The government has argued that every aspect of Edmonds’ case involves state secrets — including where she was
born and what languages she speaks — and therefore cannot go forward. Edmonds is appealing to the United States
Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to reinstate her case. Several 9/11 family member advocacy groups filed a
friend-of-the-court brief in her support. Ann Beeson, Associate Legal Director of the ACLU National Office,
will argue on behalf of Edmonds. Oral arguments will be heard on April 21.
Don’t tell Campus Watch, Victor Davis Hanson, or other self-proclaimed defenders of Western civilization, but
the classical Athenian historian Thucydides obviously hated all that is right and good. On the consequences of
the Peloponnesian Wars:
Practically the whole of the Hellenic world was convulsed, with rival parties in every state – democratic
leaders trying to bring in the Athenians, and oligarchs trying to bring in the Spartans…. To fit in with the
change of events, words, too, had to change their usual meanings. What used to be described as a thoughtless
act of aggression was now regarded as the courage one would expect to find in a party member; to think of the
future and wait was merely another way of saying one was a coward; any idea of moderation was just an attempt
to disguise one’s unmanly character; ability to understand a question from all sides meant that one was totally
unfitted for action. Fanatical enthusiasm was the mark of a real man, and to plot against an enemy behind his
back was perfectly legitimate self-defense. Anyone who held violent opinions could always be trusted, and
anyone who objected to them became a suspect…. As a result…there was a general deterioration of character
throughout the Greek world. The plain way of looking at things, which is so much the mark of a noble nature,
was regarded as a ridiculous quality and soon ceased to exist. Society became divided into camps in which no
man trusted his fellow.
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