I have served on juries several times and have always found the experience honest, authentic and magical. While I've lost faith in the judicial system, somehow I wish we could get the world to serve on a jury and just talk and think things out.
Thank you, Diana always. Hearing your words of encouragement for the soul of our nation’s justice system (even with is flaws) is a blessing when so much is uncertain and at stake for the future of our democracy. Peace to you sister.
I rejoice that the rule of law is king. I am also glad to be retired. I see many in the LCMS as part of the Christian nationalism and sharing memes supporting djt even when he is convicted.
Wow! Now I’m in tears. That was a beautiful writing on the history of our country and the judicial system. It is not perfect, but it holds those like Trump accountable. We still have a long way to total conviction because of his shenanigans, but the rule of law still stands. Thank you, Diana.
Thank you Diana. I had the same reaction. I cried. I’m not sure why, but I think for the same reasons you mention. The beautiful country is still holding…by fingertips maybe, but holding. Writers like you are helping us all consider, think and act.
I’m deeply grateful for your thoughts, Diana. And I’m grateful for the courage of twelve decent fellow countrymen - citizens - who listened for countless hours and brought this sad and media-hungry man who would be king to justice. Of course, Mr. T immediately spewed conspiracy theories and fabrications. That is who he is. Sadly, he has a media force behind him in Fox News I hold out hope that some of his followers will come to see his character as the blackened, compromised and childish thing it is.
I dislike the judicial system in the USA where so many members are elected rather than appointed on merit. It means that people can be seen to be open to corruption. I prefer the Australian system.
But it is good to see a powerful white man being held to account.
Thank you! Yes, yes, yes. Even here in red Idaho some of us have been waiting, watching and shed tears of relief. I'm so grateful that the rule of law holds in NY. Maybe someday the Republican Party will wake up, restore sanity. I pray.
Watching the Convocation video - I think there is definitely something to your comments on white mainliners. Thanks for this piece and your presence at this time!
Thanks, Angela. I hope others will see the possibilities here, too. It's just something I've experienced from all the time I've spent with mainline types in the Upper Midwest.
I've received some extraordinarily unbalanced and cruel responses today regarding this piece - directed at me privately. I would appreciate your prayers.
I do believe there are so many of us who quietly do the right thing and seek to heal the world and bring critical thinking to the conversations we find ourselves in. I am grateful for those like you who speak and act so publically. Thank you. I pray for you every day, and look for your principled thought and strong words of hope. Hate is more about those speakers than about you. Love, strength, courage to you, always.
Prayers already surrounding you. Maybe think of your supporters and friends like the wild geese who lift our souls when we see them fly in formation, together, but knowing when they need a minute at the back to be lifted by others. This may be a long flight…
Thank you for this piece today. I am grateful to receive it and hear of your experience with hearing the verdict. I especially like the poetry at the end.
I agree with allowing ourselves to feel whatever came with this news. I was in my car listening to the announcement on NPR. It was hard for me to believe it at first. Then I screamed with joy over and over! I am proud of the jurors. Flawed as it may be I believe justice was served.
Canadians too are watching and anxious. The decline in all that is decent is fluid and is not far from our borders. Creator of love and justice be with us.
Thank you for your thoughts from the long view. I have felt relieved that the justice system, with the Law as King has been able to overcome the noise of this trial. I give thanks that the court officials and the jurors were able to cut through the noise around them to deliberate and come to a verdict unanimously. Even as I sit here with that statement, I recognize the noise will become worse. I am repelled by the noise, but feel the urging to listen to those who are my neighbor Americans. I strain to hear those who feel so rejected by life in USA to be so distrusting of the justice system. Listening to and really hearing their hurts and fears, I feel, is the only way to open up dialogue, respect each other and maintain trust with each other and our democratic institutions.
Yes, I nearly cried as well. How has our country come to this, that a former president can act as if he is above the law?
Sometimes I despair, and then I remember that the Christian faith is one of hope, of believing in things unseen, and that, as Dr Martin Luther King Jr is reported to have said, "the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice."
Beautiful story Diana about the history of freed enslaved people near Mt. Vernon. Thank you for giving us hope.
I have served on juries several times and have always found the experience honest, authentic and magical. While I've lost faith in the judicial system, somehow I wish we could get the world to serve on a jury and just talk and think things out.
Thank you, Diana always. Hearing your words of encouragement for the soul of our nation’s justice system (even with is flaws) is a blessing when so much is uncertain and at stake for the future of our democracy. Peace to you sister.
I rejoice that the rule of law is king. I am also glad to be retired. I see many in the LCMS as part of the Christian nationalism and sharing memes supporting djt even when he is convicted.
Wow! Now I’m in tears. That was a beautiful writing on the history of our country and the judicial system. It is not perfect, but it holds those like Trump accountable. We still have a long way to total conviction because of his shenanigans, but the rule of law still stands. Thank you, Diana.
Thank you Diana. I had the same reaction. I cried. I’m not sure why, but I think for the same reasons you mention. The beautiful country is still holding…by fingertips maybe, but holding. Writers like you are helping us all consider, think and act.
I’m deeply grateful for your thoughts, Diana. And I’m grateful for the courage of twelve decent fellow countrymen - citizens - who listened for countless hours and brought this sad and media-hungry man who would be king to justice. Of course, Mr. T immediately spewed conspiracy theories and fabrications. That is who he is. Sadly, he has a media force behind him in Fox News I hold out hope that some of his followers will come to see his character as the blackened, compromised and childish thing it is.
I dislike the judicial system in the USA where so many members are elected rather than appointed on merit. It means that people can be seen to be open to corruption. I prefer the Australian system.
But it is good to see a powerful white man being held to account.
Thank you! Yes, yes, yes. Even here in red Idaho some of us have been waiting, watching and shed tears of relief. I'm so grateful that the rule of law holds in NY. Maybe someday the Republican Party will wake up, restore sanity. I pray.
Watching the Convocation video - I think there is definitely something to your comments on white mainliners. Thanks for this piece and your presence at this time!
Thanks, Angela. I hope others will see the possibilities here, too. It's just something I've experienced from all the time I've spent with mainline types in the Upper Midwest.
I've received some extraordinarily unbalanced and cruel responses today regarding this piece - directed at me privately. I would appreciate your prayers.
Always.
Holding you in prayer
Thank you for your courageous voice
I do believe there are so many of us who quietly do the right thing and seek to heal the world and bring critical thinking to the conversations we find ourselves in. I am grateful for those like you who speak and act so publically. Thank you. I pray for you every day, and look for your principled thought and strong words of hope. Hate is more about those speakers than about you. Love, strength, courage to you, always.
There is really so much evil floating around right now. I’m so grateful for you. Sending prayers and support.
Prayers ascending. I'm sorry to hear that. Thank you for your beautiful and honest writing. Loved the photo at the end.
Prayers already surrounding you. Maybe think of your supporters and friends like the wild geese who lift our souls when we see them fly in formation, together, but knowing when they need a minute at the back to be lifted by others. This may be a long flight…
Thank you for this piece today. I am grateful to receive it and hear of your experience with hearing the verdict. I especially like the poetry at the end.
I agree with allowing ourselves to feel whatever came with this news. I was in my car listening to the announcement on NPR. It was hard for me to believe it at first. Then I screamed with joy over and over! I am proud of the jurors. Flawed as it may be I believe justice was served.
Canadians too are watching and anxious. The decline in all that is decent is fluid and is not far from our borders. Creator of love and justice be with us.
Thank you for your thoughts from the long view. I have felt relieved that the justice system, with the Law as King has been able to overcome the noise of this trial. I give thanks that the court officials and the jurors were able to cut through the noise around them to deliberate and come to a verdict unanimously. Even as I sit here with that statement, I recognize the noise will become worse. I am repelled by the noise, but feel the urging to listen to those who are my neighbor Americans. I strain to hear those who feel so rejected by life in USA to be so distrusting of the justice system. Listening to and really hearing their hurts and fears, I feel, is the only way to open up dialogue, respect each other and maintain trust with each other and our democratic institutions.
Yes, I nearly cried as well. How has our country come to this, that a former president can act as if he is above the law?
Sometimes I despair, and then I remember that the Christian faith is one of hope, of believing in things unseen, and that, as Dr Martin Luther King Jr is reported to have said, "the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice."