Ta-Nehisi Coates does a good job of separating “the great crime of Kirk’s death from the malignancy of his public life?”

www.vanityfair.com/news/story/c...

In the last three years at Borderlands we have brought together conversations with victims and ex-combatants from different sides. It was a huge privilege last night to host Jo Berry CBE and Pat Magee last night at the Black Box.

While Gaza has been the focus of our attention there has been shocking violence against Palestinians in the West Bank for many years but especially in the last two years. It is an area that has been under occupation since 1967. Israel’s actions make a two state solution impossible.

Well William Graham sent me down a rabbit hole of Ry Cooder. This is just wonderful. youtu.be/6efQ_GyQW3o?...

Small Wins. In the middle of dark February, as war and peace (and not much peace) fill the news, we gathered for Borderlands. We had a stunning night with music, sonnets, heartbreaking stories, hilarious, life affirming stories, and a deep sense of human connection. We meet again 11 March, Belfast

A beautiful sermon from @matthewdtaylor.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/matthewd...

This is my Valentine. We actually celebrate it on the 13th February because that was the day I arrived in Baltimore in 2002 to visit her. 23 years ago!

Today on a day when we say the words “Never Again”, let us remember the Palestinian children sacrificed to the gods of greed, vengeance, fear and indifference. Goodbye to the children of Gaza. You were loved, you are remembered, you did not deserve it. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

One of the great Irish poets, Michael Longley has died. He wrote about the Troubles in The Ice-Cream Man and in the poem Ceasefire. I videoed him reciting Ceasefire at the Rostrevor Literary Festival in 2021. youtu.be/OEap7m1DHMk?...

My most-liked cartoon of 2024 and it's a serious one 👀

Too many of us are blind to our privilege. Let's have a self-aware 2025!

“I am so glad that Jesus was born in a stable. Because my soul is so much like a stable. It is so poor and in unsatisfactory condition —yet I believe if Jesus can be born in a stable, maybe he can also be born in me.”

~ Dorothy Day

Whose woods these are I think I know / It sometimes takes a Village though.

What a gift this man was - and what gifts he gave! I am forever grateful to have learned from him, been encouraged by him, and worked with him for compassion and justice.

I wish more people read James Baldwin before the election. It’s not too late. We’re in what he called “The Final Solution”. But there’s still time for the tide to turn.

www.thenation.com/article/arch...

Moving out of Twitter…

It is the task of the prophet to make the critical distinction between God as God and “God” as the mere deification of a nation aspiring to greatness.

I first saw this twenty years ago in Dostoevsky’s “Demons.” That moment changed my life and ministry.

I help to run an event every month called Borderlands. This month we focused on the theme Dignity. I started the night by referring to a talk former President Mary McAleese gave in Rostrevor this weekend at the Literary Festival there. She spoke about Seamus Heaney being her favourite poet.

Listening to Dr. Munther Isaac, noted Palestinian priest & nonviolent resistance leader, speak with my friend Jarrod McKenna. So much to highlight, but I'll share just a little. He spoke of how our Western "prayers" are often wielded the same way Pilate washed his hands before Jesus' crucifixion.