"In a democracy (‘rule by mob’), those who refuse to learn from history will be the majority and will dictate that everyone else suffer for their ignorance."
Again, from “The Cave of Adullum“:
Whodda Thunk?
An American historian named Robert Davis has done some figgering with his calculator. Turns out that, between 1530 and 1780, more than a million Europeans were captured by corsairs, enslaved, and taken off to North Africa, where their Muslim masters offered employment opportunities.
(We do not think it too early to begin discussions about reparations.)
Another charge to lay at the feet of the Islamofascists/Jihadists.
There is hope. Even among mass media podpeople. A few even have brains they haven’t sent out to the cleaners… and left unclaimed. Maggie Callagher seems to have hers handy and to actually be using it. About last week’s joint Bush/sKerry press conference (AKA, “debate”):
“Bush broke the cardinal rule of television: Never let them see you sweat. I had more sympathy for the smirks, the tics, the facial gestures than most swing voters apparently did because I shared the underlying emotion that caused them: not anger. Not defensiveness. Exasperation. And disgust.
What got to Bush? Here’s what I think: It was not the brilliance of Kerry’s debating tactics but the absurdity of the essence of the new Kerry position: The war on Iraq is an easy thing. The reason bad things are happening is Bush is bungling.
Give that man a wand and slap a pair of wings on his back: John Kerry (news – web sites) is running for fairy godmother! Our allies are opposed to the war? A swoosh of the Kerry wand and President Kerry will have the French and Germans rushing to our rescue in no time. Iraq needs a new army to defend itself? Zap bing — the Kerry touch will make training an Iraqi army faster and easier. Al-Qaida and other terrorists are pouring over the border to join the fight? When Kerry is elected, the guerrilla insurgency will magically disappear. A summit? How brilliant! Why didn’t President Bush think of that?”
Dontcha just love well-written sarcasm? Especially when it fits so well with sKerry’s auto-mythology? (The guy’s a legend in his own mind.)
Go on. Click the link. You’ll be glad you did.
There is hope. Even among mass media podpeople. A few even have brains they haven’t sent out to the cleaners… and left unclaimed. Maggie Callagher seems to have hers handy and to actually be using it. About last week’s joint Bush/sKerry press conference (AKA, “debate”):
“Bush broke the cardinal rule of television: Never let them see you sweat. I had more sympathy for the smirks, the tics, the facial gestures than most swing voters apparently did because I shared the underlying emotion that caused them: not anger. Not defensiveness. Exasperation. And disgust.
What got to Bush? Here’s what I think: It was not the brilliance of Kerry’s debating tactics but the absurdity of the essence of the new Kerry position: The war on Iraq is an easy thing. The reason bad things are happening is Bush is bungling.
Give that man a wand and slap a pair of wings on his back: John Kerry (news – web sites) is running for fairy godmother! Our allies are opposed to the war? A swoosh of the Kerry wand and President Kerry will have the French and Germans rushing to our rescue in no time. Iraq needs a new army to defend itself? Zap bing — the Kerry touch will make training an Iraqi army faster and easier. Al-Qaida and other terrorists are pouring over the border to join the fight? When Kerry is elected, the guerrilla insurgency will magically disappear. A summit? How brilliant! Why didn’t President Bush think of that?”
Dontcha just love well-written sarcasm? Especially when it fits so well with sKerry’s auto-mythology? (The guy’s a legend in his own mind.)
Go on. Click the link. You’ll be glad you did.
Well, I could have resisted, but I decided it was just too delicious… “The Cave of Adullum” again… (Well, if you had gone there, read and commented, I’d not feel so strongly that I needed to give another taste!)
“Allow Us to Quote
The American Spectator reported on the doings of a certain imam in Spain, an imam who goes by the moniker of Mohamed Kamal Mustafa. The good rev. was sentenced to 15 months in the hoosegow for “encouraging violence against women.” Apparently, his progressive 120-page tome entitled Women in Islam was teaching his attentive (very male) readers to avoid striking their wives on their more sensitive parts. Rather, he argued, beatings should use a light rod in order not to leave scars or bruises, and that said beatings should be administered only “on hands and feet.” If, against all precautions, bruises or scars inexplicably appear anyways, the faithful disciplinarian should buy the little lady some shoes and mittens.What these Muslim women really need is a New Testament, some hockey gloves, a helmet, and a Louisville slugger.”
Now you’re cookin’ with gas! Hmmm… maybe there’s something in there for the part of the War to Save Civilization as fought against the Islamofascists: teach the women that they are humans and that they, too, have genuine human rights, then teach them how to shoot an appropriate handgun… and give ’em the handgun they are trained on and 1,000 rounds.
“AMIRIYAH, Iraq — The first time the women at the paramilitary training camp here went for shooting practice most were nervous, some started crying and others did not want to pick up the guns.
Nearly four weeks later, Shemaa Jasem, 22, held up her paper target showing three small holes near the bull’s-eye, and was disgusted. “Bad shooting today,” she said… ”
It’s a good start.
On to Riyadh?
Well, I could have resisted, but I decided it was just too delicious… “The Cave of Adullum” again… (Well, if you had gone there, read and commented, I’d not feel so strongly that I needed to give another taste!)
“Allow Us to Quote
The American Spectator reported on the doings of a certain imam in Spain, an imam who goes by the moniker of Mohamed Kamal Mustafa. The good rev. was sentenced to 15 months in the hoosegow for “encouraging violence against women.” Apparently, his progressive 120-page tome entitled Women in Islam was teaching his attentive (very male) readers to avoid striking their wives on their more sensitive parts. Rather, he argued, beatings should use a light rod in order not to leave scars or bruises, and that said beatings should be administered only “on hands and feet.” If, against all precautions, bruises or scars inexplicably appear anyways, the faithful disciplinarian should buy the little lady some shoes and mittens.What these Muslim women really need is a New Testament, some hockey gloves, a helmet, and a Louisville slugger.”
Now you’re cookin’ with gas! Hmmm… maybe there’s something in there for the part of the War to Save Civilization as fought against the Islamofascists: teach the women that they are humans and that they, too, have genuine human rights, then teach them how to shoot an appropriate handgun… and give ’em the handgun they are trained on and 1,000 rounds.
“AMIRIYAH, Iraq — The first time the women at the paramilitary training camp here went for shooting practice most were nervous, some started crying and others did not want to pick up the guns.
Nearly four weeks later, Shemaa Jasem, 22, held up her paper target showing three small holes near the bull’s-eye, and was disgusted. “Bad shooting today,” she said… ”
It’s a good start.
On to Riyadh?
For a clear-headed, non-fire-breathing, genuine old-time Reaganesque Conservative take on things, Jerry Pournelle is just about as balanced, fair, insightful and clear as any reasonable human being could ask for. Example:
“As we all surmised, everyone including Saddam’s generals believed he had chemical and biological weapons; and close reading of the report indicates that he thought his threat to use them DETERRED BUSH I from taking Baghdad. Thus he wanted to maintain the illusion of having those weapons, both in laboratory and in deployable stockpiles. Each general thought some other general had them.
Given his success in deceiving his own people, is it any wonder that he was able to deceive Bush II, Blair, the French, the Germans, and probably even Mossad although some say the Israelis knew he didn’t have any — but if that is the case they didn’t tell us that. Just about everyone thought he had chemical and biological weapons…”
(And “…just about everyone” includes a universal set of members of the Senate intelligence committee… Let’s see, can anyone recall sKerry and Kid Edwards saying that they believed Saddam had WMD? I thought so. The set of those who can recall the Senator from Taxachussetts and Senator Gone saying exactly that is virtually universal, excepting only those who are too stupid to be allowed to vote under any reasonable system.)
Visit what is arguably the oldest “blog” on the web.
For a clear-headed, non-fire-breathing, genuine old-time Reaganesque Conseervative take on things, Jerry Pournelle is just about as balanced, fair, insightful and clear as any reasonable human being could ask for. Example:
“As we all surmised, everyone including Saddam’s generals believed he had chemical and biological weapons; and close reading of the report indicates that he thought his threat to use them DETERRED BUSH I from taking Baghdad. Thus he wanted to maintain the illusion of having those weapons, both in laboratory and in deployable stockpiles. Each general thought some other general had them.
Given his success in deceiving his own people, is it any wonder that he was able to deceive Bush II, Blair, the French, the Germans, and probably even Mossad although some say the Israelis knew he didn’t have any — but if that is the case they didn’t tell us that. Just about everyone thought he had chemical and biological weapons…”
(And “…just about everyone” includes a universal set of members of the Senate intelligence committee… Let’s see, can anyone recall sKerry and Kid Edwards saying that they believed Saddam had WMD? I thought so. The set of those who can recall the Senator from Taxachussetts and Senator Gone saying exactly that is virtually universal, excepting only those who are too stupid to be allowed to vote under any reasonable system.)
Visit what is arguably the oldest “blog” on the web.
While it’s easy, this close to an admittedly important election, to concentrate on political events that will have an effect on the War to Preserve Civilization, it’s also important to check ourselves to see what we believe (no, not “believe” as in “I believe the Yankees will win ______”; believe as in, what informs and compels our true assent in our deeds) and why.
Here’s a kick in the pants:
“Most of us look in Abraham’s direction and long. Job’s response is easier. I certainly couldn’t play Abraham in front of a flamefaced child. We’re all heads-down, counting mint and anise and cummin, while the Trinity puts on this amazing opera of history. Oh, to have the instincts of Abraham. To be quick enough to recognize the dangerousness of God in the face of evil and respond in awe: `Dammit. You’re going to raise him from the dead, aren’t you?’ ” –Douglas Jones, “Playing with Knives: God the Dangerous” Credenda Agenda, Volume 16, Issue 3
Hie thee to Credenda Agenda and strengthen your foundations. Even if the strength comes from arguing with Doug Jones, Doug Wilson, Duck Schuler and the others, you’ll come away having done some real thinking. Jared Miller’s article, “Schools, Secularism, and Slippery Slopes” is a clear exposition of the dangers to society when schools make religious expression forbidden. Just read it. It’s not necessarily what you think…
And who, having once been exposed, could live without the ultimate curmudgeonly commentary, “The Cave of Adullum”?
“Umm . . .
Someone sent on to us a fundraising letter from, er, a somewhat specialized charitable organization. This organization is dedicated to the noble goal of preventing the National Park Service from torturing donkeys in the Mojave Desert. And we quote, “Please— the innocent donkeys of the West are being tortured . We can save them together. Please rush your DEMAND FOR SAFE HAVEN FOR BURROS back today—along with the most caring gift you can spare to save their lives!”Underlining and caps are all from the original. The problem is that this is from California (surprise!), and their governor is pro-choice. Nothing we can do.”
Just go.
While it’s easy, this close to an admittedly important election, to concentrate on political events that will have an effect on the War to Preserve Civilization, it’s also important to check ourselves to see what we believe (no, not “believe” as in “I believe the Yankees will win ______”; believe as in, what informs and compels our true assent in our deeds) and why.
Here’s a kick in the pants:
“Most of us look in Abraham’s direction and long. Job’s response is easier. I certainly couldn’t play Abraham in front of a flamefaced child. We’re all heads-down, counting mint and anise and cummin, while the Trinity puts on this amazing opera of history. Oh, to have the instincts of Abraham. To be quick enough to recognize the dangerousness of God in the face of evil and respond in awe: `Dammit. You’re going to raise him from the dead, aren’t you?’ ” –Douglas Jones, “Playing with Knives: God the Dangerous” Credenda Agenda, Volume 16, Issue 3
Hie thee to Credenda Agenda and strengthen your foundations. Even if the strength comes from arguing with Doug Jones, Doug Wilson, Duck Schuler and the others, you’ll come away having done some real thinking. Jared Miller’s article, “Schools, Secularism, and Slippery Slopes” is a clear exposition of the dangers to society when schools make religious expression forbidden. Just read it. It’s not necessarily what you think…
And who, having once been exposed, could live without the ultimate curmudgeonly commentary, “The Cave of Adullum”?
“Umm . . .
Someone sent on to us a fundraising letter from, er, a somewhat specialized charitable organization. This organization is dedicated to the noble goal of preventing the National Park Service from torturing donkeys in the Mojave Desert. And we quote, “Please— the innocent donkeys of the West are being tortured . We can save them together. Please rush your DEMAND FOR SAFE HAVEN FOR BURROS back today—along with the most caring gift you can spare to save their lives!”Underlining and caps are all from the original. The problem is that this is from California (surprise!), and their governor is pro-choice. Nothing we can do.”
Just go.
When I can figure out how to add a blogroll to the sidebar, Carol Platt Liebau’s blog will have to be there. Worth reading.