RAT Hope

[Kelly and Mara <marakell@inav.net>]

Rats,

Our hearts in the midwest go out to you.  We were in our Ford Econoline Van
on a way to a gig, stopped to get gas where someone told us about the
morning's events.  We put on the radio and listened as we continued to
drive.  We were all silent for the next hour and a half unable to speak to
even process what was happening.  Most scariest was when Bush came on, and
the realization, that he is our president.


We got to the show, and asked if they still wanted us to perform.  Most of
the company was very shook up, thinking of all the folks we wanted to be
calling, and the organizers asked if yes, please, would we do the show.  I
thought of the talks in Iowa on theatre and war, thought of working with Dah
theatre members here in Iowa, and that gave us strength to understand...to
focus on our work as a way to bring many confused people in the middle of
the country together in solidarity.  It was then that I think I began to
realize a little more the power of what we as artists have to offer our
colleagues, friends, community.  That space of hope.  It was a gift we were
able to give, and it felt powerful, in a very powerless situation to have
something to offer.  Thanks to the artists who shared your experiences on
these different occasions, I would not have known how to handle our
situation yesterday without this knowledge.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, in the cities, and to your loved
ones.

Mara
Graffiti Theatre
Iowa 



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