Opus 2014-218: The Proof Is in the Pudding

I recently asked myself a question, “How would the results be different with different victors in the Middle East?”

I was reflecting on a column by Thomas Sowell from The Washington Times Weekend Edition, August 4, 2014, page 27.  It is also available at the Washington Times site.

What kind of Middle East would we see if the Palestinians, backed by the Muslim world, won?  In a word:  Genocide.  They would make Hitler look like a bumbling fool.  That sums up the desire of the Arab Muslim world at least.  If we had another Six Day War and the enemies of Israel were able to defeat the IDF, only the intervention of the United States would keep every man, woman and child in Israel from being massacred.  With out current leadership we would hear about sanctions and getting serious as the blood turned the Dead Sea into the Dead Red Sea.

Is Israel wins you would see healthier, happier Palestinians.  At least they would be healthier since nothing seems to make them happy but killing Jews.  Israel functions under the American philosophy of restraining collateral damage.  This is a philosophy that is grounded in the Old Testament

(Proverbs 24:17 KJV)  Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

(Proverbs 25:21 KJV)  If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

It is built into the religion is Israel.  Yes, there were times in the Bible where Israel was told to kill entire populations but it was always specific and focused, not universal.

The New Testament takes it further.  In addition to quoting the above,

(Romans 12:20 KJV)  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Jesus went even further.

(Matthew 5:43-44 KJV)  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

So even if war is forced on a nation it must always be what is called in Christian theology a “limited war.”

Be careful with the modern nonsense of equivalence.  All cultures are not equal.  All ways to God do not arrive at the same goal.  It really does make a difference what you believe and what your God teaches.

homo unius libri

Opus 2014-217: New Terms: Boutique History

My wife recently handed me an article from a magazine and asked me if I had ever heard about it before.  It seems that a man who had been a chaplain in the Civil War moved west and started a town in California around 1908.  He died in 1914 and the town quickly declined and died out.  It is now a state park with the buildings restored. 

Why go to all this trouble?  It was just another ghost town, right?  Wrong.  The one detail I left out was that the chaplain was black.  That made it a chapter in Black history.

As I was trying to explain why anyone would care about a town that failed I came up with the term, “Boutique History.”  I like that.  History is all around us.  I have a book on the history of the Martin Guitar.  I have a book on the history of Burma Shave signs.  You see these kind of things all over.  They are boutique history.  They are valid areas of interest and research but they are only of interest to special groups of people.  Beyond that circle they have no significance.

So read your book about the history of coffee.  Collect early American cook books.  Research the Nash Rambler auto line.  Go for it.  Just don’t get too disappointed when I don’t share your enthusiasm.

homo unius libri

Opus 2014-216: On the Street: Who Is My Neighbor?

The world is getting smaller. 

How many times have you heard that expressed?  I saw a new example of it recently.  I was doing a quick run through Wal-Mart and as I passed through the produce section I saw a heart warming sign that said they were supporting local farmers.  The items for sale were from our neighbors.  The display was full of bananas.

Are you one of the geographically challenged?  I am sure that most of my students would have not batted an eye.  I guess the managers and clerks thought it was good marketing.  Here is the problem.  To my knowledge, which is admittedly not complete, there are no bananas grown anywhere in the United States.  Certainly none are grown in Southern California.  I looked and I think the fruit was labeled as being from Ecuador. 

This is not an attack on Wal-Mart.  I am not a Wal-Mart hater.  They carry a lot of low level merchandise but on some things they have the best price.  They do need to go back to school.

But then again, with the level of rigor our schools are showing, that might not help.

homo unius libri

Opus 2014-215: Miracle Workers and Paycheck Gatherers

I have been spending a lot of time this past week at the hospital as my wife went through serious surgery.  There were complications and a second operation.  Things seem to be settling down and she is coming home.

What always amazes me is how modern miracles can exist side by side with age old personality types.

What the doctors can do is awesome.  Major operations without major openings and scars are normal procedure.  Things that were once life ending are now just serious.  Pain medications are met by others drugs for every step of a hospital stay.  Monitors and sensors keep an eye on everything.  Modern science, technology and medical teams work miracles.

In the midst of that you have people.  Some nurses light up the room when they come in and they come in often.  They seem to sense they are needed and demonstrate a genuine concern and compassion.  Aides can make your day doing the little services you can’t do for yourself.  There are some really good people working in the hospitals.

Then there are the ones who have the same training, same titles and plenty of experience but it is just a paycheck.  They always seem to be on lunch break or with another patient.  They do the least that they can and muddle along.  They make being helpless a dreadful experience.

We saw both kinds.  We have survived another crisis.  Our insurance held up and our cars have kept running.  I am looking forward to not getting up at 3:30 to drive across town to meet with the doctors when they make their rounds.  I am also glad it was not me on the table and in the bed.

homo unius libri

Opus 2014-214: DEFCON: Appearances

What does DEFCON look like?  It generally looks like America except for the male/female ratio.  That is changing as more hackers grow up, get married and bring their wives.  I talked to a lady who was at DEFCON for the first time.  Her children are now grown up enough for her to get away and join us. 

Years ago it had a massive delegation of pale, somewhat autistic teen agers with few social skills.  They have now grown up, some are getting a little sun and some are getting more social but social graces are still not their strong suit.

Many try to find ways to stand out.  Kilts are worn.  I walked behind a guy who had a plastic Viking horned helmet.  Hair is colored with whatever will stand out.  Mohawks and mullets are everywhere.

And increasingly the boring middle is being seen.

homo unius libri

Opus 2014-213: Hang Ups

Why do I prefer e-mail to the telephone?

When my wife wants to make sure a task does not get done she asks me to do something that involves making a phone call.  I hate telephones.  She decided it was because the doctor told me that my hearing was going in the frequencies that are common on phones.  I will let her have that one but it is much deeper.  There are times I wish I could communicate with her through e-mail instead of talk.  Why, you say?

Telephones are intrusive.  They butt in and demand attention.  You can learn to ignore them but the noise still breaks your train of thought and is very irritating.  I can even adjust to that but people around me start getting fidgety if I don’t pick up.  I can chose when to check my e-mail and answer as I see fit.  Telephones put the caller in charge.  E-mail puts me in control.

Telephones do not give time for a measured reply.  People want an answer right now.  Sometimes you end up speaking from ignorance or anger.  Later you wish you had put it differently.  With e-mail you have time to think about how to say what is important.  You can check your facts.  You can cool off.

Telephones are usually not recorded.  I don’t know how many times I have been misquoted by people who claim, “You said...”  Many times what they claim I said is something that I would never have said because I don’t talk that way and it goes against everything I have ever stood for.  An e-mail gives me a record of what was actually communicated.  It is a tool of truth. 

E-mail can be skimmed.  I know you are not verbose but some people take paragraphs to express one word.  I often wish I could put some people on fast forward so we could get to the point.

I can talk on the phone.  I can also eat sushi.  It does not mean I like it.  It does not keep me from avoiding it. 

Do I need to expand about cell phones?

homo unius libri

Opus 2014-212: DEFCON: Definitely Gone

How do you know that DEFCON is really over?  When there are empty spaces at the bar.

Really.  The final session was Sunday around 4:30.  At 2:00 A.M. you could hardly walk through the casino.  You could not hear yourself think.  At least that is what they tell me.  I was in bed by that time.  That is the way it was at 10:00 when I got back from dinner.

Monday morning when I went down to take a load to the car it was almost like a church on Sunday night.  I even found that I could get a cup of coffee without waiting in line for 30 minutes.

I may have more to say but DEFCON is over for this year.

It is now safe to unlock your valuables.

homo unius libri