"Much violence is based on the illusion that life is a property to be defended and not to be shared."
-Henri Nouwen
This sculpture and gazebo are part of the 20 acres that make up the, Leo J Ryan Memorial Park, in Foster City, California. The park is dedicated to the memory of U.S. Congressman Leo J. Ryan who was murdered, in 1978, on an airstrip just outside the Jonestown compound near Georgetown, Guyana, by members of the People's Temple, which was led by Rev. Jim Jones. Before he became a congressman, Mr. Ryan served as the mayor of South San Francisco. This park, and the memorials to him, are a poignant reminder of the peaceful man that Congressman Ryan was.
An environmentalist, animal rights advocate and an investigator of religious cults, Ryan had an impressive record for his time in office. In 1970, he used a pseudonym for his name and had himself arrested, in order to investigate conditions inside the California prison system. He was awarded posthumously the Congressional Gold Medal for his service in congress. He is the only member of congress, to date, to have been killed in the line of duty.
"Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages."
-Thomas Elva Edison
-OndineMonet
Leo J. Ryan Memorial Park
Foster City, California
February 1st, 2006
Early Evening
Sunday, February 05, 2006
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5 comments:
Hi Carly. Just catching up on what's going on in Carlyville. As always I just love the pics and entries you choose to go with them.
Hugs my dear friend.
Deb
Love the photo...love the quote. Have missed this journal!
Nancy : )
I remember, all this transpired during my residence in CA.
beautiful!
I attended a wedding reception at that park once and recall that staue. I moved back to Cali after Rep Ryan's death but even in Pennsylvania, he was well respected and mourned. Now I am a fan of his protege.
What a loss that must have been, a guy who had his heart and mind in the right place and accomplished so much. I remember the Jonestown massacre - a friend of a friend's sister died there. - Karen
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