On 22 Oct 2001, at 18:42, Kakki wrote: > Brenda, > > The great portion of the audience were the firemen and police officers who > have been working at Ground Zero since Sept. 11th, and the families of those > firemen and police officers who were killed. Mr. Gere right off called > criticized and judged people and our defensive war as "retaliation" and > "revenge."
I don't think it really matters who was in the audience. I personally feel that silence is a more tolerant and powerful response. Silence when he was speaking and silence when he was finished. That was the essential point of my post. I can imagine that he criticized, but who did he judge? Can you point to the specific words please? Or is it your view that he judged because you did not agree with him? Does anyone know where a transcript is? BTW - I think our defensive war is both revenge and retaliation, among other things. But that's for another thread! : ) I'm not saying I don't feel bad for him that he got booed, but > really, what was his point to say this to that audience at this point in time? > It shows that the event was more about him and his urge to speak his > relgious/political beliefs than just showing support for the grieving (which was > the whole point of the concert benefit). Hopefully some reporter will get an opportunity to ask him what his point was. I don't think either of us can truly or should judge whether it was self- motivated. I wonder if the Dalai Lama would have received the same response for saying the same things.... > > Would you go up to a family member at a funeral who just lost a son or > daughter in a terrorist attack and start preaching to them about how they > should feel? Naw. I don't think you can even compare the two. A personal conversation face-to- face is a very different forum compared to speaking in front of a large audience. In any case, when my cousin who worked for the public transit system in Boston was gunned down outside his home by a disgruntled employee, I did absolutely express to my family that there was no solace in revenge. Because despite the injustices served on me and my extended family from times even preceding my birth, I do personally believe in turning the other cheek. Brenda n.p.: Bjork - "Hidden Place"
