We were on tour in Europe when the news of Malachi Ritscher's death reached us. I want to send our sympathy to his personal loved ones, and also to the Chicago music world for the loss of this great supporter. We honor Malachi for the unimaginable courage and heroism of his sacrifice. It's too bad that we didn't know who he really was until he was gone, and I can't help wishing we could have saved him somehow. But from now on, anything we do to stop war, individually and collectively, musically or artistically or politically or personally, will help make Malachi's martyrdom worthwhile, as well as saving other innocent lives. As to the silence in the press, media people are terrified of the government these days. I don't know what else to write or how else to express what I feel, so please excuse me.