Published 7:51 am Tuesday, October 20, 2026

In 1967, a 16 year old named Robert Brazee entered the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Syracuse, doused himself in gasoline, borrowed a match, and set himself on fire just outside the building. Robert loved Frank Zappa and Robert followed the news and Robert could not countenance the Vietnam War any longer. And with the thoughtless rage and courage of youth he took his own life to try and save others.

Moved by his loss, Father Philip Berrigan and 8 others, soon to be known as the Cantonsville 9, broke into a draft office and burned thousands of draft cards. Sparing thousands of young men like Robert from the atrocities of the Vietnam War. In explaining why, Berrigan wrote: “We are sick at heart, our hearts give us no rest thinking of the Land of Burning Children.”

A few days ago I sat on the back porch of my home with my 7 year old and that phrase screamed in my head.…