Berry, Wendell -- Essay (2003-02-09), “A Citizen’s Response,” sec. 1, paid advertisment, New York Times

Dave — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:06:48 +0000

The National Security Strategy defines terrorism as “premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against innocents” (p. 5). This is truly a distinct kind of violence, but to imply by the word “terrorism” that this sort of terror is the work exclusively of “terrorists” is misleading. The “legitimate” warfare of technologically advanced nations likewise is premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against innocents. The distinction between the intention to perpetrate violence against innocents, as in “terrorism,” and the willingness to do so, as in “war,” is not a source of comfort.

Wendell Berry (b. 1934) American farmer, educator, poet, conservationist
Essay (2003-02-09), “A Citizen’s Response,” sec. 1, paid advertisment, New York Times
(Source)

The essay, including this passage, was also published in a longer form in Orion Magazine (2003-03/04), and collected in his Citizenship Papers (2003). In the latter, the second sentence is extended:

This is truly a distinct kind of violence, but it is a kind old and familiar, even in the United States. All that was really new about the events of September 11, 2001, was that they raised the scale of such violence to that of "legitimate" modern warfare. To imply ...

Ivins, Molly -- Essay (2001-12), “What Osama Bin Wants,” The Progressive, Vol. 65, No. 12

Dave — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:10:02 +0000

It’s hard to convince people you are bombing that you’re doing it for their own good.

Molly Ivins (1944-2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins]
Essay (2001-12), “What Osama Bin Wants,” The Progressive, Vol. 65, No. 12
(Source)

The quote was included in The Progressive's memorial article for her.

WIST Quotations

Berry, Wendell -- Essay (2003-02-09), “A Citizen’s Response,” sec. 1, paid advertisment, New York Times

Ivins, Molly -- Essay (2001-12), “What Osama Bin Wants,” The Progressive, Vol. 65, No. 12