Welcome to Top Comments -- Inauspicious Anniversary Edition. More on the title after the fold.
A brief introduction to explain the title of tonight's Top Comments:
It is the first time I have ever hosted Top Comments, and while thinking about an appropriate introduction, I was saddened to recall that today marks a dark anniversary in our world's history:
It was, of course, on this day in 1945, at 8:16 a.m. local time, that an atomic bomb codenamed Little Boy was dropped by the Enola Gay (a B-29 bomber) on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. Tens of thousands of people were killed outright. Scores of thousands more were dead by the end of the year from radiation sickness. All told, perhaps a quarter of a million people died from this horrifying blast of terrifying energy. The flattening devastation began as a "noiseless flash."
A year later, on August 31, 1946, The New Yorker magazine devoted its entire issue to John Hersey's 32,000-word account of the bombing. Because this is a diary about good writing, I offer, from that stunning account (voted repeatedly the single best piece of journalism in the 20th century), an evocative excerpt:
Some were vomiting as they walked. Many were naked or in shreds of clothing. On some undressed bodies, the burns had made patterns-- of undershirt straps and suspenders and, on the skin of some women (since white repelled the heat from the bomb and dark clothes absorbed it and conducted it to the skin), the shapes of flowers they had had on their kimonos. Many, although injured themselves, supported relatives who were worse off. Almost all had their heads bowed, looked straight ahead, were silent, and showed no expression whatever.
For photographs and a haunting poem on this unbearable subject, I strongly recommend Melvin's beautiful diary. Pastor Dan provides instructions for making remembrance cranes, a photo of which appears in Melvin's diary.
And before we turn to the good writing today on Daily Kos, I wanted to add this prescient and inspirational honorary "top comment" from the inventor of the bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer:
The open society, the unrestricted access to knowledge, the unplanned and uninhibited association of men for its furtherance - these are what may make a vast, complex, ever growing, ever changing, ever more specialized and expert technological world, nevertheless a world of human community.
With these wonderful examples in mind, and with prostrate on the floor at her feet thanks to Gloriana for her tremendous technological skills, and kudos and thanks to BeninSC for every kind of assistance imaginable, I present:
From Gloriana, today's top comments by numbers of recommends:
1 At that time there was a Draft. by Lunch Lady 97
2 Leadership by orphanpower 85
3 (Slide Show) LieberPorn !! by Al Rodgers 81
4 (Slide Show) Lieberman Does Dallas by Al Rodgers 69
5 noone can stand to look at them! by nonnie9999 69
6 The absence of the draft is what truly keeps by Ghost of Frank Zappa 65
7 So glad you're up and around! by nyceve 60
8 leadership isn't the problem... by Richard Carlucci 58
9 lead, follow by mic45 56
10 Trying to steal my editorial cartoon thunder, eh? by Newsie8200 54
11 And now the tears come. by Miss Blue 54
12 Jane Hamsher - You're One of My Heroes by Al Rodgers 53
13 NO! Thank you by TXsharon 51
14 Sept 11, 2001 by tiggers thotful spot 51
15 (Video) JFK on The Tonight Show by Al Rodgers 51
16 Tweety is discussing whether Jon Stewart by litigatormom 50
17 tragic by Pericles 49
18 (Video) RFK on The Tonight Show by Al Rodgers 46
19 I AM ALSO by Class of 72 46
20 Cranes for pastordan by melvin 45
21 Any Democrat that close to Cheney... by Dallasdoc 45
22 (Video) Hilarious CNN Coverage of da Float by Al Rodgers 45
23 'a victory for world terror' by shergald 45
24 Liebermanlove by Dallasdoc 44
25 It was 2002... by tiltedclock 42
And from the top comments team:
These are mine:
(Slings and arrows my way, commenters to Top Comments; these are my entirely subjective choices):
The thankfully now recovering Melody Townsel on a bright spot in her recent hospital stay
Daulton on the cost of war, posted in the moving personal account of testvet6778, which was formatted by txsharon (thanks txsharon) and, thankfully, has been cross-posted all over the place. A MUST READ.
Heronymous Cowherd's recipe
response to a Lieberman supporter on open thread. And no, we will not be including it in any updated versions of the Troll Recipe cookbook.
philipmerrill's diary-worthy response in teacherken's thought-provoking diary about issues that are non-negotiable (with an interesting poll).
richter on life on Mars
Heronymous Cowherd (again!) on making it official
Miss Devore on a fascinating diary about the President's primitive style of communication, and why a trip from the Dog Whisperer to the White House might be in order http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2006/8/6/11559/80018/1#c1
Nightprowlkitty makes sensible points about the continuing debate about the alleged differences between the generations and the importance of activism.
Wiscmass on the difficulties of growing up in the darkest bastions of idiocy.
Red Bean on a justification for violence that falls short.
From Kayakbiker, a photographic reminder on this sad anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima.
Mary Scott O'Connor's breathtaking, heart-wrenching diary about Vietnam atrocities the government is finally admitting to brought out a wave of diary-worthy personal accounts, including Oakmont's poignant post about two children who found a new life, and CD in TX's story about an uncle who never regained his.
From righteousbabe, an excellent definition of feminism, posted in a multi-comment debate on the subject in response to 19-year-old Julia Rain's widely-read diary on Why the Young Aren't Protesting in the Streets - A Defense.
And last, but certainly not least, our own BeninSC on the real reach of DailyKos.
Top comments from our very own Buffalo Girl:
Important testimonial from Richard Carlucci about youth and politics today. MANY important comments from young people on that thread by Julia Rain. Vital for anybody who is serious about working to motivate
young people and cause change.
John Campanelli spot-on about DC pundits and Lieberman/Lamont.
An important consideration to keep in mind while shopping for Tuesday.
GarySeven on Cynthia McKinney and the state of this country.
Jeffrey Feldman on teacherken's diary nails the difference between
principles and issues and why one communicates to voters and the other
doesn't.
Top comments from Ambrosius:
spoon or no spoon reminds us how the NBACC is an atrocity waiting to happen. The NBACC is the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center. Doesn't that name just give you the shivers??? (and I mean the BAD shivers!)
A great tip jar from DarkSyde.
I don't recommend this comment, but I do recommend the responses. I get so tired of people talking about how awful young people are.....
Top comments from MuffledDrum:
CanYouBeAngryAndStillDream had this
to say about wolves in sheeps' clothing, in testvet6768's
heartbreaking diary, "4300 Men killed or disabled! No
questions asked."
In DrWolfy's "Why Young Americans don't care", Unusual
Suspect has this thoughtful evaluation
of why we have so few critical thinkers: ... and check the replies!
Are there any book agents in the house? Katherine
Harris could use one, as rage suggests in this comment
on firestorm's diary, "Katherine Harris Unhinged."
And from dear BeninSC:
Here is a nice little two comment thread by neworleanslady and the diarist, leo fender, on an underappreciated Katrina diary.
Elise and alyosha provide advice on how much we should invest into campaigning, for a diarist asking for help with that question.
This great comment from captainlaser reflects on how young people view the Iraq war and how young people viewed the Vietnam war. I especially like its critique of the media.
Ok. That's all from us. How about you?