Saturday, February 14, 2004

Increasing threat through polarization Posted here Saturday, February 14, 2004 at 12:32:09 PM     I see this as exacerbated by polarization encouraged by Bush. A bomb for the Ummah By David Albright & Holly Higgins Some of Pakistan’s nuclear scientists believe that the bomb should be shared with all of the Muslim community, even—or especially—with Al Qaeda. It is importnt to discuss two perspectives. A:First is that by Francis Fukuyama, and reflected in Thomas Freidman - the idea that the market/democracy model is really the only game in town, and those that don't plkay are losers. This can be contrasted with b: Sam Huntington's Clash of Civilizations. Basically that the West and Islam are heading towards a showdown. The problem is  C: a relatively progressive humane multilateral cultural appreciation view, does not fit either. The model of polarization in A and B are different, but both define C as the enemy.   ********

On the problems with political extremes Posted here Saturday, February 14, 2004 at 10:52:46 AM     If we have a tendency for there to be an opposition between totalitarians and libertarians, but the economy takes the Hyakian liberty view and co-opts wealth for the rich, where as public good, a disguise for totalitarian wholeness, can support law and some measure of justice.. we see that real results requires some close analysis to see what is actually happening, and where progress may lie. Taking any one position in the extreme without looking at the way it is implemented leads to false conclusions. ********

Bush on Churchill Posted here Saturday, February 14, 2004 at 10:07:55 AM     Worth reading these remarks by Bush at the Library of Congress Churchill exhibit. Bush has used Churchill as an ego marker for himself. The comparison is crazy, but the consequences of a militatnt self righteous Bush are real. A Googel search for Bush and Churchill will yield the history, since Blair gave him a Churchill bust after 9-11. Hopefully he won't go further down the list Napoleon, Lincoln, Wilson, Moussolini....  all in all, a slippery slope. ********

Vanlentine's - Keillor Posted here Saturday, February 14, 2004 at 9:44:06 AM     From Garrison Keillor The poet Robert Herrick wrote to his Valentine, on Valentine's Day, 1648: "Oft have I heard both Youths and Virgins say, Birds chuse their mates, and couple too, this day: But by their flight I never can divine, When I shall couple with my Valentine." The hole is worth reading (listeing) and subscribing.. http://www.writersalmanac.org/ ********