One Night In January

Abstract

On a dark, bitter evening in January 1990, I found myself standing with a small group of students, faculty, and townspeople on the mall in front of the university bookstore. I was cradling a small white candle inside a paper cup, trying to prevent an icy wind from blowing out the tiny fragile flame. The two dozen or so folks huddled around me were subdued, silent, nearly stunned. No one was speechifying. No one was chanting. No one was even carrying placards.

Most of those in the little crowd were too young--thankfully--to know how to effectively plan or execute a peace demonstration. So it was mostly by word-of-mouth and common concern that we had gathered together than night; because once again, the United States was stumbling into a big war. And once again, some of us ordinary citizens felt angry, helpless, and disheartened.