The Liberal Artist

To study Law or not?

2006-10-25T14:25:00.000-04:00

As I near the end of my usefulness as Mr. Mom, I wonder where to go.

Teaching again does not excite me as it once did. I feel like doing that might be an easy way out, like settling. Still, it is the most practical course.

Then ther eis this spectre of studying Law and going for a PhD. I want to be a lawyer as much as I want to teach...but I want to study Law in its white towered glory. My friend (from St. John's) took the step last year and loves it. I am encouraged. It's the real-world lawyers who see it poorly.

Six Months

2006-09-02T10:30:00.000-04:00

So much has happened and not happened. I am sure that any readers I had have long since forgotten me. So, do I use this blog as a forum for formulating my own thoughts?

Is Law School and a Political Science PhD a good route. I have goten too excited and now fallen back on my procrastination. I took some baby steps, but nothing definitive. I need to call Malbasa and Jack Doyle to say the least.

Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform

2006-03-29T14:29:00.000-05:00

After one of my best friend's bachelor party I was struck by something. I hesitated to call it luck or coincidence. Still it was a memorable experience.

My friend's party was not a typical Buffalo style one. It was subdued and more like I imagine a DC bachelor party might be like. His friends are impressive. Only two of us were from his high school circle. The other and I felt a bit out of our depth. It should be noted that he is a PhD Chemist working for the Navy in DC. While another in the group, who is a CIA analyst my friend met at Georgetown University, mentioned his lack of academic credentials; I realized we all felt strange.

We went to a great steakhouse in DC's Dupont Circle. Afterwards we played poker in the Jury's Doyle Hotel suite. It didn't last too late as most had to work Friday morning. My parents had the kids back in Rochester, New York, so it was a day off for a Mr. Mom.

The next morning I went running and thought about how close I could be to the DC lifestyle. Still, I had opted to move to small town Annapolis and be a high school teacher. Perhaps I downplay my intelligence and the prestige of my career choices. But, it is a bit more romantic to say you work for the State Department or the CIA or FBI.

After running I began to empty the room and check out. I loaded my luggage, the remaining Yuengling, and Coors Light onto the cart and got into the elevator. Being St. Pat's Day, my fellow rider asked with an Irish brog about the Shamrock on my South Buffalo Rugby jacket. I explained and he smiled.

I realized Jury's Doyle was an Irish owned chain. He mentioned he was in town to see GW Bush. I assumed he meant in a tourist sense and we both chuckled. Last week I picked up the Irish Voice and read about the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. Apparently these Irish-Americans packed DC to rally with McCain, Hillary Clinton and others. Perhaps my new friend was there for that. However, he had a suit and not the ILIR t-shirt.

The paper also covered Sinn Fein and Gerry Adams recent trip to DC on St. Pat's Day. My man was not Adams but maybe part of the delegation? Was his visit to Bush a tourist general joke or did he have an actual meeting with he Administration? Most tourist don't carry briefcases either.

Needless to say, I was tired from...running... and could only spit out the erudite phrase: "tell GW he sucks."

There is comfort in knowing that if he was Sinn Fein, he probably agreed with me that day.

2006-03-23T08:54:00.000-05:00

If you love out-of-date blogs you must love this one. The computer hard drive went down and I lost everything and time. Several live human beings expressed an interest in the blogs at my friend's wedding. They have probably lost interest as that was a few days ago and now is the first time I am blogging in weeks.

Stay tuned, the ideas are welling up.

Michael Yon

2006-02-02T08:34:00.000-05:00

Life is about taking chances and Michael Yon deserves some admiration. His reporting has be nominated for a Pulitzer. It is clearly more than a "blog."

He recommends a new story in the January 2006 National Geographic. There is a preview here. As always the magazine does an excellent job visually, at least as far as the slideshow preview is concerned. Ia m sure that the article is top-notch as well. It makes me wonder whether the Iraq war may be valuable even if it does nothing else but give the Kurds a chance...

Perhaps we should consider this as Genocide in Africa reaches our ears.

Shadow Company

2006-02-01T16:07:00.000-05:00

I have been think about how to write about Shadow Company.

I have also been reluctant to publish any review without release information. The forum associated with the website has information now. It is scheduled for showing at the South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) on 6 March 2006.

How to use this Blog

2006-02-01T15:29:00.000-05:00

I have been strugglking to find time to write the kind of essays I wanted. I wonder if it posting quick ideas and future research projects is acceptable? These short posts are probably better than the droughts.

Michael Totten's blog is good. He used the term "fisking" in my arrogance I thought he'd mistyped and meant "filching." Is Wikipedia the new Oxford English Dictionary? Fisk.

I was intrigued by the New Republic's recent(?) article about arms dealer Viktor Bout by Farah (book forthcoming). It played into my recent completion of Sleeping with the Devil by Robert Baer.

An article about Hamas, also from TNR.

From Foreign Policy...Think Again: Islamiist Terrorist.

I guess one of the upshots of using the blog like this is that I can keep my Bookmarks/Favorites minimalized and close the many windows I'm leaving open for later...

Democracy

2006-01-29T20:45:00.000-05:00

Tocqueville is careful to clarify that he observed Democracy in America and not necessarily Democracy as a whole. I think that our push to expand it throughout the world, and especially in the Mideast is clumsy policy. What is it that might make democracy stick there? As Americans our personality lends itself to successful democracy.

As Hamas is dangerously elected the world is wondering how to react. Hitler's ascenion was democratic. Should the world have intervened in that elective process? To be sure Hamas is openly militaristic and Anti-Semetic. Can the world tell this elected government that we will not deal withthem unless they drop these two platforms? Is it too late to object? Palestinians elected them based on what they are.

Is the Google China situation akin? Can we fault Google for respecting a country's laws despite Western abhorrence?

Western and Eastern thought

2006-01-27T18:47:00.000-05:00

As I work through Deus Caritas Est I am drawn to consult the little I know of Eastern thought. What is it about the world that still separates us?

Could a Pope be Right?

2006-01-26T05:56:00.000-05:00

I am finally in the throes of my adolescent religious rebellion, I hope. As such, I shunned most Catholicism because of some disagreement. The benefit of that has been the ability to search for Truth in other "religions" and philosophies. The danger has been prejudice for Catholicism.

I am spending much of the last couple years learning that marriage isn't an easy and romantic notion (as portrayed by "happily ever after" wishful thinking). It makes me wonder if perhaps the Catholic Church's insistence on pre-marriage counseling and education might have been wiser than me?

The Pope is making headlines with his new Encyclical.

I hope to read it and comment in my "Library" blog.

Old Soundbites, I Mean Quotes:

2006-01-19T23:07:00.000-05:00

I have been muddling through the Kafka-esque necessities of helping my Rugby Club become a non-profit. Anyway Wes Clark of the Western Suburbs team has a great site with notable military quotes.

Working out today I listened to Robert Baer's Sleeping with the Enemy (see my "Library")I have also spent my evening watching Ian McKellen's version of Shakepeare's Richard III. Its World War Two setting is very thought provoking. Then I watched Deutsche Welle's European Journal and, finally, CNN's Anderson 360 horrendously scanty report on the new Osama Bin Laden tape.

Some Quotes copied and pasted from Wes Clark's site.

"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edge sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar." - Julius Caesar

"Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on that strange voyage can measure the tides end hurricanes he will encounter. The Statesman who yields to war fever must realise that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events. Antiquated War Offices, weak, incompetent or arrogant Commanders, untrustworthy allies, hostile neutrals, malignant Fortune, ugly surprises, awful miscalculations all take their seat at the Council Board on the morrow of a declaration of war. Always remember, however sure you are that you can easily win, that there would not be a war if the other man did not think he also had a chance!" - Winston Churchill

And if you weren't feeling good about humanity yet, here's a couple more:
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."- Albert Einstein

"Only the dead have seen an end to war."- Plato

Collateral Damage, Political and Physical

2006-01-16T07:40:00.000-05:00

The recent missle strikes in Pakistan have set off a storm of protest. There are several issues at work here.

First, the US needs Pakistan to become a partner in the "global conflict with terrorism." This seems far off to begin with, except maybe for during the Cold War? After the recent incident it is less likely. The Washington Post reports that opposition groups have protested together against the US. Any support from them seems to either be superficial or inconsistent.

Secondly and related to the first issue is that the Afghan-Pakistan border is mountainous and vaporous. Pakistan's enforcement there appears to be largely superficial. This is probably where we lost al Qaeda as the West launched a traditional Western war in the country.

In the thrid place, this "global conflict with terrorism" is not an epic Western-type of battle. It is itself vaporous. The October/November Foreign Affairs has an article advocating an "oil-spot" strategy in Iraq. In the strategy the Coalition Forces tackle insurgency piecemeal as opposed to the present search for a pitched battle and annhiliation of the enemy. The author admits it is problematic.

Americans seem to be unwilling to invest life. Perhaps it is the video game mentality? What I mean by that is that I've recently been playinga World War II shooter video game. In it your player is able to dispatch multiple enemy without dying. It is unrealistic. I am advocating an acceptance of more military casualities as a consequence of this war. The statement is difficult to profess and even more troubling to type. Vietnam statistics are touted as a comparable standard.

This new American penchant is reflected here. The recent bombing involved unmanned aircraft nad highlights our reluctance to face danger. Perhaps technology will never really replace "boots on the ground" in military conflict. Could the collateral damage to civilians have been reduced or eliminated if we had soldiers performing such a surgical attack?

SHADOW COMPANY DVD

2006-01-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

Nick at Purpose films sent me an (advance?) copy of Shadow Company. I previewed for the first time last night. I have to say that I am very impressed.

I tried to take notes in order to write an in-depth response. The video covered so much and did it so well that I wanted to watch it again before I wrote. Still, I felt the need to say something as soon as possible.

Purpose Films

Shadow Company

Updates to my Library Blog

2006-01-10T06:59:00.000-05:00

I having been reading prolifically, for me at least, over the last couple of weeks. I have finished three books that were recently given to me. I updated my "Library" site with posts/reader responses.

I need to get back into the current events swing. I still have the "Shadow Company" (about Security Contractors) video to watch. Discovery/Times network has put out a couple interesting programs that I have on DVR (digital video recorder).

I also started my new job as a preschool aide. It is quite different from teaching Secondary and Collegiate students. I hope to get posting this experience on my Mr. Mom Blog.

Holidays are over

2006-01-09T17:00:00.000-05:00

A couple of the previous generation were rambling on about hte state of kids today. It is the same conversation that ever generation has, or so I suspect. Each one is a little bit weaker. Interestingly I was just begining tor ead the Penguin abridged version of Gibbon's Decline and Fall.

All of this leads me back to the Holiday break. I am hoping that my hiatus has not let readers slip away.

from NPR Books

2005-12-28T19:56:00.000-05:00

NPR books does a great job. Here are two books worth reading...

Frank McCourt - TEACHER MAN

2005-12-27T14:37:00.000-05:00

According to the Powell's Books website the publisher calls Frank McCourt's latest book “long-awaited.” In one of the review-a-days Powell's emails me is not so kind to Teacher Man.

His first book, Angela's Ashes, also a movie now, was a wonderful retelling of a chaotic and miserable childhood. Reading it is an exercise in rubber-necking of a nostalgic sense. The writing is easy and flows as if one is listening to the seanache (Irish storyteller). It is important to note that Frank McCourt is an American born Irishman. That is, he is born in New York City but grows up in Ireland. The tale really epitomizes the romantic notion many Americans, especially me, have towards our supposed Irish-ness. It is in this connection that Angela's Ashes found selling power, at least for me.

'Tis was a continuation of that story. Fittingly I “read” this using audio tapes and driving between Annapolis, Maryland, and Western New York. Frank McCourt writes well. It may be great literature but more likely, it is just an engaging tale. In it I find connections and commonalities that make reading his writing worthwhile. It reminds me of my Jesuit high school class about the Book of Revelations. There, Father Jack regaled us with personal histories. I remember many of them fondly, though not much about the Apocalypse.

After reading 'Tis, I want to learn more about McCourt's teaching career. It is the type of career that evokes romantic notions of selflessness and of childhood callings. Everyone “knows” teachers and what they are like, or imagined to be. I hate to admit I found myself becoming a teacher more from esteem issues and doors closing rather than the romantic ideology.

So, for me, Teacher Man, is “long-awaited.” It is the part of his story I can really connect with. The negative review I read reinforces my reaction to his writing. His writing is valuable for everyone and deserves real attention. Some universal truth is hidden in it. However, not all readers have the affliction we English teachers have. One of his students sums us up: “Why can't we just leave it alone? Just take the story and feel sorry for the kid and the mother and her countenance and, maybe, the dad, and not analyze it to death. ...you know what English teachers do to poems. Analyze, analyze, analyze. Dig for the deeper meaning. That's what turned me against poetry. Someone should dig a hole and bury the deeper meaning.”

Robert Baer "Sleeping With the Devil"

2005-12-23T08:15:00.000-05:00

Wool ina Sea of Sheep recommended this book about corruption in the Gulf area. The subtitle is "How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude"

Looks interesting. Here's a link to it at Powell's Books.

"Patriotic?" OR "If You Want Security..."

2005-12-22T14:07:00.000-05:00

Here's a quote that I've been thinking about since 9/11 and more so now that Bush is circumventing the law and the Foreign Intelligence Security Act (FISA) courts.

"If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given
medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom."
Dwight D. Eisenhower (brainyquote.com)
Continued...

A few things bear relevance beyond the mere triviality. Eisenhower was in command of the Army and Allied ("Coalition") Forces in the European theater of World War II. He held together a egotistical cadre of personalities to defeat Nazi Germany. He became the president of the United States as a Republican. His Vice-President was Nixon. Commentators and politicians today tend to describe Bush and his Administration as one that wants to regain the confidence needed in order to bolster the strength and power int eh Executive Branch that Nixon destroyed.

The ancients often discussed the various forms of government. Among these discussions it is important to note that even in Athens many decried democracy as "mob rule." While the U.S. government is more accurately described as republican (representative versus direct democracy); it is clearly more viable than “mob rule.” One of the inherent problems in democratic forms of government is in its ability to move quickly.

This ability is part of the executive power. It is here that Bush is claiming his right to hold detainees without due process of law. Again, he claims this necessity in ordering secret wiretaps. Many news outlets reported the break on this story several days ago. The order is clearly a violation in the spirit of our American liberty if not also in its law. The order seems very much like a tyrannical power as it was done in secret and not in view of our elected representatives (other than himself and Chaney?).

It is with something bordering on disheartening disbelief that I learned of the FISA courts. Perhaps I should be embarrassed in admitting that I did not know of these courts and the Law creating them. Indeed, even now it is difficult to say that I understand them. I do appreciate their necessity both practically in quick execution of warrants and metaphysically in protecting our rights from an individual (or small group) tyrant (or oligarchs). Why then, does Bush and his administration feel compelled remove himself from the necessity of Law?

I try to divorce my thought from ideology. I certainly lean towards the “liberal”political ideals, but not beholden to them. Emerson's hobgoblin of foolish minds always perplexed me. It contributes to a wariness in all that he said. But perhaps he meant what the topic sentence of this paragraph means? I have given Bush the benefit of the doubt. I don't agree with many of his socio-economic beliefs or the decisions he makes. I hoped they were more differences in opinion and not in ethics or morality.

By his secret order I have lost faith in him as a human being. Maybe the far left has something in vilifying him? Lately his actions certainly transgress a pure-hearted defense of the American way. Cliches are dangerous and any other suggestions here would be greatly appreciated but: the road to hell is paved...

Googling Earth

2005-12-22T13:59:00.000-05:00

The New Zealand Herald has an article about Google Earth. I downloaded the free-version of the program from Google.com a while back. It provides satellite pictures of the earth. The novelty for a stay-at-home-dad is merely that, novelty. Sadly most of the personal areas (my house, parents, etc...) fall outside of what one might call focused photos. I guess semi-rural towns in Western New York don't have a lot of satellite photos taken of them.

I remember that one of the on-line map services (Mapquest.com probably) had the option of seeing satellite photos along with a map or directions. Neither Mapquest or Yahoo!Maps has that option now. Yahoo does offer traffic updates.

All of this leads back to the Herald's article. In it, several countries contend that Google Earth presents a security risk. The logic of the claim is easy to follow: certain security sensitive places have accurate satellite photos. This, logically, makes it easier for criminals and terrorists, not to mention foreign spies, to attack. This cannot be that simple.

Still, I wonder why Google does not just “blur” pictures of these sensitive areas. Some may be of touristic interest, as in Buckingham Palace or the White House. In the end though it appears the world has no legal ground to contend Google's rights. The only appeal appears to be to the UN who, more than most national governments, had the foresight to regulate future technology and the use of satellite photos. Google is a US company and certainly, as far as concerns this, has no privileged security clearances to have access to sensitive photos in the US or elsewhere.

In the end one needs to ask if Google Earth is worth the hassle or whether these claims are superficial? Am I making it too easy to get Google Earth?

Big Brother Bush

2005-12-17T08:26:00.000-05:00

My intent for this blog is not as an editorial journal but something more "academic." Moreover, I am not one to toss out conspiracy theories but is this even a theory anymore? It is clear from my news reading lists (aka Washington Post) that I tend to be more liberal than conservative but I like to think I'm not necessarily one-sided but look at the issues. The authors quote Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), "There is no doubt that this is inappropriate" who supports the Patriot Act renewal.

Dan Eggen and Charles Lane of have written an article about some very, very disturbing revelations. G.W. Bush signed an order for warrant-less surveillance on U.S. citizens stateside. I understand that the information is necessary for our protection and often time-sensitive. This surveillance probably occurs all illegally anyway. To have our chief executive legalize it is beyond dangerous. The Patriot Act is a form of martial law and has arguments in its favor but this breach of the Constitution is what its opponents have been arguing.

I am not sure where I fall on the Constitutionality of privacy. Condoning this Big Brotherism is one thing, turning a blind eye a second thing, but to sign an order for it.

Iraq is Not Vietnam

2005-12-16T14:40:00.000-05:00

I just surfed Arts and Letters Daily again and linked to another Frederick Kagan article. It looks pretty relevant to the New Republic article by Lawrence Kaplan.

Private Security differs from Mercenaries

2005-12-14T21:23:00.000-05:00

There are a lot of great sites about these contractors. Here are some of the sites I have come across in my research:
Frontline program "Private Warriors"
Center For Public Integrity
An early Audit of Aegis-Iraq (it concerns unvetted personnell)
An Article in Foreign Policy: "Think Again" by Deborah Avant
Foreign Affairs, 1 March 2005, "Outsourcing War" by Peter Singer
More Links from PBS and Frontline
Erinys
Blackwater
Halliburton/KBR

Remembering Lessons

2005-12-13T15:35:00.000-05:00

The New Republic, on-line, posted a great article today by Lawrence Kaplan entitled “Forgetting the Lessons of Vietnam.” It is worth reading and helps to explain two other works that I've been thinking about. Victor Davis Hanson and Tom Clancy are hardly from the same realm though they both apply here.

Continued...

Hanson has made his career primarily as an academic. For me his most influential work stems from the study of Ancient Greece, Western Way of War. In that work he discusses the perception that Westerners have about warfare. The problem we have is that we expect war to consist of clear battles and consequences.

Clancy has made a career out of being an amateur militarist. What I mean is that from a career in insurance he built his hobby into a force of military expertise. Initially he used it to create adventurous fiction. Its technical detail was so astute that even the military has come to recognize him as an expert in many realms. From this he created a line of texts for layman who wanted to learn more about specific aspects and platforms in the military. The book that is most relevant here is Shadow Warriors.

Kaplan's article echoes aspects of both men. In our national psyche we tend to value the history of World War II. It is an easy war to really understand in that sides were clearly drawn and delineated. Korea may have danced on the fringes of this style, this Western warfare. Vietnam and military operations since have not. As the Cold War fades into the romantic memory of die-hard Western warriors, the US military is slow to accept the tactics and strategies required for a “new” style of warfare. Clancy's Shadow Warriors helps to outline the history of special operations. In that work it is clear that traditional militarists are reluctant to adapt.

One respondent to the TNR article seems to miss the very point of the article. He points out that our forces are controlled by a civilian government. In doing so he is ignoring a subtle but important nuance. The terms “tactics” and “strategy” are misunderstood and misapplied. The article focuses on the need to change our military tactics in order to combat insurgency (as opposed to pitched battle between clearly recognizable military forces). Tactics have not adapted. Strategy is the overall plan of a “war.” The respondent is right in the assertion that our elected leaders bear a huge brunt of that responsibility, and among those, the Commander-in-Chief is the pinnacle.

It is in this subtlety that Kaplan's article bears its value. Strategy is a political objective in the sense that the projection and use of force are an essential tools to achieve a larger, political goal. (Frederick Kagan has an excellent article on this subject). The administration and our military brass were not clear in their understanding of strategy and the need to change the public perception of warfare itself. This perception of warfare, in turn, affect the tactics employed. The American public expected pitched battles, tactics, and victory, strategy. When President Bush declared “Victory” we expected a surrender, a peace settlement, and a treaty. We did not expect to continue fighting.

Strategy then most also evolve. In WWII strategy ended with surrender. Victory meant the end of the war. Strategy gave way to diplomacy and drawing terms. Today, in Iraq, victory comes only at the end of the entire political/military process. Our minds divorce force from diplomacy, ergon from logos. They are not separate but intertwined.

In writing this response I have been struggling to verbalize my ideas. I am drawn to a metaphor. As I wrote I knew that I wanted to illustrate some points. These points are like to tactics in that they are individual and minor compared to the overall thesis of my essay. This thesis is akin to a strategy. Students have a difficult time understanding the subtleties here. Many start an essay with minor points and no clear thesis. I'll admit I did that today. This is problematic in that they then focus on revising the points to make a paper better. Usually the problem actually lies in the formulation of a thesis. If they work on a thesis the rest sorts itself out.

By focusing on the tactics Americans have missed the strategy. Tactics need to evolve as part of a strategy and not in reverse. Our strategy is hinging on our tactics. Perhaps the Bush administration should have publicized its National Strategy first. It would save a lot of revisions.

Where is the Aegis Iraq Trophy Video Taking Me?

2005-12-13T14:43:00.000-05:00

I've been working on my previous essay for a few days. There is a soon-to-be released video about private military forces. It appears to put a lot of context to the realities of modern warfare and the use of PSD ("mercenaries" for lack of a neutral, recognizable term). Check out the trailer at www.contractiraq.com.

Personal Security Detail or Gun-Slinger

2005-12-13T10:13:00.000-05:00

In his most famous work, Machiavelli clearly and definitively warns the Prince about the use of mercenaries. There is a reason some Books are great and universal themes is one of those reasons. Several news outlets recently discovered the website and forum of Aegis-Iraq. They unearthed a video that had been posted. The Washington Post has an article out about one video. (There is a link to the video, with commentary, here).

The company, and website, clearly point out that the site is not owned by the company but for the use of its employees. “This site does not belong to AEGIS DEFENSE LTD it belongs to the men on the ground who are the heart and soul of the company." This distinction will be important as the company and the US Army have respectively launched an inquiry and an investigation. I have been on several times and posted a few questions, especially about the video and its nature. It is clear that at least a few other outsiders have also registered and interacted on the forum. Their messages range in tone, as do the replies. One, “Ghandi” offers a disparaging judgment of the industry, while ironically saying he is not there to judge but merely share his comments. (He pastes them to another site and pronounces a verdict).
Continued...

The Aegis video reminds me of one from CBS' News website, "Front Seat Views." The video is described as made by the MTV generation of soldiers. It shows what I would call "boys being boys" and blowing stuff up among bike tricks and video spoofs. Perhaps the Aegis video falls into the boys being boys category? Chances are that requires a far more subtle interpretation.

One of the subtleties comes in terminology. The Aegis-Iraq forum abounds with the typical military penchant for acronyms. Interestingly though the only time “mercenary” shows up is when I use it. The easiest difference is that a mercenary is paid to provide military services whereas a PSD is contracted to provide security for a client. I would argue that the PSD, by having a specific legal contract, knows in advance the guidelines and parameters of a mission. The real scrutiny must be seated in the contracts themselves. As professionals the PSDs negotiate and adhere to the contracts. Even then, all industries are prone to un-professionalism. In essence PSD is not an offensive military force but merely a defensive one. In this way PSD performs a function that Coalition forces cannot.

The perception that I have is that the PSD is a necessary part of modern warfare. Some critics of the war in Iraq simply claim that we are after oil. Would the perception be reinforced if Coalition forces providing protection services or bodyguards? How would priorities be sorted? Monetary worth? Political cronyism? Bribery? This is purely hypothetical in that it is doubtful the forces are large enough to perform this function for the various civilians who need it. Moreover, it would be a strange and direct bedding of politics, business, and military. I think that there must be a separation of the three to as much an extent as possible. Surely Machiavelli's warning encompasses this idea.

The reactions to the video have not varied across the internet. From the few articles and postings I have pulled up the reaction has been negative. My initial feelings were also negative. It has all the makings of a “boys will be boys” rock video. It contains short clips from the rear window of an SUV. The only true sound you hear clearly is the rattle of automatic rifle fire. Dubbed over the entire video is Elvis' “Mystery Train.” The lyrics seem irrelevant compared to the tempo and tone of the instrumental. One post on the PSD company's forum, clearly from the MTV generation, advises using Nine Inch Nails for the next video. NIN is a bit more heavy and aggressive than Elvis.

But if one is willing to set aside his or her initial reaction there is a lot to learn. I would venture to argue that spell the US' all-volunteer force and festering anti-war baggage a troop increase would spell the end of the Iraq democratization project. It would leave an Iraq to the hands of the privateers and insurgents. For all his evil, Saddam kept a diverse and conflicted country whole. If Victor Davis Hanson's, from Western Way of War, hypothesis is correct the West has a problematic view of warfare. Westerners expect traditional clashes of uniformed forces. We expect pitched battle. As the “war” ended, we expected treaties and peace. We expected the War to be over. The Bush administration alludes to this perception in its rhetoric. But even now, there will be no epic battles for ground. The insurgents are forced to abandon military tactics and resort to the tactics of the weak in the face of a powerful military force. These factors lead to the necessity for PSDs.

The video itself finally deserves some background context. The initial negative reactions stem from the seemingly indiscriminate use of automatic weapons on harmless civilians. Our perception of warfare does not square with the reality of attacks in Iraq. Most Americans can recall Jack Nicholson's' famous “you can't handle the truth.” It would be wonderful if the horrible necessities of war were abolished. However, man is man and war is inevitably extreme. This is not a situation that many can comprehend. In many senses Nicholson's' character, like this video, is far more subtle than simply immoral. Unlike his character the video shouldn't be condemned.

The explanations offered for the shootings in the video are vital. A new video on the PSD industry is being released. In the trailer a PSD points out that the first shots are generally warning shots. Problematic here though is that the PSDer makes a callous remark about ricochets. If the vehicle continues to advance the engine is destroyed. In the video one can see a vehicle destroyed and the driver get out, clearly feeling the danger to have passed. Finally, in ever clip and picture I have seen of PSDs the vehicle is a white Land Cruiser. The “tail end Charlie,” last vehicle in a convoy, has a huge sign with at least Arabic and English warnings. In light of these considerations the video deserves further scrutiny. The rifle fire corresponds with civilian vehicles that appear to be advancing towards the convoy. Indeed, one brown Mercedes continues to speed forward despite the warnings shots and only stops when it crashes. It is an inaccurate metaphor but living in the DC area I was wary of any group of large Black Chevy SUVs with dark windows. I imagined them to be be Secret Service motorcades. Now if one's window opened and a rifle appeared...but DC is far safer than Iraq and the idea seems ridiculous and contrived to many of us here.

None of this is not to say the video and the PSD industry deserves a pass. Indeed, they deserve heavy scrutiny and clear parameters for their operations (which they may have). One issue that is dangerous is that these civilian “contractors” are immune from Iraqi law. I am sure that this was a necessary aspect of early operations. But I wonder when the time will come for it to be lifted and them to be held accountable.

Ran into someone very interesting.

2005-12-09T20:14:00.000-05:00

I'm working up a piece in response to private security forces (mercenaries) inspired by a Washington Post article.

Anyway I'm adding another book to my wishlist.

Gates of Fire

2005-12-09T11:39:00.000-05:00

I've long lost my copy of Steven Pressfield's "adventure" book. Some might elevate it to "historical fiction." Though I'm a snob who seems to unconsciously disdain a book in pulp fiction size paperback, it is something more. I lend it and talk about it with lacrosse players. Gates of Fire

Michael Yon has a blog entitled "Gates of Fire." Now I know why.

Googling Embedded Blogs

2005-12-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

I found a couple pretty good ones. Maybe it is my perception or proclivity but they ones I have found point to their independence.
Michael Yon's is one of my favorite:

OFF TO WAR is an excellent and well-produced show. The problem with it, however, is that it has a delay. The delay comes from the time and effort it takes to produce a viable television program. That delay is crucial in that we must beleive in the capability of Americans to affect change on a daily basis. In this way OFF TO WAR and the views of its "characters" are out-dated. Again, perhaps that's not the focus of the show...but it is symptomatic of it.

Technology has changed the way in which war coverage is available to the masses. Our world moves much too fast to accept delays. Even sports coverage suffers from even a few minutes time-delay. What I mean to say with all of this is that Blogging has brought real-time and "live" coverage. Society may not be able to cope with this but it is here nevertheless.

Laws of War

2005-12-07T19:55:00.000-05:00

It appears that the nature of warfare has been changed since September 11, 2001. Change is inevitable but is it subtle or holisitic for war?

i'm listening to NPR's stream over the internet but stumbled onto an article entitled Will Terrorism Rewrite the Laws of War? I'll have to come back to it.

I know that Victor Davis Hanson has much to say as a Classicist.

Honor, Duty, Pragmatism-Col. Westhusing

2005-12-03T06:29:00.000-05:00

Col. Ted Westhusing passed in early June 2005. He had volunteered for duty in Iraq and was supervising some private security companies. More than that though, he was a former West Point Professor and military ethicist. After a three month investigation, his death was ruled a suicide. Arts and Letter Daily links to an LA Times story

His death is very intriguing. The physical circumstances of it are clear and explainable. The metaphysical are not clear. I wonder if it is a microcosm of two larger pictures. First, the war in Iraq itself and secondly, war in general.
Continued...

As a young boy and despite my parents disinterest in violence or the military, I developed an admiration for warfare. It was not necessarily the violence though its sublimity certainly affected me. Watching puffs of snow during a snowball fight evoked images of the Revolutionary War. My friend looked at me and simply commented on the awe in my eyes. He understood at that moment that playing guns in the woods was more than a game for me.

I admired too the metaphysics of it all. I attended the Naval Academy for a short time. It was both a dream and disillusionment. Reality has a way of disbursing Romance. Shining shoes and waxing floors are, now that I am mature enough to look back, important steps in military education. The attention to detail goes far beyond shoes and floors. Still, I was a spoiled boy and those details were tedious. I like big ideas and big pictures.

Perhaps I like them too much. The reality of having to compromise comes home even amidst the insulated world of the Academy. Maybe that’s the point? The other day I noticed ESPN is producing a movie about cheating at West Point. I was at Navy in the wake of a major Electrical Engineering scandal. I was part of an embarrassing fiasco of my own stupidity. It was in that intoxication I came to an epiphany of sorts.

In trouble for drinking and still pretty drunk a friend and I got caught. The security guards did more than their job. They had fun with us. When we were caught my friend and I confessed and planned to be honest and accept the consequences. The rent-a-cops harassed us and mocked our behavior. What did they want from us? Stupidity? We’d given plenty that day. Maybe they wanted a small slice of a will to power. Of the five or six present only one helped us. He put us in his car and away from them. They still came to tap night sticks on the window and make jokes.

I felt relieved in my actions that night and the process afterward. I had embarrassed myself and the Navy. I, however, lived up to the Honor Code in many ways. I am strangely thankful I had the opportunity to prove to myself that honor is important and part of who I am coming to be.

I wonder what the one helpful officer thought. Was he helping us to help himself? I certainly don’t mean that in any selfish way. He certainly put himself out for our sakes. What I mean is that he had a sense of honor that was being infringed on by his fellow officers. He saw that the incident was really over and that we had cooperated. They didn’t need more from us to fry us.

Could I have sued their department and them? In the military hearings afterward it was clear they had lied to make themselves appear more diligent and on top of the situation. In the end though they lied but our drunkenness superceded it (and would be their chief legal defense…two drunk kids word against four off-duty police officers’ accounts?).

Is this the feeling Westhusing developed? He was sober yet surrounded by corruption. One against the many. Perhaps Plato is right when, in the Politea (Republic), he explains that even pirates and scoundrels have some justice. They have the ability to work together. Their lies intertwine and destroy truth. Their justice is corrupt but it is a community nevertheless.

This is pure speculation and not meant to defame him. In fact it stems partly from envy. One blog mentioned that he had been described as a straight arrow while at West Point. I read into that that he was a not interested in the other honor code that emerges in militaristic organizations. Law Enforcement refers to it as the “Blue Wall.” At Navy and, I suspect Army, it leads to painful deliberations about which code to follow: duty to your “friends” or the truth. It is academic but in the moment its hard to discern “friendship” from companionship. In teaching Cicero’s “de Animus” (On Friendship) to undergrads it is clear that all but a few see the distinction and fewer still accept it. And so it is that a movie like Blackhawk Down can end with one soldier telling another that war is not for the lofty, philosophical tenets but for “the guy next to you.” That is an important and essential part of warfare. If you cannot trust those around you to help you, even in lies, than you are alone.

Westhusing’s final days seemed plunged into some Kafkaesque darkness and isolation. “All of Kafka's unfortunate protagonists -- …-- struggle against the one great, serious truth about life: Each of us is fundamentally and inescapably alone, especially in the face of death.” (Michael Dirda, Washington Post). Is it the Col. Kurtz aloneness that drove a smart, intelligent, Catholic man past the edge?

Yesterday former Top Gun Navy pilot, instructor, and Congressman Duke Cunningham admitting taking bribes and using influence to get contractors huge Department of Defense deals. In a tearful address he says he can’t undo it but can only atone. Perhaps this is true but what about Westhusing and the contractors he had to supervise. Were they “the men next to him” in the foxhole of Iraq? Those contractors are where our soldiers are. Our soldiers are asked to count on them. Moreover some of them are training the foundation of the new Law in Iraqi.

All this brings me to another realization I had to make. I had a great set of audio tapes, I think titled “Beyond Valor.” In it my idea of the greatest generation was dashed. WWII was an epic battle between the forces of good and evil. But not all good is Good or evil is Evil. One vet admitted in his monologue taking a German POW and killing him…all of which is illegal and immoral. Perhaps war is as Krishna explains to Arjuna in the Bhagavadgita?

Maybe Westhusing’s undoing is as the Army psychologist says: “She said that Westhusing had placed too much pressure on himself to succeed and that he was unusually rigid in his thinking. Westhusing struggled with the idea that monetary values could outweigh moral ones in war. This, she said, was a flaw.” (T. Christian Miller, L.A. Times). It is similiar to the emotional twist that accompanies the idealistic new teacher as he or she encounters the realities of teaching...despite being wrapped in the reality of it as a student. The change the world phenomenon?

So is the flaw that he held fast to a belief or that monetary values outweigh morality? I am turning on Miller’s phrase unfairly. When Jesus told us to “render unto Caesar” he was talking about more than taxes. In fact, in a conversation with a Roman soldier Jesus never told him to stop soldiering. There is, undoubtedly, a gray area in life here on earth. This is Caesar’s and his game must be played. This is what Arjuna learns about his war, his civil war. Krishna tells him that war has its role and that humans have a role in war as they do in the universe.

Conspiracy minded people are pointing to Westhusing’s Catholicism and its implications in the sin of suicide. It is not that simple.

Blog Title Change

2005-11-17T09:05:00.000-05:00

My old Blog title was a bit too direct and unimaginative. My new title is better. I chnaged the old and created two other urls that contain the title. It then occured to me that I should have checked for pre-existing "Liberal Artist" sites. Ok, it didn't occur until liberalartist.blogspot.com was unavailable. That site has one post from July 2005. I feel justified in continuing forward with the name change. However, that site invokes the political connotations of "liberal" whereas I mean to call on the deep educational meaning.

Does the new name work?

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Ambition, Academia, and Opportunity

2005-11-16T14:07:00.000-05:00

Perhaps this post is only (best) suited for my Mr. Mom Blog?

I assumed my time here as Mr. Mom might be professionally productive, in addition to its obvious and superficial personal rewards. It was a chance to dabble and contemplate a life in post-secondary Academia. My Domestic Engineering stint began immediately after completing my St. John’s Master’s Degree.

The great books have instilled a deep appreciation in true liberal arts. I think my father instilled the need for production. Please, please do not read into this that I harbor some deep resentment for my father. I do, but it is not the blame-assigning type. His brand of ambition for production has gotten me very far. Farther than if he had been more liberal.

He is proud of me. I know that and the fact that our family, even my uncles and aunts, tends towards loving mockery. We hide most of our pride and our embarrassment in jokes. Anyway it is rare for us to come out and say something directly. It took several attempts for my dad to finally blurt out his thoughts on my stay-at-home-dad tenure, “but all that money on education will be wasted.”

And so it is that I set some major goals for myself. The first was the easiest, to run the Marine Corps Marathon. It was so tangible and superficial. I talked about reading through the library I have amassed. Like Gatsby I have a library with real books. Unlike him it is small and I have only read a few of the books. My wife rightly dismissed two of my other goals, a PhD and JD. I say rightly because the financial strain is too much, at least for now. “If you go to Law School the girls won’t have money for college.” True.

Still, I could start down that road. I could take time each day to study Greek, Latin, and German. I think any stay-at-home-parent can see how ridiculous I am being. Study language and read my library. Just listen to the song “Mr. Mom” by Lonestar. Sure I aim slightly higher than watching ESPN and taking naps but it is all fanciful with toddlers around. (Even as I write we’re thirty minutes into supposed naptime and both have pooped and continue to scream and jump in their cribs. My wife would shutter to know I am using most of my cognitive-power to ignore them as the frustration rises. Now apparently some snake is coming for the two year old…its November in Buffalo. Snakes are as rare as Buffaloes).

Finally I have digressed to my point. Last year I retained some of the 50’s masculinity my dad wanted. I was an adjunct at my Alma Mater. It was eye-opening. There is an immense hassle in finding part-time childcare. With that hurdle skirted there was the prep time. It’s tough to create a lesson plan for The Prince or The Inferno with Dora the Explorer teaching Spanish in the background. In the end though, the classes were great. I stumbled a bit and learned a lot. I could be a great professor given the chance. It was pure teaching without the high school hi-jinks. I longed to teach without keeping so and so seated or passing notes or sleeping…

But the good comes with the bad. One can probably see from the sporadic entries on my blogs that I lack the self-discipline to write and publish. These two things were the corner stones to ward of my father and our familial need for productivity. If I was not going to create tangible business at least my writing could function as production.

Moreover, my Department Chair was quite honest about the prospects of finding work as a professor. Being my former Shakespeare professor, I have kept in touch with him. I can only thank him for sending me back to the ranks of secondary teachers. So my final educational career goal must be turned aside. It is a sad event when you realize that getting old means closing doors. Still, I cannot bring myself to ignore the door. Perhaps I can come back to it. Maybe all those TV commercials about retiring bringing fulfillment instead of submission can come true?

This inability to close the door brings a need for affirmation. I came to Garret Bauman’s article through Arts and Letters Daily. But Can You Teach?

I think this all leaves me with the fact that I had better learn to accept the real value some intangibles. My resentment towards my father is actually self-loathing. I know what I say to be true but do not practice it. Maybe this is the how I move toward telling my dad that I am happy? That being Mr. Mom is an opportunity. It is my chance to embrace what I know Plato meant by being “educated” and not what our American society means when they value education’s credit hours. Being well-read is being something. Writing is not just a thing to accomplish.

No, maybe I can sell Real Estate part-time?

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Working Families Party and the 2005 Erie County Elections

2005-11-09T10:34:00.000-05:00

It is important to note that I worked for the Working Families Party in this year’s Buffalo mayoral race. It was my first foray into campaigning and the party itself. As such, I am not sure whether this is more blog/editorial than news story. Either way it is an important issue for people to understand. Please read with this disclaimer in mind.

The Working Families Party came to the Buffalo and Erie County political arena in some measure of force last night. The WFP is an important resurrection of what only a few states allow in elections, fusion voting. American politics is clearly dominated by two major parties and the others fall by in single digit voting percentages. The WFP was looking to bring 6,000 votes to the Byron Brown victory. This morning on the Erie County Board of Elections website, , the WFP block was only half of that, about 4% of the total votes. This result was similar in many of the other local races. Commentators might point out that overall turnout was moderate and 2005 lacked major national races. Undoubtedly both of these are factors.

I spent the better part of last night canvassing people as they went into vote. Green Party Mayoral Candidate, Judith Einach also made an appearance and stood with me and some Democratic canvassers. She had no idea I would write about my experience…nor did I until this morning. We discussed the difference between third (alternate) parties offering their own candidates versus “endorsing” major parties’. When I lived in Maryland which does not allow fusion voting, I often voted for the Green candidates in an attempt to enlarge the influence of parties other than the two behemoths. It can be argued that this type of voting hurts the Democratic candidate in that many Green voters are traditionally Democratic ones. Therefore, voting for a Green reduces the votes a Democratic gets. Fusion voting is different. It allows another party to build a tangible voting block with real numbers. This stands in contrast to some intangible blocks like: Middle Class, African-American, Union votes. None of these are tracked in election results, unless they form political parties. The reality of tangible blocks helps to focus candidates and elected officials on specific party issues. The intangible blocks are quite amorphous.

I can point to a lecture Cornel West gave in Rochester. In it he discussed the idea that African-American and white American (and other racial/ethnic categories) are no longer valid. Many members of these arbitrary distinctions share very little in common other than race. He made it clear that he feels economic status is a far greater link. I have more in common with a suburban middle class African American than I do with a poor white man from rural New York State. This is the power of a “fusion” party. WFP represents issues that are important across racial and ethnic lines.

The power of fusion voting can be seen in a past election downstate. In this county the WFP endorsed a Republican who supported Living Wage Legislation. He promised to vote in favor of raising the minimum wage. As the WFP’s issues are closer to Democratic ones, this was an unusual position for both the WFP and the Republican. In the end it was a very close election and the WFP voting block was instrumental to the win. Despite Byron Brown’s overwhelming victory the WFP made a mark in local politics.

Republished on Blogger News Network <bloggernews.net

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"Sucks" and "Gay" the beauty of Linguistics.

2005-09-30T20:36:00.000-04:00

God rest Professor Alan Lutkus.

He is well known at State University of New York (SUNY) Geneseo for his film courses. While many schools separate English and Film and such, Geneseo had not yet when I was there. I never had Professor Lutkus for anything but a Linguistics class.

It was a great class for me. Others were extremely bored with the ideas. However, the growth of the most important aspect of human life, verbal communication gets to me. The Tower of Babel is awesome in its power. Sheer Power.

A few years ago I made a website for my Lacrosse team. When you scrolled over the menacing assistant coach the words "You Suck!! ...If you are not lifting and running in the off season!! [or something like this]" came on the screen. I felt this was a perfect characterization of my assistant coach and our sentiments for the lazy players. One parent, at least, took offense. She was actually one of the coolest and most laid-back parents. I was dumbfounded and quickly changed "sucks" to "stinks" or something.

High School students throw many words around. Most certainly don't appreciate the power words can contain. Perhaps they listened too well to the "stick and stones" defense? "Gay" is one such word. To them it means everything from "happy," "dumb," "inane," and even, "homosexual male." I think the last always struck me as offensive.

What I finally came to realize was that I'm stuck between the "sucks" and the "gay." In an effort to curb students' use of "gay" (I didn't care if they said "sucks") I invoked my love of linguistics. What I mean to say is that "gay" means "homosexual" and further has derogatory connotations for me (and my generation). To the kids however, the other meanings take precedence and the unmanly connotations are actually empty for all but the bullies. For my Lacrosse parent "sucks" is as unpleasant as "gay" was for me. Our kids, however, could care less which you used. One young player/student, with two assertive and opinionated older sisters, really hated being called a "metrosexual." (and it just dawned on me that they started calling him that after the Washington Post, I was in Maryland, had an article about the term. I guess they read more than I thought.)

All this brings me to this article I found as a "Nota Bene" on Arts and Letters Daily. It isn't gay or sucky.

Testing the OpenOffice waters...or Forget You Bill Gates

2005-09-23T01:06:00.000-04:00

Living the life provided by big conglomerates and the military-industrial complex creates for us a place in the great country we call a superpower. It affords us the luxury of rooting for the underdog because we have nothing real to risk. I am surely not alone in my penchant for the underdog?

That said, Bill Gates and Microsoft have brought our world to Star Trek heights of computer technology. Is my penchant to root against him simply a matter of jealousy? Sure, many Mom and Pop operations know and embrace their limitations. But, in the end many would have the Wal-mart Empire if they had listened to Machiavelli's message about fortuna and preparations.
Then again there is the Napster phenomenon. What I mean is that the masses ethics only go so far. Napster was a great idea and it really helped open the possibilities of the Internet. Then we have the penchant to root for the underdogs, ourselves. We are not all multi-millionaire artists who can afford a music collection. The irony here is that its the record companies that screw the artists. And it was their money that toppled Napster and its kin.

What all of this is leading too is the question of Microsoft's continuing monopoly. Its Office Suite is great and deserves the money it has already earned for Bill and Melinda and their Foundation. Is it time for a generic drug to hit the market. I think that OpenOffice.org may be that pill.

Massachusetts leads the way in a lot of things. Not in driving acumen or traffic safety but in its computer documents. It has dumped MS Office in favor of an open source file formatting. OpenOffice.org and some of its kin have fit this bill.

It amazes me that there are programmers out there willing to produce computer programs that are free. I “trade” (or used to) legal live bootlegs (see etree.org and ibiblio.org). Many, many programmers offer free software for file transfer and music conversions. Why, though, is OpenOffice doing it? Just to nail Goliath with a stone?

I have to admit that I was reluctant to download OpenOffice onto my new computer. One of the reasons is that I tend to half-know what I am doing with computers. In other words, I mess them up pretty good. But the deeper reason is that I am scared to be caught alone, like the Beta VCR my family owned. Sure it was more efficient, but like Ken Kesey once explained at a Grateful Dead show, “at any given moment you're surrounded by more dumb people than smart people” (paraphrased).

And so it is that I type this blog on OpenOffice.org Writer and not the Word I crave like crack-rock. (see Kicking the Microsoft Office Habit).

Kermit Roosevelt on Balkinization

2005-09-19T15:57:00.000-04:00

Kermit Roosevelt is guest blogging on Balkinization, by Jack Balkin and others. It is defintely a Law website (and not one related to fiction). Being interested in the Law because of St. John's Great Books curriculum, I left some comments.

<http://balkin.blogspot.com/>

Bookmovement and IN THE SHADOW OF THE LAW

2005-09-15T08:13:00.000-04:00

BookMovement.com is a great site for new books. I'm not sure how I found it but it probably stems from my intial search for Literary Blogs and stuff back in the Fall when I had adjusted to being Mr. Mom. Anyway, there is only one Book Club listed for Buffalo and it is way out of date. ("If all Buffalo read..." is the club but their latest selection, Paul Auster's Invention of Solitude is not the book listed.)

Anyway, I entered a "contest" for an advanced reader copy of Kermit Washington's In the Shadow of the Law. He's a law professor and it piqued my interest. (I'm interested in Law in an academic sense). I am not generally interested in law thrillers but this seems to go beyond simply a "thriller." It looks like it invokes the personality and lifestyle of what Alexis de Tocqueville predicted would be American Democracy's aristocracy.

Wilson Quarterly reviews John Lukacs' DEMOCRACY AND POPULISM

2005-09-12T20:52:00.000-04:00

John Lukacs is an interesting man. I am drawn whenever I see his name mentioned. Whether he is a popular or academic historian is beyond me. In a talk at St. John's College he told us he was not a World War II scholar although many of his books are about World War II. He is enigmatic for me.

My interest in him and his writing is somewhat like my admiration for Walter Sterling, a St. John's College tutor. Both appeal to my sense of well-rounded scholarship. By that many might take to mean what Micheal Kazin points out in his review (twice): "Unfortunately, Lukacs delivers more a rambling set of convictions than a reasoned analysis." and later "...Who can tell when he’ll say something wise, or at least original? And a few nuggets do emerge." After hearing him speak I would not debate Kazin's assertions.

I found Micheal Kazin's review mentioned on Arts and Letters Daily. It's a web article reprinted from the summer edition of the Wilson Quarterly. Lukacs' book, which is another on my "to read" list, is entitled Democracy and Populism: Fear and Hatred

Finished Alexander Solzhenitsyn's 1914

2005-09-12T17:37:00.000-04:00

In a previous post, I wrote about my St. John’s tutor, Walter Sterling. He’s an interesting guy and one of the few who can claim to have gotten a education in the library. It was this extremely well-read man that first planted the Solzhenitsyn seed in my mind. I remembered his recommendation when I ran across beautiful edition of 1914 in some used book store. I am glad for the providence of all these factors.

Solzhenitsyn’s early warning is a bit scary. He explains that this book is the beginning of a monumental and unfinished task. He is setting himself to chronicle the Great War through the Russian perspective. He apologizes that the characters will, because of the epic task he proposes, be unfinished in this volume. Indeed, the number of round ones he does begin is enormous. Like my only other experience with Russian novels, Crime and Punishment, one needs a character chart in order to keep track. This can be severely problematic and over-literary for many. Solzhenitsyn does not commit this crime.

This is the quintessential World War I historical fiction. I have not done any research into the actual characters and actions described in the novel. Solzhenitsyn himself does not seem to claim any historical authority on the subject (at least within the text here). Fears must arise though in both the intellectual and the layman. In the first, the fear is that people will take this as historical fact and thereby misperceive the events of WWI’s Eastern front. For the layman, there is the fear that he or she may not understand enough fact to follow the events within the novel. Both of these fears have merit, but the lack vision.

The vision they lack is in the idea of history itself. (Hegel’s work is on my “to read” list because of Mr. Sterling and my classmates, but I have not yet read it). The idea that history can be understood as Truth is absurd. Many labor under the delusion that history’s effect is best achieved through fact. I disagree with this point and I believe that 1914 has helped bolster my opinion. In The Republic, Plato (through Socrates) points the fact that myth is valuable in shaping both individuals and, in turn, whole societies. I would go further that the beliefs dominoes in affecting the societies it comes into contact with. So it is the underlying universal Truth that factual history surfaces that is important.

In my basic memory of the New Testament I remember an explanation that Jesus gives. One of the disciples asked Him why He used parables instead of just explaining the concepts He was teaching. His response was that some people learn better through parables. Solzhenitsyn may see history in this way. 1914 tackles many universal Truths of human existence in the framework of the Russian entry into WWI. Maybe the fact that I do not remember the exact wording or even the context of Jesus statement is important?

Solzhenitsyn has secured further spaces on my ever growing “to read” list. How I envy Walter Sterling and his years as a bum (see the previous post on 1914).

reading A. Solzhenitsyn's 1914

2005-08-26T10:27:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite tutors (professors) at St. John's College, Annapolis often went on philibusters as we studied Tocqueville's Democracy in America. Solzhenitsyn was one of the authors he recommended. This tutor is a self described bum and family disgrace. Most of this reputation stems from a period of time when he had a young child and a recent divorce. He moved back in with his parents and his "job" was to take his son to and from school. He spent the interim in the local library reading. It is here, he says, that he was educated for free. I seriously doubt he is a bum and maybe some of my trepidation comes from the fact that as a stay-at-home-dad most of my day is "unproductive" in any real adult way. Even reading is thwarted by the mid-grade attention my toddler daughters require. By this I mean that one cannot spend more than a few minutes in a block on adult tasks.

Anyway, all this leads me to offer an excuse for the scant posting on my blog. This is an excuse and a defense. I'm working my way through Solzhenitsyn's 1914 (after dropping Joyce's Ulysses until I'm better set to read it). 1914 is more traditional and certainly accesses my military fetish. Since it is so long I may have to post while I read instead of one at the end.

a pre-view from DER SPIEGEL

2005-08-26T10:13:00.000-04:00

French author Michel Houellebecq sounds very interesting. I've added Platform and The Elementary Particles to my reading wishlists. The review of his forthcoming novel (due out in various European countries this Fall) sounds strange and alluring. Of course, its easy to play ont he sexual content and that is what got my attention. But from the review it sounds like it goes much deeper than the simply baudy.

Frank Delaney IRELAND

2005-07-07T21:29:00.000-04:00

Like many Americans I give into a romantic notion of Irish-ness. I ran through Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes and ‘Tis. Both were great fun and often relevant to who I am. In fact, I tell myself that I an at least 25% Irish because my maternal grandmother was from Ireland. I wonder though, whether our romance is fact or fiction?

I heard Frank Delaney being interviewed on NPR but I cannot consciously recall the content of the interview. The commentator asked him to read a selection from Ireland aloud. He read the part where St. Patrick confronts the Devil. The language was wonderful. I added the book to my “To Read” list. One day a few weeks later I saw Ireland on sale at Sam’s Club.
My wife was surprised to find me reading a novel when I usually stick to non-fiction. It is difficult to envision the book as a novel. Its histories pulled me through. Like the Patriot, Mel Gibson’s pseudo-histori-drama, you cannot call the “history” here true. But, I think that is the point.
Ireland is supposed to be a fictional tale of the O’Mara family and it’s intertwining with Irish history. The seanache, storyteller, weaves wonderful tales that explain who Ireland is. His tales are derived from fact but move into legend. At times you wonder which and whether you can rely on it. Again, that is the point. You cannot rely on the facts but the legend is reliable because it is how the Irish come to be.

I finished the book and last week, inspired perhaps by Ireland, I joined a Gaelic football team (www.nagaa.org). It is great fun and I plan to continue. In the end, it is possible that Delaney intends for us to realize that our present is as much the product of legend as of fact. Perhaps it is even more so because the truth is a lot harder to find than Truth. And, even Plato/Socrates admits in the Republic that for the many it is better to manufacture a past.

Wow, two comments.

2005-07-07T20:45:00.000-04:00

I didn't think anyone was reading these things so I put them aside. I'll have to keep publishing my posts.

Anyway, I finished Frank Delaney's IRELAND and that will be my first true "Intellectual" post. I'm working through David McCullough's 1776 and C.S. Lewis' MERE CHRISTIANITY. I'll get to work on formulating my thoughts for the public.

Learning More

2005-05-06T22:15:00.000-04:00

How do people sit there day after day and type code. I loved it, today, because it was like a puzzle for me. The frustration though. I'm tired. (I hope this is legal ...someone please let me know if it isn't ...)

Learning a LOT

2005-05-05T14:20:00.000-04:00

I'm learning a lot about weblogs today. But, it is extremely overwhelming. There is so much information out there. I'd say that it appears everybody has something to say. But, then again, that'd be really overwhelming.

I've noticed that some of the same blogs are mentioned over and over by each other. I guess that's eventually how Darwinism takes effect here. By that I mean the good blogs survive and the rest fade into oblivion.

I felt a bit cheesy applying for GoogleAdSense but it seems even the more "reputable" sites are doing it too.

How do I get my website to be original? and not cookie-cutter like this. Do "real" literary type blogs use blogspot.com? I found one.

First Ever Blog Post

2005-05-05T12:24:00.000-04:00

Hey, I read two articles in the Buffalo News. One was about mp3 blogs (pithforkmedia.com) and the other about literature, specifically contemporary literature (lbc.typepad.com).

I'm a stay at home who wants to write but never followsd through. Maybe this will help.