Performance artist Daisey speaks to vandal

Brendan Kiley at Slog catches another post from performance artist Mike Daisey, whose work was vandalized by people claiming to be a Christian group. Turns out they were actually from a public high school in Norco, CA., according to Daisey.

He called them and wound up talking to the guy who poured water all over his notes, and it' well worth reading, but near the end a passage Daisey writes is very moving:

And then I forgive him. He is very quiet--he is obviously shocked. And I tell him, "I want you to remember that a liberal athiest has forgiven you today. I don't want you to ever forget that, as long as you live, do not forget what happened here. I don't have God behind me, but I speak for myself, and I forgive you for myself, and for you. Never forget this."

It may seem a small episode during this difficult time in our history, but by trying to speak to the people who felt they could simply destroy his work, Daisey took a stand, and he handled the episode with aplomb and curiosity. Good for him.