Newly Minted

Contemplative. Ritualized execution in the 21st century does not carry the same significance it had under the monarchical symbolism that so concerned Foucault. The death of Nidal Hasan may therefore be pointless as an administered justice; it may in fact offer him a self-conceptualized dignity as a martyr that he does not particularly deserve, living in that broken body, removed now from the empathy of the human socializing dynamic, though how these analytically framed objections to the death penalty apply to treason is in a separate sphere all together. Treason is different than most capital crimes, even spree murders, and Hasan is unquestionably a traitor, one of Clarke's domestic enemies that the military brought on itself through lax standards of accreditation. Ironically, Hasan has reached his nefarious status simply by falling back on eighth century morality codes. Assimilation could not create the comity between identity and western fidelity to standards, to procedure, to multi-cultural influx. Is it too simple to say Hasan's superiors could have prevented the Fort Hood massacre by relieving the man of his duties? Perhaps he would have preferred giving up his citizenship and joining Hamas, that wonderful league of indignation.

Flesh micro-managed, hemmed in by constriction however long it lasts, ostomy bags to discard his excrement, pressure sore maintenance. He has, in a sense, dehumanized himself, and may not survive prolonged incarceration regardless of appellate timelines. What standards are psychiatrists required to adhere to in order to practice psychiatry? Why was such a man drawn to such a field in which his performance was so mediocre? Why didn't the military apparatus raise enough flags about his behavior? Why does society treat me like an Islamist simply because I was born the way he is now immobilized?

Researching a pitch can still amount to procrastination. Worrying my level of diplomacy, but I have to look past ideology and advocacy for the time being. Larger issues at stake.

Scimitars

If I have too austerely punish'd you
Your compensation makes amends. The Tempest, 4.1. 1700

Nomaan Merchant handles the difficulty of plotting his points for his AP feed very well. I did not when the Fort Hood killings were fresh. I tried to do a secondary op-ed, but after an enfeebled hit (or two), I put it in storage, not because I couldn't keep trying, but because I did not have a good angle on my conservative outrage. Contracted columnists have distinct advantages and access to historical data, outraged or not. I am debating downloading Merchant's feed, trying to do too many other things. I think of when the minorities surrounded me outside my door in 2008, after everything I suffered, how my entire life I have been objectified for the benefit of medical science, and yet, the US Army would rather shit a brick as opposed to profiling a first generation Palestinian who is costing his country a small fortune, after causing so much suffering. Interesting question for Tim, Hasan's health and dignity as a newly minted paraplegic, he receives better health care than I do. 

A pedestrian look at Tim Gilmer's personal medical battles would say his perspective is healthy. The man was dealt a raw deal and is making the best of it, happy cowboy. I see a grown man in a regressive co dependency who names his legs to keep connected to flesh he cannot feel. To the ambulatory world this is an insider's fight, and I am unduly outnumbered, and should remember that Tim's managing editor Josie went a long way with me. Publishing my column about Matrix as a failed effort gave me a shitty little chapbook clip that ultimately earned me 3,000 dollars. It doesn't make her back bite any easier. I did not elevate Ms. Byzek, and in fact often took issue with her mitigating compliance lectures. I never stuck a knife in her rib cage, not until recrimination became source material.