dickinson college goes native

dickinson had a big spontaneous beer-soaked celebration after the osama announcement. then it went into controversy. a small group of students had misgivings; they took a bunch of grief and had their fliers - saying things like, "celebrating a person's death: is that the campus we want to be" - ripped up. reportedly people getting called unamerican as well as 'fag' and 'fucking cunt.' then the admin sent a memo which among other things described the antis as taking a 'more thoughtful' position, though basically just saying everyone should feel safe in expressing their views. etc. for dick, quite the little tizzy, and i guess one that's appeared in some form all over. like i say, i wouldn't have gone out cheering, and i also get uncomfortable about waving the flag and chanting usa in a militaristic context. now on the other hand i'm a partriot at least in that i feel utterly american and that i am only possible in this culture, and that american culture (music, specifically) and various elements of our political tradition are great things. and i do regard that killing as more than justified and as a moment of justice, long deferred. and if people want to wave flags and chant usa without actually fucking with anyone, i say that was a good time to do it.