And one more point....

One of the reasons that Pope Benedict's address has gotten so much attention is that his idiom is that of crystal clear Roman philosophical legalism--in the very finest sense of that word. We average laypersons--including, apparently the press--can at least get a sniff of the significance of his words, even though we are likely without some context and scholarly background to distort it to our own venal purposes. The press did figure out that something was up within that Regensburg lecture. They never did get the first clue about Pope John Paul's meanings unless some authority came out and explained it like they were six year-olds, and so missed a lot of the good stuff. Benedict trumps the press-canonized interpreters and speaks directly to the generally cultivated mind. Figure it out, folks, or you--not the Pope--and you motives will be exposed.

And speaking of gentlemen...

The Pope has apologized--for being right. Why won't moderate Muslims step up and say that the apology was NOT necessary, that the violent and ignorant reactions of their co-religionists were what was wrong.

Those who fear Reason the most will exhibit the most vile responses to rational discourse. Dialogue is what they DON'T want.

Eventually, the world will be forced to discern who the "they" are. Better the Muslim community, the Ummah, should accomplish this first, and do so publicly, and deal with it.

Watching "The Elephant Man"

Merrick recites the 23rd Psalm, to the astonishment of Treves and the hospital administrator. Treves asks, "Why didn't you tell me you could read?" Merrick replies, "I was afraid to....I'm sorry." Did he need to apologize? Why didn't he ask, "Why did you, Treves, assume that I couldn't?"

For one thing, he truly is a gentleman--taking the weaker part, even though he has the stronger moral position.

Benedict's words

Why do the jihadists ALWAYS insist on misreading words and events in the non-muslim world? Now, this misreading has led to bloodshed, the murder by "Islamic radicals" of a nun in Africa. Any person who took a little while to read Pope Benedict's address to the academics at Regensburg would know perfectly well that the point was to critique the weakness of western society, in view of its having lost the priority on Reason--of the broad sort, which includes the view of the whole found in theological and philosophical studies.

I'll add a thought: There is a message to Muslims here. Put down the bombs; come prepared to dialogue. As Ibn Rushd advocates in a famous and widely read passage, all should use the mind given to us by God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

Memorial Day

I watched the ceremony and the speeches at Arlington National Ceremony. General Pace, Chair of the Joint Chiefs, spoke with sobriety and realism about the soldier's life. He commented that all soldiers feel real human fear in situations of danger. He also discussed another kind of fear that influences our forces: the fear of dishonoring the ethos to which he and his fellow soldiers and sailors have committed themselves.

The choir sang "The Mansions of the Lord"--a hymn of incredible power.

The Commander in Chief spoke of being "in the presence of greatness," in the place "where valor sleeps." He urged honor for those "who saw a dark shadow on the horizon and went to meet it." Shades of Lord of the Rings, but the right sentiment, I think. And, it's objective. The world does face the dark shadow of the terrorist fanatics, not because they are Islamists, as they happen to be today, but because the 20th century loosed a dishonorable hatred of life, peace and freedom into the world in the form of militant ideologies. These perverse warriors may well take on other guises when "Islamism" either runs its course or is defeated. As the President promised a long time ago, the war on terrorism will be a long one. We fool ourselves to think that it's only about Islam and Jihad and to focus support or anger about the conduct of this conflict simply on that.

Socratic Epigram

If there's nothing to argue about, there's nothing to learn.

Ideological Test

Something that's been making the rounds.

This is a one-question, multiple-choice examination. Complete the analogy:

undocumented worker : U.S. citizen :: __________ : homeowner

Answer choices--

a. guest

b. burglar

The theory is that your answer to this question tells where you stand on the issue of immigration policy. Probably this could use some refinement. Probably the fallacy is that the whole truth falls on one side or the other. Probably there is a maddening amount of hypocrisy and posturing among our politicians on this issue.

It seems to me that good analysis on this issue begins with facts. Here are a couple of facts: law that governs citizenship and immigration is a fact; 12 million undocumented immigrant laborers are also a fact. There are more, but that's a good start.

Lyric

Just saving this:

"And passion seems to promise more
Than friendship can endure..."

Greg Brown, "Dream Cafe"

Immigration

Update 4/28/06:

Archbishop DiNardo of Houston, in the local interfaith press conference of 4/24/06, laid out these priorities for "reform that secures our borders, leads to quicker family reunification, and makes it possible for those who want to come to this country to work to be treated with respect and human dignity." Later in the same remarks he changes the order, but says that needed legislation "maintains our ideals as a nation of immigrants, restores the rule of law, and protects the homeland." It seems that common sense leads all minds to the same rough set of conclusions. It is to be hoped that the faith-based groups are sincere about all the priorities, however, and not using lip-service to the "justice" to obtain the "mercy." Both are needed in the writing of good laws.

4/14/06:

Here are the needs that an immigration bill should address:

• First, there is a very legitimate concern about national security. One of these moments, something bad will happen because of the inattention to basic monitoring, if not control, of what's happening on the northern and southern borders. What exists now is not acceptable, and the U.S. apparently has no stomach to enforce existing law.
• Second, the 12-plus million human bsings here need some way to be regularized. Those who wish to become citizens need a path to citizenship. A responsible immigration agency must have the same kind of information about these workers that the government has, constitutionally, on citizens. They should pay taxes, and if they do, folks won't object to the benefits they receive as a matter of human concern and compassion.
• Third, a good assessment needs to be made of the nation's labor needs in order to determine future immigration policy. The latter should be keyed to the former, so that some equilibrium is established. A nation with 4.7% unemployment will have legitimate needs for imported labor.
• Fourth, the situation in Mexico needs to be addressed by the Mexican government. It isn't unfair to say that immigration to the U.S. provides the safety valve to release pressures that would otherwise destabilize and radicalize that nation. The Mexicans must address their corrupt government. If they don't, we'll find our soldiers there building a society instead of in the Middle East. I'd rather be fighting the bad guys on the other side of the world rather than a few hundred miles from my front door.

OK, politicians, now you have the program. I think there's something here for every side. Get to work.

Focus group legislation

Good grief, what's wrong with these folks? No, I don't mean the immigration demonstrators and the opportunists trying to create a niche for their own interests regarding this issue. I do mean the D.C. legislators, especially the Senate. When they bump into an issue that "cuts both ways" they lose their moral compass entirely, because they can't find a position that will please everyone. Some issues are like that. When the fence's posts are too pointy, you can't sit on it. Politicians of integrity have known for millenia that it's better to earn the anger of the opposition than the contempt of principled allies. Leadership with backbone always earns respect. Too many senators of both parties are now dancing on the griddle because they are apparently too stupid and gutless to figure out where to alight on this issue. This fall's elections will provide some interesting chaos if this doesn't get sorted out soon.