The Quiet Librarian

Men have the capacity for good as much as they have the capacity for cruelty. What is right and what is wrong is written on our hearts. But when there is war, men follow what they choose to follow and rationalize the evil they do. The Serbs see this as their country. They see us as a blight. They are told that the only way to have peace is to expel us or kill us. When such are the words they hear every minute of every day, it becomes too loud for them to listen to their hearts. They will do terrible things and believe they are doing what is right.

You cover your eyes with your hands and think that the problem will go away. To say that you do not care about politics is to be a man adrift on the ocean who says that he does not care about water.

To say that you do not care about politics is to be a man adrift on the ocean who says that he does not care about water.

Grief needs to be felt—

Nura wanted to tell her babo how proud she was to have him as her father. She wanted to say that he was the wisest man in the world.

going about their lives unaware that people in a small country called Bosnia were being tortured and murdered.

when evil came, she had not been ready.

Grief needs to be felt—expressed.

She had always envisioned war as men in uniforms standing on opposing hillsides firing their weapons at each other. Civilians were supposed to be off-limits. Women were supposed to be left untouched— she was supposed to be left untouched.

There is no sacrifice I will not endure for my family.

That is because you have chosen to live in your memories.