This Year's Zinn Celebrity Dinner Companion

(Howard was in town presenting readings from his new book, a collection of primary source voices to supplement his People's History of the United States. Andy Shallal, restauranteur and supporter of worthy causes, hosted the event at Busboys & Poets, a beautiful new space with a socially-responsible bookstore, good food, and free wifi at 14th and V NW.)

This year: Julian Bond. I am not worthy.

I also found out that, in addition to Matt Damon, Howard's been doing gigs with Viggo Mortenson. Holy moly. I pointed out how much the Vigster and I have in common, what with the photography and the age compatibility, and requested an immediate introduction. I also argued with him vigorously (hah!) about the message and meaning of A History of Violence, which I rank as one of the most thought-provoking and well-made movies I've seen in a long time.

On much less flippant note: Julian Bond pointed out to me another person in attendance at the event ~ Ruby Sales. In 1965, during the civil rights movement, she and thirteen other people were arrested for registering African-American voters. Upon release from prison on a scorching August day, they went around the corner to get a cold drink from a local store. The proprietor, Tom Coleman, aiming a shotgun at Ruby, ordered them off his property with foul language. An Episcopalian seminarian, a young white man named Jonathan Myrick Daniels, pushed Ruby Sales down and out of harm's way, and sustained the full force of the shotgun blast. He died immediately.

(Coleman was later acquitted by an all-white jury.)

Julian Bond said that he'd heard the Episcopal church wanted to make a saint out of Daniels. I said I didn't think the Episcopal church had an official saint-designating practice. A modicum of searching leads me to believe that at General Convention, names are proposed to be added to the Calendar of Saints and voted on by the House of Bishops. So apparently I was wrong. (That'll teach me to argue with an icon.) I'll have to apologize next time I see Julian.

But just imagine being present at the moment, when one person sacrificed his life for another, without hesitation. We are indeed surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, and some live among us to this day.