Jack Ruby chapter

So after reading the second in Dallas chapter I have a few things to talk about, first of which was my initial response when reading the chapter: how can the word vomit be used so many times over the course of a few pages. How am I to believe that this man is so patriotic that he finds himself vomiting all over due to the fact that the president has been shot. This part seemed a little far fetched for me, but at least it enforced Ruby's character, but I felt it took away from the seriousness of the chapter as a whole.

I found it very interesting to see the mental process that Jack Ruby goes trough when coming to the conclusion that he will kill Oswald. Jack Ruby seems as though he almost didn't want to kill Oswald, even given his ridiculously over patriotic identity. We find him giving himself excuses for not being able to complete his murderous duties. "Jack realized there was a Western Union only half a bock from the Police Courts Building. Lucky for her. If he hurried he could wire twenty-five dollars to Brenda then go shoot that bastard Oswald....he was running late. If I don't get there in time, it's decreed I wasn't meant to do it." (436) Not only is Ruby seemingly looking for a distraction that may stop him from having to commit the act, he is also fairly confident that he will be hailed as a hero for his crime. That he will be tried and sentenced to death doesn't even occur to him. Although I guess this too may fall in line with the general mindset and panic that ensued after the shock of the president being shot. Maybe this was Delillo's way of showing us the rashness of people that are faced with such a sudden and unexpected tragedy. That humans are prone to this kind of pride filled attacks that don't have any thought behind them. I bet that if Jack Ruby had looked at the situation from a distance he may have come to the obvious conclusion that Oswald would be sentenced to death anyways and that he could have been a key piece in finding out the truth behind the conspiracy and those involved, bringing further justice to the situation rather than the single man blame that may have come from the actions of Jack Ruby.