All my life, ... I have been preoccupied with the great tragedy of losing family in wars. The pain of losing a parent or a child in (an act of) violence that is purposefully and directly generated by political forces is in a certain way harder to bear than if someone dies in, say, an accident. The death feels more preventable.

I'm in competition with myself and I'm losing.

Each small candle lights a corner of the darkWhen the wheel of pain stops turning And the branding iron stops burningWhen the children can be children When the desperados weaken When the tide rolls into greet themAnd the natural law of science Greets the humble and the mighty And a billion candles burning Lights the dark side of every human mind

This was a tragedy that divided a family.

With pain I learned about the tragedy that has struck your family, ... You have lost the most loyal and devoted friend. Gone is a wonderful person, a beautiful woman, a loving wife and mother.

...our family became a place where you screamed for help but no one heard, not ever.