The Dartmouth Observer |
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Commentary on politics, history, culture, and literature by two Dartmouth graduates and their buddies
WHO WE ARE Chien Wen Kung graduated from Dartmouth College in 2004 and majored in History and English. He is currently a civil servant in Singapore. Someday, he hopes to pursue a PhD in History. John Stevenson graduated from Dartmouth College in 2005 with a BA in Government and War and Peace Studies. He is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago. He hopes to pursue a career in teaching and research. Kwame A. Holmes did not graduate from Dartmouth. However, after graduating from Florida A+M University in 2003, he began a doctorate in history at the University of Illinois--Urbana Champaign. Having moved to Chicago to write a dissertation on Black-Gay-Urban life in Washington D.C., he attached himself to the leg of John Stevenson and is thrilled to sporadically blog on the Dartmouth Observer. Feel free to email him comments, criticisms, spelling/grammar suggestions. BLOGS/WEBSITES WE READ The American Scene Arts & Letters Daily Agenda Gap Stephen Bainbridge Jack Balkin Becker and Posner Belgravia Dispatch Black Prof The Corner Demosthenes Daniel Drezner Five Rupees Free Dartmouth Galley Slaves Instapundit Mickey Kaus The Little Green Blog Left2Right Joe Malchow Josh Marshall OxBlog Bradford Plumer Political Theory Daily Info Andrew Samwick Right Reason Andrew Seal Andrew Sullivan Supreme Court Blog Tapped Tech Central Station UChicago Law Faculty Blog Volokh Conspiracy Washington Monthly Winds of Change Matthew Yglesias ARCHIVES BOOKS WE'RE READING CW's Books John's Books STUFF Site Feed    |
Tuesday, September 10, 2002
Remember the 11th with George W. Bush As I prepare with some trepidation to head off to work in the center of a giant bullseye tomorrow, it brings me no great pleasure to see that George W. Bush has written a letter in today's New York Times [LINK]. I've excerpted the last paragraph because to me it underlines, with no small bit of irony, the root of the criticism that I've been piling on this administration since it took office, September 11 aside. Throughout history, freedom has been threatened by war and terror; it has been challenged by the clashing wills of powerful states and the designs of tyrants; and it has been tested by widespread poverty and disease. What has changed since Sept. 11 is our nation's appreciation of the urgency of these issues — and the new opportunities we have for progress. Today, humanity holds in its hands the opportunity to further freedom's triumph over all its age-old foes. The United States welcomes its responsibility to lead in this great mission. WE AREN'T REALLY DOING ANYTHING. WE'VE BARELY MADE OUR OWN NATION MORE SECURE. If this man fails as a leader now, he isn't just hurting the economy or whatever other mundane First World luxury we take for granted on a daily basis. People can now die in their homes and workplaces, en masse, and I sure as hell don't feel good knowing I could be one of them. The letter is entitled "Securing Freedom's Triumph." A blustery, meaningless title, at the head of a blustery, meaningless letter. To hell with partisanship, people, open your eyes and see that this man is not up to the task of leading a country to do anything effective. |