Comments on: Brookline, Massachusetts, 1994

By: Jeff R.

Jeff R. — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 03:55:12 +0000

I didnt realize how paralel peoples lives can be. I didnt realize until after finishing this story that I was involved distantly. The morning of the shooting in Brookline I had left my Parents home in Natick Massachusetts to return to Norfolk, Va and the Navy. I made the trip in 11 hours or so. Upon my arrival in Norfolk, I stopped by the navy Federal Credit Union on Little Creek Rd too get some cash out of the bank. As I pulled up the place was full of police cars. The abortion clinic on the first floor of the building had been shot up by Salvi shortly before my arrival. Bullet holes in the building and all. I too had seen protesters there many times, had talked with them. Been called a sinner for doing business in the building even. I lived right up the street from the clinic and always felt safe there.

I was glad when Navy Federal moved out of the building. In another parallel, I had just got braces too. Boy what a small world. ANOTHER paralel, I had to get braces again last week due to not wearing my retainer. Then I read this article. Interesting.

By: Shannon's Friend

Shannon's Friend — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:57:03 +0000

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

Erik Nelson — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:26:35 +0000

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

Linnea Alexander — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:52:24 +0000

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

Mac Dewart — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:43:42 +0000

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

Bud Cederholm — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:33:51 +0000

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

Polly Bannister — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:00:03 +0000

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

Judy Orme — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:52:09 +0000

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

Mark Hollingsworth — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:06:51 +0000

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

Ashley Rooney — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:13:37 +0000

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.