Quotations

“Sole among nationalities, these States have assumed the task to put in forms of lasting power and practicality, on areas of amplitude rivaling the operations of the physical kosmos, the moral political speculations of ages, long, long deferr’d, the democratic republican principle, and the theory of development and perfection by voluntary standards, and self reliance.”

-Walt Whitman, Democratic Vistas

“Ever since the publication of Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America, the United States has played a central role in systematic studies of the links between democracy and civil society.”

-Robert Putnam, Bowling Alone

“Associations are formed to combat exclusively moral trouble: intemperance is fought in common.”

-Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America

Black Elk and Bin Laden

The Wasichus rejoiced today when they learned of the death of one from across the ocean in the east. They think it just to harm him, after he killed so many of their children. They are right to rejoice. When a Wasichu has killed many of our people, he should be killed as well. It is for our protection, so that after we perform the kill ritual, we may feel safe. They now feel safe, and are rejoicing in their own form of the kill ritual.

Note: I do not agree with what I believe Black Elk would say.

Words

Sorry I haven't posted at all this week - I have been swamped with work, and it hasn't been getting any better!
I thought I'd share a few of my thoughts left over from Friday's discussion.

As Liza said, many families can relax and gain closure in grief for their loved ones that were killed by Bin Laden. But sometimes I feel that maybe it wasn't really Bin Laden that killed them, but his voice. He persuaded men to commit suicide to carry out his ideas. His words moved men to kill thousands of innocents. His words told them that it was the right thing to do, because America was evil. It was his words.
Now his body is dead, yes, but in all of the people that he inspired to kill for the sake of what he believed to be a better world, his words still carry on.

This is why I do not feel relieved in his death - only more scared.