Comments on: Chilling effect

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:52:49 +0000

Brilliantly said. When I popped onto the FB to see people’s reactions, I was really, truly surprised by the things I read, as far as crass, violent, hateful celebration (complete with pictures – ugh). And it’s strange, because I thought I had surrounded myself with people who weren’t like that, so much.

And just like you said, I felt silenced. I saw someone had said something about feeling icky about celebrating death, and they got leapt-upon. So I just read and observed (which is unusual for me).

That day I could get behind the celebration of finding him and stopping him. But I’ve never been able to get excited over sticking-a-head-on-a-pike-for-all-to-see situations. And so I felt compelled to comment here, because it is somehow soothing to find other people who feel the same way.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:33:21 +0000

I have a “I shot motherfuckers in Iraq”bumper sticker,and I don’t consider myself pro OR un patriotic.I’m just telling it like it is.I don’t look at anti war stickers or shirts as being stupid or un patriotic.If someone is offended by my sticker,so be it.I’m offended ever day,so what.I’ll get over it.That man wearing that shirt probably uses it a form of armor,to keep people away.That’s the purpose of my bumper sticker.Those of us who have had the event of armed combat occur in our lives sometimes have a hard time reconciling that with our now mundane,un adrenalized lives.It does not mean to infer that we feel others are un patriotic.By the way,my sticker does a super job of persuading the police not to pull me over.Cheers.

By: Jodi

Jodi — Tue, 03 May 2011 15:15:42 +0000

In reply to Rebel With A Cause. @Rebel With A Cause, It's been discovered that Martin Luther King, Jr. didn't actually say that.

By: Rebel With A Cause

Rebel With A Cause — Tue, 03 May 2011 15:10:37 +0000

I think Martin Luther King said it best: “I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that” [Martin Luther King, Jr.]

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 03 May 2011 05:17:52 +0000

Chest-pumping quasi-xenophobia is the kneejerk pep rally that follows such an event. Having actual considered thoughts must wait for that to fade.

Those thoughts will be mostly conspiracy theories, sure, but still, they have some effort behind them.