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March 09, 2022

Comments

Somber time indeed... Your drawing of Manon feels calming to look at. Thank you for that.

Thinking of you, Beth. It’s a very hard time.

Your drawing always amazes me. Do you think Canadians react to the situation differently from Americans?

Though we have experienced the suspension of the Cold War, those of us who grew up in North America haven't lived though invasion of our country. My extended family includes a branch of Russians and Ukrainians who immigrated to Canada after WWII as displaced persons. Their reaction to this war is horror, sympathy, worry— but also a hard-bitten "what did you expect?" attitude. They have long been disabused of the notion that their original government would place paramount value on their safety and security.

I am relieved that Quebec has announced it will accept Ukrainian refugees without imposing a quota.

The night before the war started, we had a surprise overnight snowfall that left about an inch on the bare ground. When I looked out in the early morning darkness, the snow looked like ashes. The snow melted quickly. I didn't think about that again until I heard the first news of the war. I am better able to cope than I've ever been and these days are sobering. Although I haven't been able to finish the drawing I started a month ago, I've been talking with local friends and writing to far away friends mostly via email and via comments on blogs.

Thank you so much for your drawings and for your writing. Your presence.

Thank you for sharing some of your experience with us Beth. I consider it an act of generosity. I have been
struck silent of late but I did want to let you know how grateful I am for your postings. How to keep hope alive
in these dark times, how to behold and hold the horror and still go toward the light? Today I read this quote from
Maxine Hong Kingston- "In a time of destruction, create something." Your practice and sharing here
is that notion in action to me. Thank you for that gift. It does make a difference.

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Who was Cassandra?


  • In the Iliad, she is described as the loveliest of the daughters of Priam (King of Troy), and gifted with prophecy. The god Apollo loved her, but she spurned him. As a punishment, he decreed that no one would ever believe her. So when she told her fellow Trojans that the Greeks were hiding inside the wooden horse...well, you know what happened.

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