides the reader to face the hard burdens and responsibilities of life. It is a blessing. Please publish more of his work.

]]> By: Ashley Rooney http://therumpus.net/2009/06/brookline-massachusetts-1994/comment-page-1/#comment-3938 Ashley Rooney Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:13:37 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=21095#comment-3938 I was struck by Streit's conclusion: don't we all want a hand to hold ours as we find our way through the darkness surrounding us? And isn't it wonderful when that is recognized by a new voice such as his. I was struck by Streit’s conclusion: don’t we all want a hand to hold ours as we find our way through the darkness surrounding us? And isn’t it wonderful when that is recognized by a new voice such as his.

]]> By: Addison Hall http://therumpus.net/2009/06/brookline-massachusetts-1994/comment-page-1/#comment-3935 Addison Hall Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:03:35 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=21095#comment-3935 It's a gift to have such a nuanced and generous voice working on this hard material. More please. It’s a gift to have such a nuanced and generous voice working on this hard material. More please.

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