Early
in June I heard the writer, historian, and activist Rebecca Solnit speak at Seattle Arts and Lectures. I left Town Hall
Seattle with three of her books and have just finished her essay collection, Men Explain Things to Me.
While
the essays focus on some of the ways we continue to wrestle with gender
inequality, Solnit also makes a case for hope in writing; I turned over the page
corner and underlined this:
“…you don’t know if your
actions are futile…you don’t have the memory of the future…the future is indeed
dark, which is the best thing it could be…in the end, we always act in the
dark. The effects of your actions may unfold in ways you cannot foresee or even
imagine. They may unfold long after your death. That is when the words of so
many writers often resonate the most.”
On
those dark days—so many of them—when I wonder if my work as a writer is of any
help in the world, I’ll return to Solnit’s words.
“Afterthoughts” are my blog
version of a practice followed in some Quaker meetings. After meeting for
worship ends, people continue in silence for a few more minutes during which they’re invited to
share thoughts or reflect on the morning's worship. I’ve adopted the form here for last-day-of-the-month brief reflections
on headlines, quotes, comments overheard, maybe even bumper stickers.
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