November 19th, 1995
George starts their conversation by talking about his brothers’ partners’ death from AIDS and about having some control over his own death, not letting the medical establishment intervene when there was nothing that could be done. Walt talked about the importance of being able to suffer with those that suffer. He also talked about the joy he finds in reconciliation when there shouldn’t seem to be reconciliation possible. He relates this to being in World War II, a condition that he believes no one truly understands. He talked about what being in war meant for him and how it is the root of what has caused him to call out the bullshit whenever he sees it. He said that war was the start of “de-sacralizing” everything for him (the constraints of religion, America the Beautiful). While still calling out all the bullshit , God still remained a focus for him. The war led him to non-violence and believing in relationships with people.
