I have been teaching a graduate course that I renamed to its original title, “Ethics, Policy, and Law in Information Management,” for ten years now. This spring we read aloud the Bill of Rights, and before I could make my usual statement that the founding documents of the United States are imperfect and still evolving, an Afghan student asked, “Why is there no mention of women in these documents?” 

Patricia, I am grateful for the words you wrote in your essay. I am the father of a son, and now a grandfather to a little eight-year old boy. I share your heartfelt feelings over the latest examples of a world that seems to be spiraling out of control and into darkness— once again. 

I must ask the same question of you that I ask of myself in the middle of the night: Why do we make the same mistakes over and over? Maybe you know the answer. I welcome your thoughts. I look forward to hearing what you have to say.