The Interfaith Council probably wasn't expecting so many people - the room was pretty full when we got there and people just kept coming in. I only knew about this because I'd sent an email to the Center after I heard about New Zealand, and I got one back telling me about the vigil. Watching the doorway - we were seated near it - I suddenly looked for other ways out because the door wasn't that big. And there were two more exits directly outside. They kept bringing more chairs. Then little kid chairs. I don't even want to guess at a number because it was, I'm sure, way beyond what the Fire Department would allow. And I have to admit that I thought about the exits because my mind imagined what it would be like if someone started shooting in there.
Here's a mashup of three pictures to give a sense of the crowd, even if the perspective is all messed up. (The left side is actually mostly the back of the room. Maybe I should learn to use the panorama feature on my phone camera.) The middle picture was when we got there when there was still some room.
Although there were speakers, it was pretty low key. There were people from different religious groups - Buddhists, Christians, Jews, and of course Muslims. Mara Kimmel, the mayor's wife said a few words too. I noticed three other returned Peace Corps volunteers. More important were all these people most of whom were strangers talking to each other with respect and love. The people from the mosque were so incredibly nice. As we came in we started to take our shoes off, as Muslims coming in were doing, and they insisted that we keep them on, in the nicest possible way.
We do have to keep in mind that most people are good and decent when they aren't afraid and stirred up by bigots. Let's keep tapping in to that basic goodness. Let's get more people talking to each other in safe spaces on safe topics, people who are now mostly living in bubbles with people who reinforce what they believe.
Good to have your follow-up, Steve. Thanks for attending.
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