Come forward, heroes

November 3, 1983

From time to time when unavoidably exposed to violence and its excess (researching ways by which to make it less), on streets, in headlines, there occurs to me, again, this truth, learned in exigency: It's bravery that acts in gentleness, and holds courageously without regress. And oh, we've need indeed of bravery! Too humbly now may stand humility; too steeply slant the earth in tilt and slide. When fear breeds violence, complacency takes no direction, void of maps and guide. If, out of gentleness, earth's to abide, come forward! We have need of bravery.m