All these years of thinking, ending up like this: In front of all this beauty, understanding nothing.

There is no gap between art and politics.

Everything that makes a society run is broken in Iraq. The only real structure is the people's own sense of themselves as Iraqis, which was very strong. They're a proud people, and they trace their historic roots way, way back.

Love the Lord and in him love me too. And in him, go your own way and I'll be right here with you.

Lord, spit on our eyes that we may see, how to wake up from this tragedy.

Resisting the powers that be, we are keeping things from getting worse than they otherwise might be. And that effort is very much worthwhile.

I've been accused of being a little pedantic here and there, but I don't buy that criticism. I'm telling it like I see it. You don't have to buy it. You don't have to like it. You don't have to listen to it at all. I'm not trying to convince people of things, other than the fact that I'm trying to make as vivid as I can my own feelings and experiences.