A Portrait of the Artist as an Old Man

When the history of the war on terror is written, the strangest chapter will address why so many American intellectuals were so determined to believe the absolute worst about U.S. behavior.
Heather Mac Donald, Baghdad’s Real Torturers

Here is Kurt Vonnegut, as quoted in the Australian:

Asked if he thought of terrorists as soldiers, Vonnegut, a decorated World War II veteran, said: “I regard them as very brave people, yes.”

On the Iraq war, he said: “What George Bush and his gang did not realise was that people fight back.”

Vonnegut suggested suicide bombers must feel an “amazing high”. He said: “You would know death is going to be painless, so the anticipation - it must be an amazing high.”

James Lileks remarks:

Anticipating murder for the glory of God must be an amazing high. Most people understand the emotional motivation that animates these people, but don’t spend much time on it, anymore than they wonder about the joy a child rapist feels when he has the kid in the woods. It’s one thing to consider it; it’s another to luxuriate in your considerations. An amazing high.

Posted on November 24th, 2005 by pwyll
Filed under: war

One Response to “A Portrait of the Artist as an Old Man”

  1. a radically spiritual progressive libertarian, on November 26th, 2005 at 11:15 am Said:

    The hatred of some American writers/intellectuals of this country is best explained by an article I recently read concerning anti-Americansim in France. Much of it is self-loathing, IMO.

    Many of the most famous 60’s counter-culture folks have achieved enormous success, and are reaping the benefits of our free-enterprise system. They are living lives that the kings and queens of the past could not imagine.

    Giving up the life-style is unthinkable, but they understand the inherent contradictions all too well, and rationalize it all by the vocal hatred of the vary system through which they benefit.

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