We Struggle for Hope
Early June 14th - preparing to celebrate our Big Beautiful Multicultural Democracy…
Last weekend began well. We joined dear friends at the annual Humphrey-Mondale dinner and were inspired by the stories we heard of those committed to public service who worked hard to move forward the interests of the constituencies they served.
Both my husband and I spent parts of our working lives walking the halls of the Capitol building in St. Paul, so we saw some old familiar faces in the room. I pointed out one State Senator, remarking he hadn’t aged at all. He was hugging a younger female colleague, and when she turned around, my husband asked who she was.
“Oh, that’s Melissa Hortman,” I said. “She was the House Speaker who this session is sharing leadership with her Republican colleague in a remarkable show of collaboration.”
I knew Melissa because I had the privilege of moderating a webinar she delivered to the University of Minnesota’s retirees last year. She had taken time from the start of the legislative session to speak with our group of old faculty, staff, and administrators who remain interested and engaged in civic affairs.
She was remarkable with her responses to the pertinent - and some impertinent - questions of my colleagues. I shared how impressed I had been with her quiet competence, her balanced approach to compromise, and her clear concern for the community she served. She was measured and pragmatic. And also a strong advocate for fairness in civil rights and for comprehensive reproductive health care.
We left that evening feeling uplifted.
I woke up to a list of tasks to complete as we prepared for our Clowns & Tacos Celebration of Our Big Beautiful Multicultural Democracy on our lawn. It was designed to offer space for those who were either too young or too old to go to the rallies planned throughout the greater Twin Cities area. The bouncy house was on its way, and my friendly Lorenzo asked if we wanted more chips for our Taco Bar.
And then the news started popping up, as it now does on our ubiquitous devices. First a notice of shootings in the northern suburbs, and a note to shelter in place. We live in the southwest corner of the Cities, so I didn’t pay much mind.
Then a text came from a friend saying Melissa had been shot, followed quickly by the next saying she and her husband had been murdered, that another senator had been shot, and the madman was still on the loose.
Within the hour, notices were flying to avoid public gatherings as sporadic details emerged of the horror that had taken place overnight.
Friends called and texted asking if we were still gathering. My gut said that we needed community more than ever, and our neighborhood gathering wasn’t on anyone’s list. So we moved forward.
Some stayed home. Some changed plans and boldly went to the Capitol in a show of surprising strength. Rallies continued, and we now know the madman was hiding and running and ended up in a field where trail cameras picked him up about 48 hours after his first bullets killed Melissa.
We had close to fifty people on the porch and on the lawn, reconnecting with old friends and meeting new neighbors. It was precisely what this country is all about - friendly people who may not agree about the latest road construction project, but who can discuss and resolve their concerns over a taco.
The anxiety and horror of what was unfolding over the day was also on the lawn. Lots of discussion about what we do in the face of this madness. What can we do?
By midweek, one of the many legacies of the Hortmans - their children - provided an answer. You may have seen this - but it deserves repeating as often as possible.
“We are devastated and heartbroken at the loss of our parents, Melissa and Mark. They were the bright lights at the center of our lives, and we can’t believe they are gone. Their love for us was boundless. We miss them so much.
“We want everyone to know that we are both safe and with loved ones. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received, and we appreciate your respect for our family’s privacy as we grieve.
“Our family would like to thank lawn enforcement for their swift action that saved others and for the coordination across communities that led to the arrest of the man who murdered our parents. We especially would like to thank the officers who were first on the scene to our parents’ home and their heroic attempts to rescue our mom and dad.
“Our parents touched so many lives, and they leave behind an incredible legacy of dedication to their community that will live on in us, their friends, their colleagues and co-workers, and every single person who knew and loved them.
“If you would like to honor the memory of Mark and Melissa, please consider the following:
Plant a tree
Visit a local park and make use of their amenities, especially a bike trail.
Pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do.
Tell your loved ones a cheesy dad joke and laugh about it.
Bake something - bread for Mark or a cake for Melissa, and share it with someone.
Try a new hobby and enjoy learning something.
Stand up for what you believe in, especially if that thing is justice and peace.
“Hope and resilience are the enemy of fear. Our parents lived their lives with immense dedication to their fellow humans. This tragedy must become a moment for us to come together. Hold your loved ones a little closer. Love your neighbors. Treat each other with kindness and respect. The best way to honor our parents’ memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.”
And that, my friends, is a challenge to all of us. To push away the anger that breeds evil with a commitment to hold to resilient hope and care for our fellow humans.