Punctuating the End…
Posted in West Bus by Brandon Kneefel on May 2nd, 2007
How does a journey like the Equality Ride end?
Maybe with a colon introducing a list of things to do: “get your evaluations in, write in everyone’s affirmation book, get in that one last smoker caucus, pack, and say ‘good-byes’.”
Or maybe with a dash that completely disrupts our lives and inputs a thought where no thoughts outside of exegesis and vigils have been since February—a plane trip away from a life on the road and schedules that now seem calm comparatively.
It may end with a period that finalizes one moment in time and introduces the next moment. Yes, I can’t wait to see my friends back home.
It seems that it could end with a question mark. What did I learn from the Equality Ride? Whose hearts were changed? What do I/we do now?
I can see how the journey might end with a semi-colon; let’s continue to be Equality Riders wherever we go.
Maybe the Ride ends with a comma, because this is all a work in progress, and God is still speaking.
An exclamation point seems conclusive enough. WE DID IT!
All of these seem appropriate, but, to me, it seems like, although seeds must be planted, progress simply happens. Fears subside as knowledge is gained. And if we were to look at the big paragraph of our experience and turn it into a quote we would need to end with ellipses. “Equality Riders arrested at Brigham Young University and Patrick Henry…city proclamations in Seattle and New York City honor Equality Riders…Equality Ride 2007 ends…Equality Riders continue on to seek equality everywhere they go…”
Yes, that seems about right. Goodbye for now.










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