All we are saying is give peace a chance.

I'm more than a little tired at the moment, so forgive me if this makes no sense.

I received an email from my friend working for peace in Columbia. Each email she sends is long, every paragraph more heart-breaking than the last. Our "war on terrorism" is taking its toll on too many third-world countries. We support the "terrorists" as they hunt down other "terrorists", who may just be pacifists working for the truth. At least, that's what I think is going on. My friend's Spanish is now stronger than her English, so there's a little to interpret in her meaning.

She asked us to think about how we ourselves support terrorism. I suppose I could look up the word "impeach", I could look for fair trade products, support programs that keep kids off drugs. There are thousands of concrete ways to do something that seems abstract. But it's not that abstract when I think that one of my favorite six-year-olds is from Columbia.

I'm sure he will one day wish to see his birthplace, maybe even do important work like my friend (though I would be so afraid for him, as I am for my friend). I just hope we can turn a few things around before his wish comes true.

Here is the poem I wrote for my friend many years ago:

Where I am there's a piece of you
That warms my heart and sees me through.

Where you are there's a piece of me
That warms your heart and sets you free.