2.04.2005

Delayed Reaction

At this weeks State of the Union the country was able to witness an incredible moment. One that John and I agree should go down in history as a remarkable if not providential moment.

An Iraqi woman, Safia Taleb al-Suhail, who recently voted in the Iraqi election was seated in front of William and Janet Norwood who had recently lost their son in Iraq. What a moment when the Norwood's were introduced and the two women leaned over and hugged one another. I'm not very emotional but that one started to get to me. But then, did you notice the dog-tag of Sergeant Byron Norwood (Marines) who was killed in Falluja? As the women embraced one another this dog-tag --which was being held by the soldiers mother,-- wrapped around a button on the cuff of the Iraqi woman and breifly attached these two women.

These women were both figuratively and literally connected by the life (and death) of this brave Marine.

As they hugged, that image burned into my mind. How powerful!

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