Day 88.

I’ve been listening to the Axe files since the fall. David Axelrod just released an episode with Carl Bernstein. Though it’s a bit long and rambling, I recommend it highly. The main reason is the reminder of what a threat to the republic Nixon was.

A friend also reminded me today of the Kent State shootings, and the story of photographer John Filo, who took the enduring image of Mary Ann Vecchio screaming over the body of Jeffrey Miller. NOTE: at the link are a series of images from that day which are graphic.

There are two quotes that made me stop in my tracks. They reminded me that what is happening now is not so new in this particular way: sometimes, people don’t believe what they don’t want to believe.

Protesters screamed in his ears, asking him why he was taking pictures. Though he originally didn’t want to respond, Filo said one girl pushed him over the edge.

“I finally said to her, ‘No one is going to believe this happened.’ I remember just yelling back at her and continuing.”

Also this.

Filo said he received hate mail from people across the country who suggested it was staged.

“You come to a realization that no matter how truthful you try to be people are not going to believe it.”

So the challenge is to stay faithful to the truth, despite its horror. The only way to make it better, the only way to change reality, is to face it. Some people won’t join in, but most will see.