Tag Archives: peace

Christopher Hitchens Recites From Memory Wilfred Owen’s Great Anti-War Poem, “Dulce et Decorum est”

The great Hitch reciting Owens. __________ And here’s the text of the poem from 1917 or 1918: Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our … Continue reading

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A Good Thing a Catholic Congregation is Doing in South Africa

Congregants recently pulled together enough funds to send to university 31 promising students from some of the poorest townships in South Africa: __________ I personally know of a Catholic priest in Southern California who is doing something similar (raising tuition … Continue reading

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The Great Question of Religion: Who’s on First?

No, I’m not joking. True religion boils down to this one question. But before I demonstrate this, I’d like to point to something the literary critic Adam Kirsch recently wrote. He has been reading one page a day from the Talmud, … Continue reading

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Agreement with Iran

It doesn’t mean peace with Iran, but it’s a first step. And Iran is one of the big reasons I supported so vigorously President Obama’s reelection in 2012. I didn’t want to see a war between the United States and … Continue reading

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“Cool Braining” Should Be The New Phrase For Yawning

Or, perhaps, “empathy enhancing.” __________ I take from the above video that maybe “hot heads” should not just count to ten in an effort to not blow up at other people, but perhaps try yawning (“cool braining” or “empathy enhancing”) … Continue reading

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Quote of the Day: Bertrand Russell on What the World Needs Now

The following was spoken by Bertrand Russell in a lecture he gave on March 6, 1927. It seems in need of being said again today: “A good world needs knowledge, kindliness, and courage; it does not need a regretful hankering … Continue reading

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Benjamin Netanyahu and the Politics of Bombing Iran

Andrew Sullivan explains: Netanyahu desperately needs US cover for an attack; and is furious he cannot simply push them around as he was once wont to do. Nonetheless, he has a united Republican front in Romney, Santorum and Gingrich, funded … Continue reading

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War in 2012: My (Pessimistic) Take on the Israeli-Iranian Standoff

An option for dealing with Iran—the one President Obama would certainly prefer if Israel was led by a liberal politician and the Republicans were not so bat-shit crazy—is containment: let the Iranians develop their nuclear bomb(s) and live, as best … Continue reading

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My 2012 Prediction: Barack Obama will Bomb Iran

In the hopes of winning reelection, President Barack Obama will bomb Iran. That’s my prediction for the second half of 2012. I say this for three reasons: Economic sanctions and diplomacy are not slowing Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Netanyahu is … Continue reading

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Nuclear Religious War Watch: An Israel-Iran “Short War”?

Short war scenarios tend to be delusional, but Benjamin Netanyahu appears to think that he can initiate one against Iran. Seriously. The following was reported in the Washington Post yesterday: A “short-war” scenario assumes five days or so of limited Israeli … Continue reading

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2012: Love for President

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On Iran Nukes, Bibi Netanyahu Will Decide the Fate of the 21st Century

Not knowing they were in the presence of live mikes, Haaretz reports that French President Sarkozy and US President Obama were recently recorded trash-talking Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu: Sarkzozy reportedly told Obama he belived Netanyahu to be a “liar” … Continue reading

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Iranian Cleric Calls Israel a Cornered Cat

The Jerusalem Post today quotes Ayatollah Mahmoud Alavi, a senior cleric in Iran, as saying that Israel (which he calls “the Zionist regime” and “a cornered cat”) “will receive a crushing response from the Islamic Republic” if it tries to take out Iran’s … Continue reading

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The Truth of Progress: Steven Pinker Interviewed by Reason Magazine

Steven Pinker’s new book, The Better Angels of Our Nature, on the decline of violence through history, is great—maybe his best book ever. Well, on second thought, let’s say it ties his The Blank Slate. That’s saying a lot. Here’s Pinker talking about The … Continue reading

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2012: Will Iran’s Nuke Program Lead to the End of the World?

Maybe. The Jerusalem Post reported yesterday that Israel’s president, Shimon Peres, . . . believes Israel is closer to utilizing the military option in dealing with Iran’s nuclear program than it is to finding a diplomatic solution to the threat. . … Continue reading

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Life Perspective Adjustment: A Recent NASA Image of the Earth and Moon from 6 Million Miles Away

The below image was recently taken of the Earth and moon by Juno, a NASA space probe currently on its way to Jupiter. Seize the dot.

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HMMD 2011: Have a Meal with a Muslim Day 2011 is Friday, September 16th

Last year, in response to the “Burn the Quran Day” Florida pastor, I thought I’d promote at this blog a counter day; a have-a-meal-with-a-Muslim-day. The idea was to initiate dialogues, not bonfires. And that day in September of 2010 went … Continue reading

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Christianism Watch: The Sign of the Fish Enlisted for War

A pretty darn ironic image: one of the Prince of Peace’s symbols enlisted for nationalist identification and war: . Of course, Constantine did something similar with the cross. But, if a contemporary Christian uses the sign of the fish in … Continue reading

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Chris Hedges 101: Resisting the Moloch of American Plutocracy

In his most recent TruthDig column, former New York Times war correspondent, Chris Hedges, observes that reform in America via personality-based electoral politics has “become a form of magical thinking.” He is, of course, alluding to the hope that accompanied Barack … Continue reading

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A Little Satchidananda for a Sunday

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