Mariann Edgar Budde, Marilynne Robinson and Paul Elie offer voices of courage

Mariann Edgar Budde, Marilynne Robinson and Paul Elie offer voices of courage

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde (foreground), Paul Elie, and Marilynne Robinson sign books for attendees.

L. Tomaino

On Sunday, Sept. 28, at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, a full audience eagerly gathered to hear authors Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, Marilynne Robinson and moderator Paul Elie discuss what is happening in the United States.

The talk was part of the 2025 Words, Ideas, and Thinkers Literary Festival (WIT), presented by the Authors Guild.

Mary Rasenberger, CEO of the Authors Guild, introduced the panel, saying, “With the growing tyranny and attacks on democracy, what can we do? Budde and Robinson will give us reason to hope.”

The day after the inauguration on Jan. 21, Budde ascended to the pulpit at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., to ask the new president “to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.” She is bishop of the Diocese of Washington, D.C., and author of three books.

Marilynne Robinson, well known for her four-book Gilead series, is the recipient of many awards for her fiction and nonfiction, including a Pulitzer Prize.

Moderator Paul Elie, a regular contributor to The New Yorker and author of several books, has twice been a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Elie began the talk by asking Budde what considerations she had when speaking to the current president.

Budde said she “worried about the consequences of speaking to a country that had been barreling toward division.” She wanted to “speak for those being dehumanized” and to offer “a gentle exhortation” on their behalf.

Elie asked Budde to define bravery and Robinson to define courage. Robinson said, “Courage celebrates all the other virtues.” Courage answers the question: “How generous can you be at your own cost?”

Budde answered, “At times in life, you may be called upon to do something you haven’t done before which involves a risk. At those times, we are invited to be brave.” She continued, “Courage is of the heart, when we become aware of that summons that beckons us.”

Elie commented, “Courage is a learned trait, but courage is not encouraged.”

Robinson said, “People need a meaningful measurement of courage and honesty on which to judge themselves.”

“People that should be traditional guardians of democracy continuously backpedaled. We need courage,” she continued. “We should be screaming in the streets about people starving who counted on us. We’ve made concessions until we feel there is nothing left to defend.”

Budde said, “Movement-building is critical.” She spoke of a “quiet network working to protect people” in Washington, D.C., including lawyers, people helping with food and those walking children to school when their parents are afraid to — fearful of being detained.

She advised, “I try to never violate the dignity of people who see the world differently. This is part of the solution. We have to overcome the reflex to see people in the worst possible way who oppose us.”

Elie asked, “How can we make more pointed recommendations for action? What can we do now?”

Budde said to ask ourselves, “What is being summoned from me now? What should I be doing? The next right thing will be revealed to us.”

Robinson said, “No one has power now except the people. There is no salvation now except democracy, and that is what I hope for.”

For more information, go to authorsguild.org

Latest News

Celebrating agriculture
Photo by Nathan Miller

PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains FFA Ag Fair brought a crowd to the high school on Church Street Saturday, Oct. 11.

Kicking off the day was the annual tractor pull, attracting a dedicated crowd that sat in bleachers and folding chairs for hours watching Allison-Chalmers, International Harvesters and John Deeres compete to pull the heaviest weights.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rev. AJ Stack of St. Thomas announces resignation

The Rev. AJ Stack, center right, blessing a chicken at the pet blessing event at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Photo by Aly Morrissey

AMENIA — After serving more than five years as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia, the Rev. AJ Stack announced Tuesday, Oct. 7, that he will resign from the church and Food of Life/Comida de Vida pantry. His last day at his current post will be Sunday, Nov. 2, the conclusion of the Feast of All Saints.

The news was shared in two emails from Stack — one to Food of Life pantry subscribers and volunteers, and another to parish members.

Keep ReadingShow less
Local and County candidates to hold forum Oct. 24

MILLERTON — Ten candidates for office in the Nov. 4 election will answer questions from Dutchess County voters at a candidate forum on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Annex at the NorthEast-Millerton Library located at 28 Century Blvd.

The forum, which is sponsored by the library, will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Keep ReadingShow less
One dead, two hurt in Sharon car crash

The residence at 35 Amenia Union Road in Sharon was damaged after being struck by the Jeep Grand Cherokee around 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11.

Photo by Ruth Epstein

SHARON, Conn. — Emergency crews were called Saturday, Oct. 11, to Amenia Union Road in Sharon for a report of a vehicle into a building with entrapment.

Connecticut State Police reported Charles Teti, 62, was driving his Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on Amenia Union Road when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle veered across the southbound land and exited the roadway where it struck a tree and home. Airbags deployed.

Keep ReadingShow less