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I'm not usually interested in politics and all that jazz, but I recently came across a debate and uprising over Ward Churchill's (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ward_Churchill )speaches and comments. Upon doing a little research on just *what* he actually said about 911 (http://www.kersplebedeb.com/mystuff/s11/churchill.html), I found it quite interesting. I found the following quotes:
quote: The desire to pummel the helpless runs rabid as ever. Only, this time it's different. This time the helpless aren't, or at least are not so helpless as they were. [...] Looking back, it will seem to future generations inexplicable why Americans were unable on their own, and in time to save themselves, to accept a rule of nature so basic that it could be mouthed by an actor, Lawrence Fishburn, in a movie, The Cotton Club. "You've got to learn, " the line went, "that when you push people around, some people push back." As they should. As they must. And as they undoubtedly will.
How could I not think of Ender? Of course, Ender didn't quite fit, as he was the good guy, just protecting himself. Then Achilles came to mind. He seemed to embody the spirt of Churchill's writing. Make him lose face just once -- he may seem to ignore it, maybe even pretend to be your friend, but one day he'll come gunnin' for you.
Ward Churchill is close to losing his teaching job over these comments. So much for first amendment rights. The clammor is over a single man's name, Eichmann. Comments from http://www.kersplebedeb.com/mystuff/books/reviews/churchill_lip.html state that Churchill notes Eichmann
quote: [...] was a mere mid-level officer in the SS, by all accounts a good husband and devoted father, apparently quite mild-mannered, and never accused of having personally murdered anyone at all. His crime was to have sat at several steps remove from the holocaustal blood and gore, behind a desk, in the sterility of an office building, organizing the logistics – train and “cargo” schedules, mainly – without which the “industrial killing” aspect of the nazi Judeocide could not have occurred. His most striking characteristic, if it may be called that, was his sheer “unexceptionality” (that is, the extent to which he had to be seen as “everyman”: an ordinary,” “average” or “normal” member of his society. (“The Ghosts of 9-1-1,” note 131)"
What a different view, and what interesting correlations this has brought to mind. Posts: 1 | Registered: Feb 2005
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On second thought I'll give you a slight benefit of the doubt.
quote: Eichmann, Adolf
(īkh´män) , 1906—62, German National Socialist official. A member of the Austrian Nazi party, he headed the Austrian office for Jewish emigration (1938). His zeal in deporting Jews brought him promotion (1939) to chief of the Gestapo's Jewish section. Eichmann promoted the use of gas chambers for the mass extermination of Jews in concentration camps, and he oversaw the maltreatment, deportation, and murder of millions of Jews in World War II. Arrested by the Allies in 1945, he escaped and settled in Argentina. He was located by Israeli agents in 1960 and abducted to Israel, where he was tried and hanged for crimes against the Jewish people and against humanity.
Churchill also praised "the gallant sacrifices of the combat teams" that destroyed the twin towers and damaged a portion of the Pentagon. In other words, he's giving a strong endorsement for terrorism something most people don't want being taught with public money to college students.
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The difference between Eichmann and the vast majority of the 9/11 victims is that Eichmann knew what he was supporting. Did Hitler actually murder any Jews with his own hand? He sure as hell was not directly (or should I use immediately?) responsible for all 6 million.
Had the terrorists issued a public warning, or merely attacked legitimate government and military targets, I would have much more sympathy for their cause.
Posts: 1364 | Registered: Feb 2003
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(I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I just couldn't resist! This is what happens when you name your pets Valentine, Achilles, and Bean.)
Posts: 3214 | Registered: Apr 2002
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