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

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Ensconced

Left home about 7:30 AM and taxied uptown.  Air already sodden, the sky an unpleasant ashen color, with haze, mist, fog.

We've finished helping do the physical prep for the house and so on.  So now we're chilling and thinking about making dinner when the time comes.  We're hungry!  We've had a couple of periods of rain already.

However it rolls, however bad, however easy (but I'm sure it isn't going to be easy), I'm glad we're up here and not at home.  What makes it really OK is that we were able to help and will be able to continue helping our friends, and they also help their neighbors.  Not only are our friends really brilliant, intelligent and creative, they've got a community consciousness, as well as that Southern hospitality gene.  All over again I'm aware of why we love them so much.

I hope everyone is safe, but I know not everyone is.  Three people have been killed by Irene already.  She's so huge and moving so slowly.

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