Monday, April 23, 2018

The recent Waffle House events have made me think, as I do more these days than ever, of PAL, who wrote glowingly (or as glowingly as he gets) of Waffle House. He writes, "The Waffle Houses rather conscientiously fulfill a neglected social need.  They're clean, well-lit, warm, and inviting places that are always open." They provide a third place where people, even those without much money, can come together. 

What a particularly anti-social crime to go to a Waffle House and kill your fellow citizens at random. I can't think of a more anti-republican act. 

We're reading Cicero these days in class and he admonishes citizens to engage in public service, to work for the civic good. Mass murder at random is Cicero's antithesis. 

James Shaw is our stoic hero, who denies (as Francisco says one always must) the title of hero, but who bravely does what is needed in trying circumstances.

1 comment:

Ilana said...

I thought of PAL first thing when I read about the Waffle House shooting too, and how sad he would have been.