“My Creativity Was Paralyzed”—Baggage and the Bridge of Empathy
Can artwork depicting the Syrian refugee crisis build empathy for an American audience? One writer hopes so.
Entries by David Chrisinger
When I Think About Losing My Son
David Chrisinger found the words to express a devastating personal loss after teaching a military veteran how to write about her own feelings of sadness and uncertainty.
Hold My Housing Until I’m Ok—”I Don’t Trust Myself”
David Chrisinger learned to treat a writer’s words with the proper care before publication after a student veteran was pushed to the brink of suicide.
Learning the Power of Connection and Companionship
David Chrisinger grapples with his guilt about not having served and draws on his own experience of feeling powerless to connect with a friend who did.
Talking With a 9/11 Witness Helped Him Connect With History
David Chrisinger wondered if he was intruding on sacred ground when he visited the museum at Ground Zero. A conversation with a witness changed that.
Losing the Fear That He Abandoned His Men
War stories can sometimes read like confessionals. David Chrisinger encourages a student Marine Veteran to confide in the reader instead.
Guns, Booze, and Suicide: How “Stupid” Saved A Life
He couldn’t kill himself before tee time with his father. He put the pistol down. David Chrisinger describes a Veteran’s struggle with thoughts of suicide.
Trapped in the Amber of this Moment
David Chrisinger felt the urge to serve his country in the Marines during the Iraq War. He reflects on his choices on the fifteenth anniversary of 9/11.
The Redemptive Power Of Lying
David Chrisinger teaches a writing course for veterans at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. His students tell him their stories—some are true, some are lies, and some are worse.
