Politics, Ethics, Culture, and Faith The issues that separate Americans now go down to the bone –almost as deeply – I believe - as those that precipitated The War of Secession. In my own life I’ve seen relatives distance themselves, and Friendships broken, as a result of anger generated when these matters are confronted directly.
Dr. Robert T. Morris: Fifty Years a Surgeon A clear window into many important and interesting areas of life in general - as well as medicine - in the mid-19th to early 20th century. Warts and all. Good read. (***)
Christopher Landon: Ice Cold in Alex Interesting and well developed characters, in genuinely tension inducing situations - even when the matter of "who did it" is not really a mystery. Vivid enough for the place and period - WW2 North Africa to early 1950s Britain - to come to life inside your mind. (***)
Karl Von Clausewitz: On War I read this first many years ago.
The author then impressed me as being more lucid and broadly learned than many contemporary writers on this and similar areas. He still does. (****)
Loren Lomasky: Person's, Rights, and the Moral Community Well written, and clear. Many interesting ideas and explications of problems, but his theory itself - on a derivation of rights, seems possessed of unnecessary elements. Worth reading. (***)
J. B.Schneewind: Sidgwick's Ethics and Victorian Moral PhilosophyVictorian Moral Philosophy Details life and analyses work of one of the great figures in 19th century philosophy. Well written, gives good insight into the context of attitudes, assumptions, and circumstances affecting much of the intellectual spirit and life of Britain during those times. (***)
J.G.Ballard: The Drowned World Another (long-time) re-read.
Ballard tends to play one note - but it's a good one - and he plays it VERY well. Some uncontrolled/unforeseen calamity engulfs the world. Protagonist(s) confront general realization of the coldly impersonal nature of the world and how human responses are to a large extent a product of the interaction of those forces with his/there-own biological pre-dispositions - engraved in the structure of each and every one of their cells. And, that the true and only expression of one's authentic self and humanity, lies in how and whether one can/does inwardly accept the truth of these constraints, and expresses that realization, in those (few) opportunities available for actual personal choice.
Intentionally or not his work gives powerful and poetic expression to the Existentialist perspective.
The world of this novel happens to be slowly drowning in the over-heated flood-tides that result from a run-away solar anomaly. But, it could be just about any such occurrence - e.g. A "Wind From Nowhere," or the Japanese invasion of Shanghai (both of which served as the backgrounds of others among his novels). The story-line, character-types, dilemmas, decisions, and general moods are much the same in each story, but the pacing, poetry, intensity, and aggravating authenticity of the characterizations in each instance are gripping enough to make every reading worthwhile. (***)
Apparently - to the staff of the Times - another "fix" is called for. Perhaps a
really "good" one might top that previous job-loss figure, and, in doing so,
provide material for a month's worth of articles exposing the plight of the "new
jobless" stranded on the "heartless shoals of late American Capitalism."
He has had many years in which to make these same points...And then. after speaking thus and doing so at the time Rev Wright actually
made his pronouncements - rather than
waiting for a crisis in one of his electoral campaigns - he might have then actually done some
things, in his capacity as a US Senator, to put those words into action
...it is difficult to believe that Sen Obama did not and does not
still - regardless of what he now claims - share at least some of the views
expressed by
his mentor in those sermons now in question. And that impression is much strengthened by the fact that
all-too-many of those whom he has been close to in regards to his political
career over the years are - and have - given clear or implicit signals of
views inimical to the
legitimate interests of our
country or those of our Israeli allies - while others have been simply corrupt.
I just hope that enough people keep that
catastrophe and the current dangers in mind when they vote in this coming
election. And, that instead of just ticking the same box they've done all their
lives out of habit they - particularly [our fellow] Jews - [will] spend a moment to consider that - the [World] war and Holocaust [were] proceeded by the
Munich treaty, appeasement of the
aggressors, anti-military feelings and isolationism...,withdrawal, and the illusion that conflict could be
avoided if we tried to "just get along."
"To the Knife"
An Outline for a Pro-Victory Strategy in the Media War at Home
The sad truth is that - the heartfelt, persistent and generally sensible
efforts of those who support the efforts of American troops in Iraq cannot
ultimately succeed if they - those efforts - are generally portrayed by the
main-stream media as the rantings of a deluded fringe, the sincere strivings of
a misguided minority, or, as is more likely the case - they are ignored
altogether... Hence, The central challenge for the Victory Movement becomes that
of - "how to change the way the war is presented to the American people?"
In essence, in so many areas the pattern of "moderates"
and liberals in these matters has been to create difficulties for the men and
women responsible for our nations defence and then sit back and point fingers at
those attempting to clean each mess that they - the legislators - had themselves
created.
Filling the Ranks: short essays, questions and
observations on the current state of the War in Iraq and at home
And in any case - even under better circumstances -
"Small wars" - many not so small in fact - such as the current struggle against
the insurgents in Iraq - involve many facets that are difficult and distasteful
even to many who might otherwise volunteer for service in more conventional
conflicts. Hence, even then the chances are good that - depending on the length
of the conflict, its intensity and the size of the forces involved on both
sides. any force reliant solely on volunteers will run the risk of encountering
challenges to its ability to maintain adequate force-levels at various points
during the effort.
And there, I believe, is where the real problem lies for persons like my
friend who are very clever, well-informed and resourceful indeed.
To such people the normal progression of conflicts of this kind - even
when the counter-insurgency is successful in the end - must seem like a
train-wreck in slow motion - or - like one of those agonizing scenes in a
horror movie when whomever is leading a group on an - obviously - ill-fated
expedition to examine some strange-and-alarming-circumstances-or-other says
something to the effect that "let's all now split up, and meet back here in an
hour" and then "first let's leave these heavy shot-guns behind, they'll just
slow us down." They want to scream and throw things at the "screen". And
sometimes they do.
US confirms Iraq body is of soldier -- al-Jezzeria Updated on: Friday, May 25, 2007
"Never Again" The insurgents kill Coalition personnel they capture.
It's their practice, not an action of rogue elements, or a
misunderstanding of the rules of engagement. It's who they are.
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