Comments on: Speaking Ill of the Dead http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/01/28/speaking-ill-of-the-dead/ Feminist, anti-racist, pro-fat, plus whatever else we feel like talking about. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:15:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: John http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/01/28/speaking-ill-of-the-dead/#comment-317277 John Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:44:55 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/01/28/speaking-ill-of-the-dead/#comment-317277 <blockquote>Cameron Hume, the US ambassador in Jakarta, said Suharto was a close ally who led his country through a period of “remarkable” development.</blockquote> The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) has fired off a letter to Amb. Hume in response to his statement on Suharto's death. You can read the whole thing <a>here.</a> Here is a taste: <blockquote>Your failure to acknowledge the enormous harm done to the people of Indonesia and East Timor by this dictator, and your unwillingness to admit the central role the U.S. played in empowering and encouraging this tragedy, is a travesty of history. It is a shameful view of Suharto from which we feel compelled to disassociate ourselves. </blockquote>

Cameron Hume, the US ambassador in Jakarta, said Suharto was a close ally who led his country through a period of “remarkable” development.

The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) has fired off a letter to Amb. Hume in response to his statement on Suharto’s death. You can read the whole thing here.

Here is a taste:

Your failure to acknowledge the enormous harm done to the people of Indonesia and East Timor by this dictator, and your unwillingness to admit the central role the U.S. played in empowering and encouraging this tragedy, is a travesty of history. It is a shameful view of Suharto from which we feel compelled to disassociate ourselves.

]]> By: RonF http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/01/28/speaking-ill-of-the-dead/#comment-317058 RonF Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:05:13 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/01/28/speaking-ill-of-the-dead/#comment-317058 I'm old enough to remember Suharto. Even at that young age, it was pretty clear to me that we were supporting a bad guy, and that the stated reason was that everyone else over there was worse. The world needs fewer like him. I’m old enough to remember Suharto. Even at that young age, it was pretty clear to me that we were supporting a bad guy, and that the stated reason was that everyone else over there was worse. The world needs fewer like him.

]]> By: Myca http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/01/28/speaking-ill-of-the-dead/#comment-317057 Myca Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:51:10 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/01/28/speaking-ill-of-the-dead/#comment-317057 Although I have no comment on Suharto (agreeing with you completely), this reminds me of one of my more favorite bits about 'Speaking Ill of the Dead'. When Nixon died, D. C. Simpson (of the wonderful webcomic Ozy and Millie) drew a cartoon with one of his characters holding up two fingers as 'bunny' ears behind Nixon. He received an extremely angry letter ranting about how one should never speak ill of the dead. His response was, "You're totally right. Boy, that Stalin sure was <i>efficient</i>." ---Myca Although I have no comment on Suharto (agreeing with you completely), this reminds me of one of my more favorite bits about ‘Speaking Ill of the Dead’.

When Nixon died, D. C. Simpson (of the wonderful webcomic Ozy and Millie) drew a cartoon with one of his characters holding up two fingers as ‘bunny’ ears behind Nixon. He received an extremely angry letter ranting about how one should never speak ill of the dead. His response was, “You’re totally right. Boy, that Stalin sure was efficient.”

—Myca

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