James,
Thanks a lot for your note. Like you said, my piece on the front page is very emotional and does not aim to please every person who reads it. My main goal is to "show" what I see through my eyes using the text first and foremost, plus to compliment it with photo images. If you read it without images and it does not do anything for you, I may have failed in my efforts. Some may agree or disagree with my view of the world or my opinions expressed in that essay, and this is exactly what I am hoping for. Constructive criticism is what makes us (or at least some of us who are willing to listen to anything other than positive) better.

Regards,
Misha