Ward Churchill's writings tied to concept that goes back to Bible

[El Supremo]

Collective Guilt

Today's Rocky Mountain News main section was about half devoted to this new non-crisis. It included an article on this subject that many of us have already discussed here at DU.

I still feel that in any nation, but especially in a republic, that the people are responsible for the sins of their government. But I have yet to decide if I should try to free myself of this guilt by breaking the law. I tried my best to get Bush and the Neocons out of office, but I don't think that alone absolves me.


By Stuart Steers, Rocky Mountain News
February 5, 2005

In the furor over Ward Churchill's comments about the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, little attention has been paid to the final paragraphs of Churchill's essay "On the Justice of Roosting Chickens."

Churchill catalogues a long list of what he calls American sins, citing slavery, genocide against American Indians and countless deaths in Vietnam and at Hiroshima and Nagasaki....


The whole article:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_3525395,00.html

BTW, I don't think Churchill is much of a scholar and believe that the way he presents his case is inflammatory. But his overall point that this nation has committed terrible atrocities is valid and his job should be protected under the First Amendment.

[Psephos]

1. At a certain point it starts to remind me of the high school debate team

All this microanalysis does nothing except conflate egos. No one is going to change their mind one way or another, because it's not about what he says, it's about his politics.

He has a right to say what he wants without government censorship, even if (especially if) his views are not popular. Other people have a right to criticize him using that same right of speech.

You're either with him or agin' him.

[Psephos]

2. BTW, El Supremo, I wasn't directing my post at you

Glad to see your post...I've seen other things you've posted, and they're always thoughtful.

[El Supremo]

3. Thanks, and I didn't think you were.

Not all of my posts are thoughtful. For instance, they finally deleted my deliberate flame bait thread about the need for the Pope to die earlier this week.