This is A MUST READ for anyone that has followed my posts about the sad state our politico-socio-theological discourse has taken... please, by all means, share this with any and all that want to find a more human side to things. This deserves a go around. Ill keep this simple. It saddens me that we are so divided in our beliefs, using them as ways to separate our way of life into neat little subcultures rather than taking all the vanilla, strawberry and chocolate (and so many other flavors) we have to offer and making one helluva sundae. But even worse, it sickens me that ordinary people, once tossed into extraordinary circumstances, become the firebrand of ideologies, become one cause or another regardless of what their beliefs and hopes are. Were in such a hurry to make martyrs that we forget the people still within them, who deserve to be unanalyzed, unscrutinized, agendaless. So it brought me great joy when I read, what has to be the singularly most beautiful, personal account Ive ever read in my life earlier this week... in the journal of a tenth grade student of mine. Reduced me to tears, left me questioning my moral compass sort of writing. It was a long night, waiting for the next day to ask her if I could be honored to pass along her thoughts to those who would hear them. She seemed surprised that they mattered so much, and thats one of the beautiful and simultaneously maddening things about these new kids of mine, they truly have no concept of their role in the greater world, or that they even have one. But she agreed to let me share her journal once I explained to her why I wished to do it, and we will all be the better for it. Nothing more need be said by me about the matter, or rather, nothing I have to say could equal the impact of her words. I leave you with this thought, however; if a teenage girl, given a prompt in her class to write a journal entry about who theyd interview if given the chance, could find such humanity and legacy in a person she hardly knew, could we do a better job, remembering the man, not creating the cause? Honoring the family and friends that loved him by cherishing his life, instead of rallying our chosen causes by exploiting his death? Nothing more. Just her words. If I could interview anyone in this world, it would have to be my hero and friend Brian Terry. He is no longer with us, and I miss seeing and having him around. I wish there was something that I could do to see him again! The biggest reason why I would interview Brian would be just to hear him talk again, but to learn and discover more about him and what he loved and hated about life. Brian lived his life to the fullest every day, but I know he sometimes had his down moments because he lived quite a ways from his family and didnt get to see them. He missed them every day. I want to ask about his parents and how he coped when he moved down here to Arizona. The second part of my interview would revolve around asking him what his experience was like at the Academy. I want to ask him about his conversations with his roomates (I personally know his roomates) and how it helped them get through their experiences at the Academy. I want to hear his explanations about the times he stood up in defense for his classmates when there were miscommunications between other classes. Brians encounters with the cadres would be another interesting point for me to record in my memory, I would want to hear how having the cadres looking at Brian as class president and leader made him feel. I chose those two topics to interview and start off with because I look at his legacy today. His family was one of the most important values for him, and they are the ones who keep his memory alive today, and they are super people, they are amazing for keeping their strength after losing someone they very dearly loved and missed. The part of me asking about the Academy comes from me wondering how much the academy has changed between the time that my dad was present there and when Brian spent his duration there. Im sure it has changed a lot. The next part of my interview would be really difficult for me to have to swallow, but it would be his account of the night he passed away. I would first ask for every detail of his day, starting from his earliest waking hour, how he was feeling, what was across his mind. Then I will proceed to ask about the hours before his final shift, him at work. How was he feeling? Did he have any senses about something bad maybe happening? I probably may come off as being really nosy, but his murder came off as such a shock. I first refused to believe that something happened to him. The worst part about his death is that his case is still unsolved, so that is another reason for me wanting to know every bit and detail. In specific detail, I want to hear exactly the location Brian and his team were, why they were there, what specifically they were looking for, and how the fight between the bandits was started. We all need clarification on the details, because the details are very weary. The last part of my interview would be in the sense of that if he came back here today, basically just like a reflection. I mean, does he watch over us? Does he know about the foundation set up for him? The events we hold for him? Up in heaven, does he try to soothe the sadness that his team members, fellow classmates, friends, and family feels? To me, there is no doubt that he tries to comfort everyone. If he felt up to talking about it, I would ask about his process after he was taken from us. How did he cope? How did he adapt to the fact he just got through a terrible fight with bad people? Where was his mind at? How was he? I would also want this part of the interview to be a part for us to catch up. So really, he would be interviewing me for a little. I want to tell him about all the stuff thats been going on in my whirlwinded life and I want to hear his experiences and advice. The way he motivated people was truly amazing. I would also be interested in seeing what he would ask me, considering that Ive been asking the most personal details of his life. We can spend time talking and catching up, and to conclude our interview, I will thank him for taking the time to be in an interview, I will take some significant time to again say my goodbyes, and keep him and this experience forever in my memory!
Posted on: Sat, 12 Apr 2014 03:27:28 +0000
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