His essay was adapted and updated for this book from two columns he wrote for The Nation. Hatred and pity are the two punishments we hand out to what we fear. I got the hatred.
Democracy is a bloody business, demanding blood sacrifice.
Every advance American democracy has made toward fulfilling the social contract, toward justice and equality and true liberty, every step forward has required offerings of pain and death. We see the carnage and think, Oh, I guess things are still tough out there, for those people. We glean the news to savor the unsavory details. Oh gee, I guess I sort of think that shouldn't happen out there to those people and something should be done. As long as I don't have to do it.