Sometimes we have to see ugliness in order to appreciate the beauty. Or is it that only by seeing beauty can we know horror?

Rachel Corrie was killed Sunday, March 16th by an Israeli Army bulldozer. She was attempting to avert the demolition of a house belonging to a Palestinian physician. Reports vary as to whether her death was intentional or accidental, but poignantly the demolition was part of a shutdown of the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories in preparation for Purim, in which a young woman from Jewish history, Esther, is celebrated for courageously standing up to authority.

Ms. Corrie was 23 years old.

Bulldozers have become a staple of Israeli military action in the occupied territory, as Israel has found the demolition of homes and businesses of Palestinians to be effective in inflicting damage without attracting international attention. Although Ms. Corrie's death made international news, the characterization of the incident has focused solely on the question of intent of the driver of the bulldozer. Very little light has been shed on the practice of using armed bulldozers as weapons against civilians.

On Wednesday, March 19th Israeli Defense Forces used tear gas to disperse a small crowd of about 100 mourners who had gathered at the site of her death to say goodbye.

On Saturday, March 22nd at 3pm memorial services will be held on the Evergreen campus in Olympia Washington. Two to three thousand are expected to attend.

Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness.
All can know good as good only because there is evil.

Therefore having and not having arise together;
Difficult and easy compliment each other;
Long and short contrast each other.
High and low rest upon each other;
Voice and sound harmonize each other;
Front and back follow one another.

Therefore the sage goes about doing nothing, teaching no-talking.
The ten thousand things rise and fall without cease,
Creating, yet not possessing,
Working yet not taking credit.
Work is done, then forgotten.
Therefore it lasts forever.

Rachel, may your work last forever, even if some forget. You will not be forgotten.

TCS

burton@pigdog.org