tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142327341608998711.post5088983694342867026..comments2024-01-10T12:07:21.637-08:00Comments on William Hay, Writer: Dec.4, 2008haykindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390376509834647445noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142327341608998711.post-5038892507386444712008-12-08T21:01:00.000-08:002008-12-08T21:01:00.000-08:00Our Canadian Dr. Patterson who editted "Outside th...Our Canadian Dr. Patterson who editted "Outside the Wire", a terrific series of account from Afghanistan soldiers, aid workers and such was ruthlessly attacked when a story of his appeared in Mother Jones. The story was about a soldier who'd been shot by another bloke, rather accidentally, truly unheroically, but thoroughly fatally. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Military and oodles of others immediately announced that Dr. Patterson would be thoroughly investigated and no one was taking this lightly. It was uncertain when I heard it if all these 'beaurocrats' wanted their Andy Warhol moments of fame riding on the coattails of the brilliant writing of Dr. Patterson. He and the magazine had indeed approached the family who were more in favour, it was eminently clear, than any 'official' Canadian body that the truth be told. The sad truth about war, and especially offensive war as opposed to clearly defensive wars, is that leaders feel quite certain that the truth will only serve the enemy. Truth is indeed the first casualty of war. Isn't it marvellous that schizophrenics are said to improve in war. Something about the climate?haykindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07390376509834647445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142327341608998711.post-62732923526688307042008-12-07T01:49:00.000-08:002008-12-07T01:49:00.000-08:00Your last sentences are brilliant.Your last sentences are brilliant.detourcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13492351135621397543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142327341608998711.post-6311598245965045622008-12-06T05:25:00.000-08:002008-12-06T05:25:00.000-08:00Just now, I'm interested more in the glorification...Just now, I'm interested more in the glorification of 'our" soldier. And mechanisms for intra-tribal communication, related to that. Why is the sacrifice of the soldier "Glorious"? Why can we never say a single bad thing about the glorious soldier, given that, back home, he may have been a very decent postman, or an alcoholic abusive incestuous father, or a second Mozart? There is unspoken agreement that he has become a heroic soldier. All individual characteristics dismissed. He's relgated to the herd of glorious soldiers. That is surely a relegation to "otherness" as well?detourcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13492351135621397543noreply@blogger.com