Todd Endo, a long time friend, was featured in an article in the Washington Post last week. In A Japanese American in Selma, he describes how a trip to Selma 50 years ago changed his life.
Todd is returning to Selma this week to compare 1965 to now and “to make a connection again.”
I look forward to hearing about his return trip to a place that had such an impact on him and suspect he’ll find a very different Selma.
Or maybe not.
Diane Kupelian said:
I read the article in the Washington Post and found it very moving. The ground for this life of love, justice, and service must have been prepared by deep integrity before he saw the injustice of Jim Crow. His own suffering under racism could have embittered him, but he turned to love, not hate. He is a blessing on this earth.
Nancy Cedar Wilson said:
I, too, am on my way to Selma today with a group of fellow Unitarians-to honor the 50th anniversary of the historic March over the Edward Pettus Bridge.
My dismay over the Supreme Court’s disregard for the Voting Rights Act, the increasingly obvious racial divide affecting so many young black men today –made me want to stand as a witness to the initial struggle, and testify as to how much more needs to be done.
It would be inspiring to meet Todd Endo–who sounds like an amazing man. Maybe someday…
Delabian Rice-Thurston said:
James Reeb is a legendary presence at my church, All Souls Unitarian in DC, because he was our assistant pastor. Our current minister, Robert Hardies, used the article on Todd as part of his March 1st sermon as church members are preparing to take the 50th anniversary pilgrimage to Selma. The Church’s voting rights work in North Carolina is called the “Reeb Project.”
When I read the article I realized that in all the times we enjoyed Todd and Paula’s company I do not remember Todd’s mentioning that he went on that march.
I told my minister that Todd taught you in grad school, your wife introduced me to Robert who went to Wheaton High with Todd and that we knew Endos, it was one of those “Six Degrees of Separation” moments.
Richard said:
Diane, Nancy, Delabian,
Your Comments hint at or perhaps ‘indicate’ something about Todd that is so refreshing and wonderful about him. He is a quiet presence who has done much with his life and for others. Just as he never told Delabian about Selma, he didn’t tell the WaPo reporter even a fraction of what he has done with his life, with his talents, with his energy.
And yes, Diane, “love, justice, and service,” all words too easily thrown around these days, do describe core values that he possesses.
Maybe we can have an evening together with Todd, Nancy, Delabian, Diane and others who might be interested in hearing about the return to Selma of Nancy and Todd and other connected issues. Let me know if any of you (includes other MillersTime readers) have interest.