Re: RATS in Iowa

[SKuftinec@aol.com]

I know this is somewhat of a cop-out, but in the midst of events it's hard to report, as each presentation makes the brain churn and effects responses to the last. 

I'll note some moments/thoughts that struck me:

humor disarms (literally)
the monster of horror is not outside of us
Wars can be so all around us that we can't see them
stressful circumstances do not necessarily produce great art
Good intentions are not enough
Good dialogue means more than talking to people 
sentimentality is the pornography of feeling
We are drawn together more by ethics (why we do what we do) than aesthetics (how we do it)

This feels horribly inadequate. 

the real story is that I ate many more bagels and cheese that I ought, and drank less than I probably should have.