Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Monday, February 13, 2006
The road to Hell is paved with good intentions
Wave after wave of planes fire-bombs the undefended city, creating an immense suction cup into which the flames eagerly leap.
The roaring inferno quickly consumes the closely-built houses and buildings, whose occupants are asphyxiated in basements or torched fleeing down fire-swept streets. The odor of roasting flesh permeates the dying city.
After the firestorm comes the redundant cremation. A huge heap of bodies, heads, and limbs is piled up at the Altmarkt, doused with petrol, and burned.
The excavation of corpses from cellars is judged to be hopeless.
Work crews clear out the remains with flamethrowers.
--"Dresden", from Michael K. Smith, “Portraits of Empire” (Common Courage Press, Maine 2003) p.12
Posted by Jeremy on from Taiwan 02/13 at 08:34 AMYeah, the bombing of Dresden was a major war crime. Of course, it wasn’t internationally recognized as such at the time (nor even conceivable today). Same goes for Nagasaki and Hiroshima. But as Chomsky points out, only official enemies commit war crimes, not the U.S. or the repressive, murderous tyrants and regimes which it has backed and funded: Pinnochet, Duvalier, Hussein, and the rest…
Re: Slaghterhouse Five—liked the book a lot more than the movie (there’s more in there for the imagination I suppose), although both are fantastic.
btw, which book have y’all decided to read?
Anyway, I’m off to slave on Maggie’s Farm for a while…
Posted by RT on from The Buyou City 02/13 at 09:28 AMGood morning, I was feeling a little better before I read about the Dresden Zoo.
I know that much worse is happening to people and other creatures every day as we type / speak, but such poignant imagery as a gibbon monkey reaching out to his or her trainer with no hands left is disturbing in a very basic way, to say the least.
I’m having difficulty getting it out of my mind’s “eye”.Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/13 at 09:36 AMThanks for the interview and post, Mickey. I think any one of our Mainstay books could knock a person’s socks off - and hopefully help pave the roads to the future.
Posted by Tony Christini on from 02/13 at 11:33 AMEwww. Firebombings. Gross.
Empress, that image is one of the many that define pointless cruelty to me. Another is the image of fur trappers in 18th-century California walking into colonies of otters, who gamboled up to the people (not having a whole lot of fear of them) expecting to play...and got clubbed to death. The surprised otters would put up their forepaws/hands to protect their heads. (Whaling logs of the era report this story with mo trace of pity, only amusement.)
I am always hurt and horrified afresh that humans behave this way for no good reason (like dinner, a good reason to kill...even vegans kill things that they might eat...but it need not be vicious).
Posted by Mudge on from Austin 02/13 at 12:26 PMMudge you’re recounting of the otters in California once upon a time is one which I’d not known about.
If only we could truly be “students” of our own history...instead we keep our collective blinders firmly in place, pull up our bootstraps, and continue to do ‘what must be done’.
I’ve thought with worry about this ‘eden’ recently uncovered from its peaceful humanless slumber. Birds, etc. approach people without fear. As amazing as it is that such places still exist on our planet, I worry oh so much whether there is a place in our future for such innocence to exist.Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/13 at 12:55 PMSpeaking of furry creatures, are you reunited with your puppies yet?
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/13 at 12:55 PMHello Expendables...and welcome, Tony.
We’re still digging out from 27 inches of snow here. it’s becoming blackish slush by day, treacherous ice by night. Ah, winter in NYC.
Another afternoon of co-op related stuff today. I’ll check back later...if I’m not hyperventilating.
(P.S. RT: We’re reading the whale book.)
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/13 at 02:00 PMEmpress, being a student of history means sifting through conflicting “facts” and assembling a picture of “truth” that’s internally consistent. It is, in short, hard work, and most people don’t want to work that hard. It’s also the case that, when one comes up with an internally consistent world-view that’s not the one retailed by “Everybody” (as in “Everybody knows that’s not true!"), one has to defend against virulent, vicious attacks...or worse, one yells down a well into mushy, dripping silence.
Reading weird old books, searching out musty library collections, and taking notes are the least of the “burdens” of self-discovered truth.
Hello Tony, your publishing company’s website is catnip to me! You’ve published some excellent work already (not that you need me to tell you that). Much success!
Posted by Mudge on from Austin 02/13 at 02:11 PMDid someboday say Catnip????
http://tinyurl.com/7exv3Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/13 at 02:29 PMAnd thanks for yet another impressive post, Mickey - seeing I was born in Germany, the firebombing of Dresden rang a particular bell with me.
And hello, Jeremy, RT, Amelopsis, Tony and Mudge.
Winter in NYC sounds exactly like winter in any big city: snow one day, sludge later that day, and ice by night. And those who drive keep swearing because they just can’t see the beauty of snow.Captcha ‘thinking’ - can’t do too much of that as it is only 6:44 am on a Tuesday morning.
Will be back later ..Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 02/13 at 02:44 PMHi Helga. Empress, is that kitty a friend of yours?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/13 at 02:48 PMMZ that kitty is my great friend and companion who’s moved around the world with me. He’s a senior now, but he’s still one saucy papa-cat. (his junior still has much to learn from him)
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/13 at 03:10 PMWhat’s his name?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/13 at 03:35 PMHe’s a cat of many names… these days he’s “The Papa-Cat”.
Mudge might like to know that many a cat hater has been converted upon meeting “The Papa”, so seductive is his charm.Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/13 at 03:50 PMDoes he ever sing, “I love it when you call me Big Poppa”?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/13 at 03:53 PMHe’s doesn’t sing it (ESL) but I see it in his eyes. (go ahead - take another look - he’s a svengali)
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/13 at 04:09 PMEmpress #15: Then they aren’t cat-haters. Papa-Cat’s very pretty, but a cat, therefore evil.
Speaking of evil, and cats, anyone heard from CatLady in Hell’s Clinton? Are we apprised of the progress in his Lithuanian Campaigning Season? Have the defenses been breached, and the citadel invaded?
Okay, ever’body, off to organize my room!
Posted by Mudge on from Austin 02/13 at 04:11 PMI thought CatLady might be visiting Italy before returning to Lithuania??
I don’t think we have been properly apprised of the CatLady’s comings and goings of late.Happy organizing, Mudge - even though you’re ignoring my puppy question....I MUST KNOW! (nudge>>wink>>)
Did I mention that the Papa Cat will have dominion over all cats in the NUtI? It’ a lifetime appointment - fortunately he’ll live forever so we won’t have to choose a successor.
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/13 at 04:20 PMEmpress dear, I forgot to answer you, I’m so sorry! Puppies are comfortably ensconced here, with their littermate Bundy who is Eric’s dog. Bundy’s a much, muchhappier dog now that he’s part of a pack. He’s exuberant, which is good for Alfred and not so much good for Blanche, who has a hitch in her git-along from where she had a dislocated sholder as a little one (Alfred pushed the birdbath over on her when they were eight months old). I try to discourage Bundy’s play-attacks on her.
All cats hail Papa Cat, beore you’re microwaved or whatever is found to be least painful by way of extermination.
Posted by Mudge on from Austin 02/13 at 06:10 PMFunny my being asked about just as I was given my own computer at work today finally… really trying to get out of here soon. This place, along with other exploits and travels, really has interfered with my Cool Observer time. Yes, I can see how issues regarding cats and dogs would be much more alluring issue than Dresden emotionally. Plenty enough firebombing going on right now… So my visits within the bounds of Lithuania have been met with a very warm and diplomatic reception, many deep insights gained along the way, and it remains to be seen what ongoing relations will be maintained behind the former iron curtain. My sojourn in Italy has been one of generally neutral territory so far, which really isn’t so bad. What I’d really look forward to is a visit to Denmark, to experience more than just those outlandish cartoons, but further contact has yet to be established…
Posted by James on from work 02/13 at 08:01 PMGood night, all…
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/13 at 10:28 PMI agree with Nick,,
Quote from Theodore Roosevelt
“ There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism.”
L.A. transplant
Posted by richard on from lower manhattan 02/17 at 01:52 PM
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