American Anthropological Association

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• Commentary on Bin Laden Death

Inviting thoughtful scholarly analysis to our new AAA Free Speech Anthropology Forum

Reactions to the early May 2011 capture and death of Osama Bin Laden are multiple and vary in intensity, yet it is clear that anthropologists have much knowledge and insight to offer each other and the rest of the world.  We launch this Free Speech Anthropology Forum tab on the AAA Blog now in order to stress the value of space for thoughtful, scholarly, and analytic debate and discussion among anthropologists and others we seek to reach.  AAA endorses and seeks to facilitate the space for dissent, free speech, and thoughtful analysis.  At times like this one, when many are either just euphoric or others offer critiques that look quite politically partisan, it may be more important than ever to endorse thoughtful, scholarly, analytic discussion and commentary.

The future will no doubt bring us other subjects of similar intensity and public attention, but this seems to be an especially apt time to launch our Free Speech Anthropology Forum tab on the AAA Blog, providing our members with the space and the opportunity to engage in important but possibly difficult exchanges over reactions to the Bin Laden death.

- Virginia R. Dominguez
President, American Anthropological Association