At Notes from the Social Field, Ernesto Castañeda reflects on President Obama’s rhetorical performance in the aftermath of the shootings in Tucson:

The precedent was set by Professor Carlos Gonzales who gave a Native American blessing….Doctor Gonzales set out to bless the event following Yaqui traditions. Yet like the rest of the event, this was both a spiritual performance and act of civic participation through which the speakers renewed their legitimacy and grew in esteem, status, and authority.

Read Castañeda’s full post here.