LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Friday, March 11, 2011

Tsunami

Earthquake, then storm and flood.

The CNN video of Tsunami's approach upon Sendai in northeast Japan, that wave made of mud, oil, burning buildings and debris of all kinds on its roll of destruction, for this westerner had to bring to mind Hayao Miyazaki's (2001) Spirited Away's River God transformed into Big Pollution Blob Dam, releasing all its filth in the gods' bathhouse. It contained everything that man had ever used, made, and thrown away.

We think tusnami, we think wall of water -- a killer, yes, but, well, water -- clean.
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