Columbus, GA

"Much protest is naive; it expects quick, visible improvement and despairs and gives up when such improvement does not come. Protesters who hold out for longer have perhaps understood that success is not the proper goal. If protest depended on success, there would be little protest of any durability or significance. History simply affords too little evidence that anyone's individual protest is of any use. Protest that endures, I think, is moved by a hope far more modest than that of public success: namely, the hope of preserving qualities in one's own heart and spirit that would be destroyed by acquiescence."

My experience with the "Adrian Dominican Sisters" has been fantastic thus far.

Kelsie talked about how important intergenerational dialogue and relationship is...and I have done nothing but experience this with the Sisters on the bus ride here.

Barbara and Rita...two women in their sixties, teach fine art theory, and design "sacred spaces" for specific needs...such as meditation.

They love contemporary film...and I love to hear their thoughts about films that most people their age (especially women), would not even put in the DVD player because of the rating.

I am so inspired by their vigor to come here and stand in (year after year) for voiceless women and children tortured/raped/killed by soldiers trained at "The School of the Americas" (in 2001 renamed the “Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation"), here at Fort Benning. They, as well as tens of thousands of others, keep coming back until it is closed down.

Then there is Dr. Anele (who works to fight Sex Traffic around the world through the UN in NYC), who paid for me to come here...who is so genuine and compassionate towards me...that I feel as if I don't need to meet Sister Helen Prejean.

The sisters are beautiful.

I read words of Oscar Romero (with others) as part of a liturgy/prayer that we had before we left (at their beautiful Dominican chapel), and sang a beautiful canticle about truth and justice for the oppressed.



We watched this on the bus this morning:

The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation must be shut down.