Two nights ago, I attended a talk by Terry Tempest Williams. She is excellent. I had always heard that she is great to hear. And I am now preaching that same message. She is so gracious and polite. So thankful for the interest from the audience. And grateful for the positive response. Most importantly, she is willing to be outspoken. She condemns the war in Iraq. She questions the Patriot Act. She longs for a world that is free of violence, oppression and hatred.

"Commencement" -- in the current issue of Orion Magazine -- chronicles Ms. Tempest Williams' graduation day address to the University of Utah last Spring. She said so much that day that many others would dare not say. She called for us to celebrate "the open space of democracy". And she put into question the direction our nation -- our government -- has taken since September 11, 2001.

Read her books. See her in person.