You know-- you know how it's been.
It's really been-- it's been difficult for all of us,
especially for the people where the massacres and shootings
have been occurring.
You name it, it's happened at synagogues and schools,
elementary schools, universities, and markets.
It's really bad.
So that's a good--
that's a good thing that we are here
because we create community as soon as we come together,
and we create a positive thought and a positive vision
and positive heartfelt feelings.
And that helps everything, and it tones down that trauma
that's slinking around.
And we take a positive step forward.
So it's good to send our heartfelt thoughts, feelings,
words, drawings whenever those moments take place.
Or I'll write a poem.
We can write a poem, and we can send that poem.
I remember when the massacre took place,
and nine African-Americans were killed
while they were in church, and I asked my students,
I said, let's write a poem and send it to them.
And let's write a poem for the people in Sandy Hook--
Sandy Hook, am I right--
because it was such a terrible event.
So let's write poems, OK?
OK.
And let's put them all together, OK?
OK.
And let's send them in a big giant envelope.
OK.
And we got the address, you know,
and we got the name of the newspaper, it was the Gazette.
And we sent that stack of poetry over there,
and that was good enough.
And then, one day, I was presenting poetry
at-- in San Francisco at the Jewish Cultural Center,
and a woman came up to me.
I was still on stage, and she said, oh, Juan Felipe,
thank you so much.
I said, well, for what?
She goes, well, we got that-- we got those poems.
We got those poems, and everyone was very thankful
and felt the support of the students that
wrote those poems.
So that's what a poem can do.
When something terrible happens, we can write that poem
and just-- either just read it out
or have it and share it or send it to the city
or to that school.
And that way, we are not just sitting down.
That way, we're expressing our love and compassion
and kindness and care.
And that's where the big change is.
It's not with band-aids.
It's with our caring, our kindness, our compassion,
and a few words scribbled or typed.
And we'll read it out and send it
through space, which is good, or read it out
and share it, which is good, or just send it in the mail too.
Yeah?
[CLAPPING]