We are inundated with compelling first hand accounts of the extreme. Good or bad, print or video, everywhere we turn there’s a story being told that would have left our ancestors positively spellbound. For us, it’s just another one in the long line. Such is the nature of communications in the world we live.

But LIVE testimonials … eyewitness reports, in person … THOSE never lose their impact. Such was the nature of last night’s program on Women in Peace. From retired Army Col. Ann Wright’s candor to the often painful insights of the three panelists who have spent years "on the ground" in Rwanda, Sudan, Kenya, Israel, Palestine and elsewhere … the stories prompted more than a few tears.  Even for the more stoic among us, "compelling" doesn’t begin to describe the evening.

As moderator, Michele Hovey asked great questions and just the right combination of generic ones to be answered by everyone and specifically pointed ones aimed at each individual. Larry King, move over.

Man, are we blessed to have the Symposium here to bring us programs of this quality. As usual, my only regret was that the sixty people in the room wasn’t two hundred and sixty. Funny how often I think that same thing. There’s just no shortage of competition around here when it comes to interesting things to do. But that’s a good thing.

Thanks Carrie, Kelli, Pam, Deb, Michele and everyone else who made it happen (again).