Events

As soon as I heard the name of the Army major who shot people at Fort Hood, I thought Oh, boy. Because anyone could predict what was coming -- and indeed, this morning, flipping on the radio, I heard the tail end of comments from one person, apparently a relative, saying that they were horrified and stunned, because their family loves America, followed by a comment from the Council on American Islamic Relations, saying that they deplored it and many Muslims serve loyally in all branches of the military. All of which I believe. Still: not a good day to be a Muslim in this country. Just a little bit of weight's been given to the viewpoint that they're not entirely to be trusted. Could be he's just a whacko, or a man under severe stress. Could be the NRA member who shoots up a McDonalds or a high school is, too. But you build beliefs out of what you see, and the explanations that make sense to you. Can't wait to see what people build out of this. No, on second thought, I can wait.
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Looking at the Washington Post from this past weekend, and reading an article about a diary that a man kept during the Depression. Noting the attitudes of people and businesses (small banks closing, or being merged into large banks; existing large banks being reluctant to save smaller ones), he says:

"Again and again I am forced to the conclusion that in prosperous times a man must be cautious and preserve his capital and be careful not to overexpand his business or to go too deeply in debt relying on a continuation of good business to pay the debt. In time of depression, a man can be brave and if the depression is nearing an end he can invest his money or expand his business or open a new business with confidence that he is facing five or 10 years of prosperity. He can feel sure that the road ahead will be up -- not down. Many great, prosperous businesses were founded on the ruins of depression. This may be why so many Federal Street merchants are now beginning to put in a new storefront, etc.

A great many losses and failures in business and in investment are due to the reversal of this policy. At the height of prosperity, they rush in to buy stocks or real estate or businesses at boom prices and assume enormous indebtedness that can be liquidated only if the boom spiral mounts higher and higher. Then comes an abrupt end to prosperity -- a crash -- and down go these businesses and investments purchased at top prices. If the purchase was made mostly with borrowed capital, as so often happens -- then you can write finis to the chapter."
--- Bejamin Roth
......The Great Depression: A Diary

Eerie how familiar it sounds. Of course, we're much smarter now.
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I know these pictures are sentimental claptrap. I like them anyway.