"A Time To Mourn"

Elizabeth

May 12

Portland State Library May 2024

I have been away from my writing for a time spending much of it reading about and reflecting on the state of my nation. I chose in the beginning to make my writings more generalized and less political. I will continue to do that. I won't share much about my country in this space. The internet is full of hastily penned half baked thoughts. I don't need to add more fuel to the fires already taking place there.

I am making an exception for a personal reason. The photo above was taken in the university library where I studied for both of my Master's degrees. I am heartsick to view this "response" to the war raging between Israel and Hamas. The notion that destroying a library is "anti war " makes as much sense as advocating guns to reduce violence.

I have no deep insights into solutions for conflicts anywhere in the world. I do believe that responding to violence and destruction with violence and destruction in a library miles away from any war isn't the way.