“The most basic barrier was language itself, very few Americans in Iraq whether soldiers or diplomats or news paper reporters could speak more than a few words of Arabic. A remarkable number of them didn't even have translators. That meant for many Iraqis the typical 19 year old army corporal from South Dakota was not a youthful innocent carrying Americas good will, he was a terrifying combination of firepower and ignorance.” YearsSpeakLanguageNumbersIgnorancePaperNewsArmySouthSoldierIraqInnocentCombinationRemarkableBarriersReportersTypicalGood WillDiplomatsFew WordsTranslatorsDakotaSouth Dakota Author:Dexter Filkins
“I read a lot of books. Here are the books I'm using for my 9/11 project. [Wright gestures to three six-foot-long shelves of books.] As I read them I highlight certain passages. Then I have an assistant write down each quote on an index card and note where it came from.” WritingLongBookCertainThreeFeetSixProjectsNotesCardsPassagesGesturesShelvesAssistantsHighlights Author:Lawrence Wright
“Science fiction invites the writer to grandly explore alternative worlds and pose questions about meaning and destiny.” WorldFictionDestinyScience FictionAlternativesInvites Author:Lawrence Wright
“Radicalism usually prospers in the gap between rising expectations and declining opportunities. This is especially true where the population is young, idle, and bored; where the art is impoverished; where entertainment—movies, theater, music—is policed or absent altogether; and where young men are set apart from the consoling and socializing presence of women.” MenArtYoungOpportunityMusic IsExpectationsArt IsTheaterPopulationEntertainmentBoredYoung ManRisingGapsIdleAbsentMovie TheaterSocializingRadicalismConsoling Book:The Looming Tower Source: The Looming Tower
“I disagree with the advice of 'write about what you know.' Write about what you need to know, in an effort to understand.” KnowsNeedsWritingEffortAdviceDisagree Author:Donald Windham
“Truth cannot be given to you; especially if you are following an organized religion, then truth will be as far from you as darkness is from light. Truth is not found by observing rituals, undertaking pilgrimages or reading the scriptures. It is simply a waste of time.” IfsLightReadingFoundGivenDarknessTruth IsWasteFollowingScriptureOrganizedRitualWasting TimeObservingUndertakingsPilgrimageOrganized ReligionReading The Scriptures Author:Anandmurti Gurumaa
“A mother is a school. Empower her; and you empower a great nation.” SchoolMotherNationsEmpoweringGreat Nations Author:Hafez Ibrahim
“Growing up as a chubby kid with a ton of imaginary friends and a Cyndi Lauper obsession, I learned about rejection early on and was constantly trying to avoid it.” TryingKidsGrowing UpGrowingObsessionRejectionImaginaryImaginary Friend Author:Beth Ditto