Thursday, March 31, 2005
Euthanasia vs. cruelty
Being punished for euthanizing the mortally wounded
Getting away with death by starvation
Ahh, the parade of injustice marches on...
Getting away with death by starvation
Ahh, the parade of injustice marches on...
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Iraqi Roundup
Drudge was running a story Monday, citing the Iraqi interior ministry, that Zarqawi had been surrounded. I got excited at first before considering the source. If there's any truth to it, it could be like the incident in Pakistan last year where they thought Ayman al Zawahiri was surrounded (some suspect that "Zawahiri" was just a Chechen warlord.) Or it could be like an incident in late February 2005 where Zarqawi escaped from a van just minutes before the van was stopped and searched by US forces (although two Zarqawi aides in the van were not so lucky.)
Novak: Condi Rice to get US out of Iraq soon
Normally I would say Novak is a bullshitter, but I think the administration is looking at an exit strategy. Of course, it will not be as abrupt as Novak thinks, and it will rely on certain end-state conditions being met in Iraq. I don't think we'll begin any troop pullouts before the scheduled Dec. 2005 elections, and probably not before certain troop training requirements are met for the Iraqi army (as it stands, they have about 140,000 men in uniform, but only 40,000 are sufficiently trained.)
Anthrax destroyed at Saddam's doorstep
Yeah, it's certainly ironic that Saddam's brutality would prevent people from saving his miserable regime. This is an interesting footnote in history to be sure.
Novak: Condi Rice to get US out of Iraq soon
Normally I would say Novak is a bullshitter, but I think the administration is looking at an exit strategy. Of course, it will not be as abrupt as Novak thinks, and it will rely on certain end-state conditions being met in Iraq. I don't think we'll begin any troop pullouts before the scheduled Dec. 2005 elections, and probably not before certain troop training requirements are met for the Iraqi army (as it stands, they have about 140,000 men in uniform, but only 40,000 are sufficiently trained.)
Anthrax destroyed at Saddam's doorstep
Yeah, it's certainly ironic that Saddam's brutality would prevent people from saving his miserable regime. This is an interesting footnote in history to be sure.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Kirtland Song
Way back when I was just a little bitty boy living in a box under the stairs in the corner of the basement half a block down the street from Jerry's Bait shop
You know the place
well anyway, back then life was going swell and everything was just peachy
Except, of course, for the undeniable fact that every single morning
My mother would make me a big bowl of sauerkraut for breakfast
Awww - Big bowl of sauerkraut
Every single mornin'
It was driving me crazy
I said to my mom
I said "Hey, mom, what's with all the sauerkraut?"
And my dear, sweet mother
She just looked at me like a cow looks at an oncoming train
And she leaned right down next to me
And she said "IT'S GOOD FOR YOU"
And then she tied me to the wall and stuck a funnel in my mouth
And force fed me nothing but sauerkraut until I was twenty six and a half years old
That's when I swore that someday
Someday I would get outta that basement and travel to a magical, far away place
Where the sun is always shining and the air smells like warm root beer
And the towels are oh so fluffy
Where the shriners and the lepers play their ukuleles all day long
And anyone on the street will gladly shave your back for a nickel
Wacka wacka doodoo yeah
Well, let me tell you, people, it wasn't long at all before my dream came true
Because the very next day, a local radio station had this contest
To see who could correctly guess the number of molecules in Leonard Nimoy's butt
I was off by three, but I still won the grand prize
That's right, a first class one-way ticket to
Albuquerque
Albuquerque
Oh yeah
You know, I'd never been on a real airplane before
And I gotta tell ya, it was really great
Except that I had to sit between two large Albanian women with excruciatingly severe body odor
And the little kid in back of me kept throwin' up the whole time
The flight attendants ran out of Dr. Pepper and salted peanuts
And the in-flight movie was Bio-Dome with Pauly Shore
And, oh yeah, three of the airplane engines burned out
And we went into a tailspin and crashed into a hillside
And the plane exploded in a giant fireball and everybody died
Except for me
You know why?
'Cause I had my tray table up
And my seat back in the full upright position
Had my tray table up
And my seat back in the full upright position
Had my tray table up
And my seat back in the full upright position
Ah ha ha ha
Ah ha ha
Ahhhh
So I crawled from the twisted, burnin' wreckage
I crawled on my hands and knees for three full days
Draggin' along my big leather suitcase and my garment bagA
nd my tenor saxophone and my twelve-pound bowling ball
And my lucky, lucky autographed glow-in-the-dark snorkel
But finally I arived at the world famous Albuquerque Holiday Inn
Where the towels are oh so fluffy
And you can eat your soup right out of the ashtrays if you wanna
It's OK, they're clean
Well, I checked into my room and I turned down the A/C
And I turned on the SpectraVision
And I'm just about to eat that little chocolate mint on my pillow
That I love so very, very much when suddenly, there's a knock on the door
Well now, who could that be?
I say "Who is it?"
No answer
"Who is it?"
There's no answer
"WHO IS IT?"
They're not sayin' anything
So, finally I go over and I open the door and just as I suspected
It's some big fat hermaphrodite with a Flock-Of-Seagulls haircut and only one nostril
Oh man, I hate it when I'm right
So anyway, he bursts into my room and he grabs my lucky snorkel
And I'm like "Hey, you can't have that"
"That snorkel's been just like a snorkel to me"
And he's like "Tough"
And I'm like "Give it"
And he's like "Make me"
And I'm like "'Kay"
So I grabbed his leg and he grabbed my esophagus
And I bit off his ear and he chewed off my eyebrows
And I took out his appendix and he gave me a colonic irrigation
Yes indeed, you better believe it
And somehow in the middle of it all, the phone got knocked off the hook
And twenty seconds later, I heard a farmiliar voice
And you know what it said?
I'll tell you what it said
It said
"If you'd like to make a call, please hang up and try again"
"If you need help, hang up and then dial your operator"
"If you'd like to make a call, please hang up and try again"
"If you need help, hang up and then dial your operator"
In Albuquerque
Albuquerque
Well, to cut a long story short, he got away with my snorkel
But I made a a solemn vow right then and there that I would not rest
I would not sleep for an instant until the one-nostrilled man was brought to justice
But first, I decided to buy some donuts
So I got in my car and I drove over to the donut shop
And I walked on up to the guy behind the counter
And he says "Yeah, what do ya want?"
I said "You got any glazed donuts?"
He said "No, we're outta glazed donuts"
I said "You got any jelly donuts?"
He said "No, we're outta jelly donuts"
I said "You got any Bavarian cream-filled donuts?"
He said "No, we're outta Bavarian cream-filled donuts"
I said "You got any cinnamon rolls?"
He said "No, we're outta cinnamon rolls"
I said "You got any apple fritters?"
He said "No, we're outta apple fritters"
I said "You got any bear claws?"
He said "Wait a minute, I'll go check"
"NO, we're outta bear claws"
I said "Well, in that case - in that case, what do you have?"
He says "All I got right now is this box of one dozen starving, crazed weasels"
I said "OK, I'll take that"
So he hands me the box and I open up the lid and the weasels jump out
And they immediately latch onto my face and start bitin' me all over(rabid gnawing sounds)
Oh man, they were just going nuts
They were tearin' me apart
You know, I think it was just about that time that a little ditty started goin' through my head
I believe it went a little something like this . . .
Doh
Get 'em off me
Get 'em off me
OhNo, get 'em off, get 'em off
Oh, oh God, oh God
Oh, get 'em off me
Oh, oh God
Ah, (more screaming)
I ran out into the street with these flesh-eating weasels all over my face
Wavin' my arms all around and just runnin', runnin', runnin'
Like a constipated weiner dog
And as luck would have it, that's exactly when I ran into the girl of my dreams
Her name was Zelda
She was a caligraphy enthusiast with a slight overbite and hair the color of strained peaches
I'll never forget the first thing she said to me.
She said "Hey, you've got weasels on your face"
That's when I knew it was true love
We were inseperable after that
Aw, we ate together, we bathed together
We even shared the same piece of mint-flavored dental floss
The world was our burrito
So we got married and we bought us a house
And had two beautiful children - Nathaniel and Superfly
Oh, we were so very very very happy, aw yeah
But then one fateful night, Zelda said to me
She said "Sweetie pumpkin? Do you wanna join the Columbia Record Club?"
I said "Woah, hold on now, baby"
"I'm just not ready for that kinda commitment"
So we broke up and I never saw her again
But that's just the way things go
In Albuquerque
Albuquerque
Anyway, things really started lookin' up for me
Because about a week later, I finally achieved my lifelong dream
That's right, I got me a part-time job at The Sizzler
I even made employee of the month after I put that grease fire out with my face
Aw yeah, everybody was pretty jealous of me after that
I was gettin' a lot of attitude
OK, like one time, I was out in the parking lot
Tryin' to remove my excess earwax with a golf pencil
When I see this guy Marty tryin' to carry a big ol' sofa up the stairs all by himself
So I, I say to him, I say "Hey, you want me to help you with that?"
And Marty, he just rolls his eyes and goes
"No, I want you to cut off my arms and legs with a chainsaw"
So I did
And then he gets all indignant on me
He's like "Hey man, I was just being sarcastic"
Well, that's just great
How was I supposed to know that?
I'm not a mind reader for cryin' out loud
Besides, now he's got a really cute nickname - Torso-Boy
So what's he complaining about?
Say, that reminds me of another amusing anecdote
This guy comes up to me on the street and says he hasn't had a bite in three days
Well, I knew what he meant
But just to be funny, I took a big bite out of his jugular vein
And he's yellin' and screamin' and bleeding all over
And I'm like "Hey, come on, don'tcha get it?"
But he just keeps rolling around on the sidewalk, bleeding, and screaming(screaming sounds)You know, just completely missing the irony of the whole situation
Man, some people just can't take a joke, you know?
Anyway, um, um, where was I?
Kinda lost my train of thought
Uh, well, uh, OK
Anyway I, I know it's kinda been a roundabout way of saying it
But I guess the whole point I'm tryin' to make here is
I HATE SAUERKRAUT!
That's all I'm really tryin' to say
And, by the way, if one day you happen to wake up
And find yourself in an existential quandry
Full of loathing and self-doubt
And wracked with the pain and isolation of your pitiful meaningless existence
At least you can take a small bit of comfort in knowing that
Somewhere out there in this crazy mixed-up old universe of ours
There's still a little place called
Albuquerque
Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque
I said "A" (A)
"L" (L)
"B" (B)
"U" (U)
"querque" (querque)
Albuquerque, Albuquerque, Albuquerque, Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque, Albuquerque, Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque, Albuquerque, Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque, Albuquerque, Albuquerque
Albuquerque(belch)
--Weird Al Yankovic, Albuquerque
You know the place
well anyway, back then life was going swell and everything was just peachy
Except, of course, for the undeniable fact that every single morning
My mother would make me a big bowl of sauerkraut for breakfast
Awww - Big bowl of sauerkraut
Every single mornin'
It was driving me crazy
I said to my mom
I said "Hey, mom, what's with all the sauerkraut?"
And my dear, sweet mother
She just looked at me like a cow looks at an oncoming train
And she leaned right down next to me
And she said "IT'S GOOD FOR YOU"
And then she tied me to the wall and stuck a funnel in my mouth
And force fed me nothing but sauerkraut until I was twenty six and a half years old
That's when I swore that someday
Someday I would get outta that basement and travel to a magical, far away place
Where the sun is always shining and the air smells like warm root beer
And the towels are oh so fluffy
Where the shriners and the lepers play their ukuleles all day long
And anyone on the street will gladly shave your back for a nickel
Wacka wacka doodoo yeah
Well, let me tell you, people, it wasn't long at all before my dream came true
Because the very next day, a local radio station had this contest
To see who could correctly guess the number of molecules in Leonard Nimoy's butt
I was off by three, but I still won the grand prize
That's right, a first class one-way ticket to
Albuquerque
Albuquerque
Oh yeah
You know, I'd never been on a real airplane before
And I gotta tell ya, it was really great
Except that I had to sit between two large Albanian women with excruciatingly severe body odor
And the little kid in back of me kept throwin' up the whole time
The flight attendants ran out of Dr. Pepper and salted peanuts
And the in-flight movie was Bio-Dome with Pauly Shore
And, oh yeah, three of the airplane engines burned out
And we went into a tailspin and crashed into a hillside
And the plane exploded in a giant fireball and everybody died
Except for me
You know why?
'Cause I had my tray table up
And my seat back in the full upright position
Had my tray table up
And my seat back in the full upright position
Had my tray table up
And my seat back in the full upright position
Ah ha ha ha
Ah ha ha
Ahhhh
So I crawled from the twisted, burnin' wreckage
I crawled on my hands and knees for three full days
Draggin' along my big leather suitcase and my garment bagA
nd my tenor saxophone and my twelve-pound bowling ball
And my lucky, lucky autographed glow-in-the-dark snorkel
But finally I arived at the world famous Albuquerque Holiday Inn
Where the towels are oh so fluffy
And you can eat your soup right out of the ashtrays if you wanna
It's OK, they're clean
Well, I checked into my room and I turned down the A/C
And I turned on the SpectraVision
And I'm just about to eat that little chocolate mint on my pillow
That I love so very, very much when suddenly, there's a knock on the door
Well now, who could that be?
I say "Who is it?"
No answer
"Who is it?"
There's no answer
"WHO IS IT?"
They're not sayin' anything
So, finally I go over and I open the door and just as I suspected
It's some big fat hermaphrodite with a Flock-Of-Seagulls haircut and only one nostril
Oh man, I hate it when I'm right
So anyway, he bursts into my room and he grabs my lucky snorkel
And I'm like "Hey, you can't have that"
"That snorkel's been just like a snorkel to me"
And he's like "Tough"
And I'm like "Give it"
And he's like "Make me"
And I'm like "'Kay"
So I grabbed his leg and he grabbed my esophagus
And I bit off his ear and he chewed off my eyebrows
And I took out his appendix and he gave me a colonic irrigation
Yes indeed, you better believe it
And somehow in the middle of it all, the phone got knocked off the hook
And twenty seconds later, I heard a farmiliar voice
And you know what it said?
I'll tell you what it said
It said
"If you'd like to make a call, please hang up and try again"
"If you need help, hang up and then dial your operator"
"If you'd like to make a call, please hang up and try again"
"If you need help, hang up and then dial your operator"
In Albuquerque
Albuquerque
Well, to cut a long story short, he got away with my snorkel
But I made a a solemn vow right then and there that I would not rest
I would not sleep for an instant until the one-nostrilled man was brought to justice
But first, I decided to buy some donuts
So I got in my car and I drove over to the donut shop
And I walked on up to the guy behind the counter
And he says "Yeah, what do ya want?"
I said "You got any glazed donuts?"
He said "No, we're outta glazed donuts"
I said "You got any jelly donuts?"
He said "No, we're outta jelly donuts"
I said "You got any Bavarian cream-filled donuts?"
He said "No, we're outta Bavarian cream-filled donuts"
I said "You got any cinnamon rolls?"
He said "No, we're outta cinnamon rolls"
I said "You got any apple fritters?"
He said "No, we're outta apple fritters"
I said "You got any bear claws?"
He said "Wait a minute, I'll go check"
"NO, we're outta bear claws"
I said "Well, in that case - in that case, what do you have?"
He says "All I got right now is this box of one dozen starving, crazed weasels"
I said "OK, I'll take that"
So he hands me the box and I open up the lid and the weasels jump out
And they immediately latch onto my face and start bitin' me all over(rabid gnawing sounds)
Oh man, they were just going nuts
They were tearin' me apart
You know, I think it was just about that time that a little ditty started goin' through my head
I believe it went a little something like this . . .
Doh
Get 'em off me
Get 'em off me
OhNo, get 'em off, get 'em off
Oh, oh God, oh God
Oh, get 'em off me
Oh, oh God
Ah, (more screaming)
I ran out into the street with these flesh-eating weasels all over my face
Wavin' my arms all around and just runnin', runnin', runnin'
Like a constipated weiner dog
And as luck would have it, that's exactly when I ran into the girl of my dreams
Her name was Zelda
She was a caligraphy enthusiast with a slight overbite and hair the color of strained peaches
I'll never forget the first thing she said to me.
She said "Hey, you've got weasels on your face"
That's when I knew it was true love
We were inseperable after that
Aw, we ate together, we bathed together
We even shared the same piece of mint-flavored dental floss
The world was our burrito
So we got married and we bought us a house
And had two beautiful children - Nathaniel and Superfly
Oh, we were so very very very happy, aw yeah
But then one fateful night, Zelda said to me
She said "Sweetie pumpkin? Do you wanna join the Columbia Record Club?"
I said "Woah, hold on now, baby"
"I'm just not ready for that kinda commitment"
So we broke up and I never saw her again
But that's just the way things go
In Albuquerque
Albuquerque
Anyway, things really started lookin' up for me
Because about a week later, I finally achieved my lifelong dream
That's right, I got me a part-time job at The Sizzler
I even made employee of the month after I put that grease fire out with my face
Aw yeah, everybody was pretty jealous of me after that
I was gettin' a lot of attitude
OK, like one time, I was out in the parking lot
Tryin' to remove my excess earwax with a golf pencil
When I see this guy Marty tryin' to carry a big ol' sofa up the stairs all by himself
So I, I say to him, I say "Hey, you want me to help you with that?"
And Marty, he just rolls his eyes and goes
"No, I want you to cut off my arms and legs with a chainsaw"
So I did
And then he gets all indignant on me
He's like "Hey man, I was just being sarcastic"
Well, that's just great
How was I supposed to know that?
I'm not a mind reader for cryin' out loud
Besides, now he's got a really cute nickname - Torso-Boy
So what's he complaining about?
Say, that reminds me of another amusing anecdote
This guy comes up to me on the street and says he hasn't had a bite in three days
Well, I knew what he meant
But just to be funny, I took a big bite out of his jugular vein
And he's yellin' and screamin' and bleeding all over
And I'm like "Hey, come on, don'tcha get it?"
But he just keeps rolling around on the sidewalk, bleeding, and screaming(screaming sounds)You know, just completely missing the irony of the whole situation
Man, some people just can't take a joke, you know?
Anyway, um, um, where was I?
Kinda lost my train of thought
Uh, well, uh, OK
Anyway I, I know it's kinda been a roundabout way of saying it
But I guess the whole point I'm tryin' to make here is
I HATE SAUERKRAUT!
That's all I'm really tryin' to say
And, by the way, if one day you happen to wake up
And find yourself in an existential quandry
Full of loathing and self-doubt
And wracked with the pain and isolation of your pitiful meaningless existence
At least you can take a small bit of comfort in knowing that
Somewhere out there in this crazy mixed-up old universe of ours
There's still a little place called
Albuquerque
Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque
I said "A" (A)
"L" (L)
"B" (B)
"U" (U)
"querque" (querque)
Albuquerque, Albuquerque, Albuquerque, Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque, Albuquerque, Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque, Albuquerque, Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque, Albuquerque, Albuquerque
Albuquerque(belch)
--Weird Al Yankovic, Albuquerque
Sunday, March 27, 2005
My Easter
I spent my Easter talking with my family over the phone. They were reading over the Easter cards I sent and I just got this incredible sense of loneliness from their missing me.
They finally laid Margie to rest on Good Friday. I selected a poem to read during her eulogy, which was dutifully carried out by my family.
Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
Robert Frost, Nothing Gold Can Stay
How many times I wished I could stay
Too much emotion a hole in my heart
Feeling alone since we've been apart
And if I had the chance
I'd never let you go
Just want you to know
Lay down lay me down
Lay me down
Lay down burden
How many things I wanted to do
How many times spent thinking this through
So many nights spent here by the phone
Wonderin' if you felt just as alone
And while some things have all been
Crazy from the start
It's tearing me apart
Lay down lay me down
Lay me down
Lay down burden
Just remember the way I held you
You're always in my heart
Lay down lay me down
Lay me down
Lay down burden
Brian Wilson, Lay Down Burden
The title of the song, in a cheap, pop-culturish way, reminds us of the Easter message: Jesus has taken our burdens away through his sacrifice. I pray that I may have the strength to take others' burdens away, and I want to always keep sight of Jesus's burden when I feel like my life has become too heavy. May we take comfort in the fact that our Lord has taken the burdens of those who have left us in this life.
They finally laid Margie to rest on Good Friday. I selected a poem to read during her eulogy, which was dutifully carried out by my family.
Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
Robert Frost, Nothing Gold Can Stay
The song I chose for her funeral reminded me a lot about Margie, because Brian Wilson wrote it after his mother died and while his brother Carl was dying of cancer. The "so many nights spent here by the phone" line really resonated with me because of all the times I called home to see how she was doing.
So many years spent running awayHow many times I wished I could stay
Too much emotion a hole in my heart
Feeling alone since we've been apart
And if I had the chance
I'd never let you go
Just want you to know
Lay down lay me down
Lay me down
Lay down burden
How many things I wanted to do
How many times spent thinking this through
So many nights spent here by the phone
Wonderin' if you felt just as alone
And while some things have all been
Crazy from the start
It's tearing me apart
Lay down lay me down
Lay me down
Lay down burden
Just remember the way I held you
You're always in my heart
Lay down lay me down
Lay me down
Lay down burden
Brian Wilson, Lay Down Burden
The title of the song, in a cheap, pop-culturish way, reminds us of the Easter message: Jesus has taken our burdens away through his sacrifice. I pray that I may have the strength to take others' burdens away, and I want to always keep sight of Jesus's burden when I feel like my life has become too heavy. May we take comfort in the fact that our Lord has taken the burdens of those who have left us in this life.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Don't blame Jeb
I'm shocked at the number of Terri Schiavo supporters who are now placing the blame on Governor Jeb Bush's head. I was reading a report that some bishop was blaming Jeb. Now Terri's parents, the Schindlers, are saying that Jeb Bush has put their daughter through "a week of hell."
Excuse me, people. Jeb Bush has done everything he could, short of becoming a dictator, to keep Terri Schiavo alive. He passed Terri's Law back in 2003, which was eventually overturned by the courts. He tried to get the state to take custody of Terri away from Michael Schiavo; again, he was rebuffed by the courts. What more do you expect him to do? Send jackbooted agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to take Terri out of the hospice? It wasn't right when Bill Clinton did it for Elian Gonzalez, and it's not right for Terri Schiavo either.
If the Schindlers want to blame somebody, they should go after their scumbag son-in-law or the renegade judges who have said "no" more times than those stupid David Spade commercials. Jeb Bush has done everything within his power as Governor of Florida to keep Terri alive.
Excuse me, people. Jeb Bush has done everything he could, short of becoming a dictator, to keep Terri Schiavo alive. He passed Terri's Law back in 2003, which was eventually overturned by the courts. He tried to get the state to take custody of Terri away from Michael Schiavo; again, he was rebuffed by the courts. What more do you expect him to do? Send jackbooted agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to take Terri out of the hospice? It wasn't right when Bill Clinton did it for Elian Gonzalez, and it's not right for Terri Schiavo either.
If the Schindlers want to blame somebody, they should go after their scumbag son-in-law or the renegade judges who have said "no" more times than those stupid David Spade commercials. Jeb Bush has done everything within his power as Governor of Florida to keep Terri alive.
Friday, March 25, 2005
Detente?
I'm as puzzled by the decision to sell F-16's to both India and Pakistan as the next guy.
A brief history of Pakistan's involvement in the F-16 program is in order. During the 1980's, Pakistan bought a batch of F-16's. These planes saw action against the Air Forces of India and Marxist Afghanistan. The Pakistanis also allowed the Chinese to access the planes and get a feel for what the American state of the art at the time was.
Pakistan also ordered additional planes in the late 80's, the upgraded F-16A-20. In 1992, these airframes were embargoed by the US after learning of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program and rumors that Pakistani F-16's had been re-wired to carry nukes. The Clinton administration tried to sell these embargoed planes to New Zealand, but the Kiwis chickened out and opted to scrap its offensive air force. By 2002, the planes were divided between the US Air Force and Navy for combat training.
By 2005, Lockheed Martin has become desperate to keep the F-16 production line open. With shipments of the advanced F-16E-60 to the United Arab Emirates underway, there are no other orders left. India and Pakistan are the only countries left to express any interest. India has seen its relations warm with the US since the end of the Cold War; Pakistan saw a similar thaw after Gen. Musharraf sided with the US after 9/11.
India is very steamed that we're selling planes to the Pakistanis, while Pakistan is quite pleased, to the point where their information minister is saying the move will improve the Pakistani image of the American people. Right....
It would be impossible for us to sell planes to one of the two countries without selling them to the other. The balance of power between the two nuclear rivals has to be preserved. Yet I would rather see neither country have F-16's, even if it meant the end of F-16 production. The most ikely scenario for nuclear war is one where Islamic fanatics overthrow General Musharraf and decide to let the nukes fly. Seeing as how neither India nor Pakistan have nuclear missile warheads (according to some CIA sources,) how are they going to release the dogs of war? Possibly using the F-16's we just sold them!
I'm also leery that Pakistan will share F-16 avionics technology with China. The Chinese Air Force's problem is not with its airframes but its avionics. (The planes we originally sold to Pakistan, and the ones they shared with China, lacked the modern avionics of urrent F-16's.) When the European Union (of weasels) inevitably lifts its 1989 arms embargo with China, the communists will likely get their paws on western avionics that will give their planes the ability to fire missiles from beyond visual range and drop laser-guided bombs in all types of weather and lighting conditions. I do not want our jets to be part of this problem.
A brief history of Pakistan's involvement in the F-16 program is in order. During the 1980's, Pakistan bought a batch of F-16's. These planes saw action against the Air Forces of India and Marxist Afghanistan. The Pakistanis also allowed the Chinese to access the planes and get a feel for what the American state of the art at the time was.
Pakistan also ordered additional planes in the late 80's, the upgraded F-16A-20. In 1992, these airframes were embargoed by the US after learning of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program and rumors that Pakistani F-16's had been re-wired to carry nukes. The Clinton administration tried to sell these embargoed planes to New Zealand, but the Kiwis chickened out and opted to scrap its offensive air force. By 2002, the planes were divided between the US Air Force and Navy for combat training.
By 2005, Lockheed Martin has become desperate to keep the F-16 production line open. With shipments of the advanced F-16E-60 to the United Arab Emirates underway, there are no other orders left. India and Pakistan are the only countries left to express any interest. India has seen its relations warm with the US since the end of the Cold War; Pakistan saw a similar thaw after Gen. Musharraf sided with the US after 9/11.
India is very steamed that we're selling planes to the Pakistanis, while Pakistan is quite pleased, to the point where their information minister is saying the move will improve the Pakistani image of the American people. Right....
It would be impossible for us to sell planes to one of the two countries without selling them to the other. The balance of power between the two nuclear rivals has to be preserved. Yet I would rather see neither country have F-16's, even if it meant the end of F-16 production. The most ikely scenario for nuclear war is one where Islamic fanatics overthrow General Musharraf and decide to let the nukes fly. Seeing as how neither India nor Pakistan have nuclear missile warheads (according to some CIA sources,) how are they going to release the dogs of war? Possibly using the F-16's we just sold them!
I'm also leery that Pakistan will share F-16 avionics technology with China. The Chinese Air Force's problem is not with its airframes but its avionics. (The planes we originally sold to Pakistan, and the ones they shared with China, lacked the modern avionics of urrent F-16's.) When the European Union (of weasels) inevitably lifts its 1989 arms embargo with China, the communists will likely get their paws on western avionics that will give their planes the ability to fire missiles from beyond visual range and drop laser-guided bombs in all types of weather and lighting conditions. I do not want our jets to be part of this problem.
Renegade Judiciary
One thing that has struck me about the Terry Schiavo case is how a succession of judges has ruled in favor of Michael Schiavo in spite of his utter lack of a legal case for allowing his wife to die. Now, as a person who believes in federalism and limited government, I'm supposed to cringe at the actions of Governor Jeb Bush and the US Congress in interceding with this matter. However, in this case I think the intransigence is justified by what I like to call "the renegade judiciary," which legislates a radical social agenda from the bench.
Case in point is Michael Schiavo's contention that Terri would not have wanted to live in her current, disabled state. How do we know this? Why, Terri magically knew she was going to suffer from heart failure and brain damage, and she had the foresight to inform her husband about her wishes! If you believe this, I'd like to sell you some swamp land in Florida.
All sarcasm aside, the only evidence Michael Schiavo can offer is his word that Terri would have wanted death by starvation. I'm not a lawyer, but I've always been taught that things have to be in writing to be accepted in a court of law. Yet the renegade judiciary keeps on siding with Michael Schiavo. The only legal way fo a person to declare his or her wish not to be resuscitated is by signing a living will. Terri Schiavo never did this. Although I cannot claim to know what she truly wanted in 1990, I know this: allowing her to starve to death is irreversable. If we are a compassionate people, we have to err on the side of allowing her to live.
Another point of contention is the court's decision to not grant a divorce between Terri and Michael Schiavo. Yeah, so what if Michael Schiavo had a relationship and children with another woman while still married to Terri? Who cares if Michael Schiavo discontinued his wife's rehabilitation in 1993, in spite of the stipulations attached to his malpractice lawsuit? Since when have the laws gotten in the way of an activist judge?
As this heart-wrenching saga draws to a close, it brings us further down the spiral of forced euthanasia (a deceptive term, when considering the pain of starvation.) This is not about the right to die; this is about Michael Schiavo asserting the right to let his wife die, despite the offers from her family to take Terri Schiavo's burdens off his hands. When society determines that your life no longer contributes anything of positive value, you become expendable. That might be alright by Peter Singer (the militant vegan who believes in euthanizing disabled human infants,) but it's not the kind of world I want to live in.
Case in point is Michael Schiavo's contention that Terri would not have wanted to live in her current, disabled state. How do we know this? Why, Terri magically knew she was going to suffer from heart failure and brain damage, and she had the foresight to inform her husband about her wishes! If you believe this, I'd like to sell you some swamp land in Florida.
All sarcasm aside, the only evidence Michael Schiavo can offer is his word that Terri would have wanted death by starvation. I'm not a lawyer, but I've always been taught that things have to be in writing to be accepted in a court of law. Yet the renegade judiciary keeps on siding with Michael Schiavo. The only legal way fo a person to declare his or her wish not to be resuscitated is by signing a living will. Terri Schiavo never did this. Although I cannot claim to know what she truly wanted in 1990, I know this: allowing her to starve to death is irreversable. If we are a compassionate people, we have to err on the side of allowing her to live.
Another point of contention is the court's decision to not grant a divorce between Terri and Michael Schiavo. Yeah, so what if Michael Schiavo had a relationship and children with another woman while still married to Terri? Who cares if Michael Schiavo discontinued his wife's rehabilitation in 1993, in spite of the stipulations attached to his malpractice lawsuit? Since when have the laws gotten in the way of an activist judge?
As this heart-wrenching saga draws to a close, it brings us further down the spiral of forced euthanasia (a deceptive term, when considering the pain of starvation.) This is not about the right to die; this is about Michael Schiavo asserting the right to let his wife die, despite the offers from her family to take Terri Schiavo's burdens off his hands. When society determines that your life no longer contributes anything of positive value, you become expendable. That might be alright by Peter Singer (the militant vegan who believes in euthanizing disabled human infants,) but it's not the kind of world I want to live in.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
America, F**k yeah
A raid on an Iraqi terror camp in Tikrit kills 85 insurgents
Hopefully this is a sign that we are gaining the initiative and the momentum against the savage Baathists and Islamists who have brought ruin to Iraq.
Hopefully this is a sign that we are gaining the initiative and the momentum against the savage Baathists and Islamists who have brought ruin to Iraq.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Terri's Prison
The Terri Schiavo is a very sad affair that is forcing me to choose sides when I'm forced to admit that there isn't a clear-cut solution. We have a woman who has been sitting in a vegatative state for fifteen years who will soon starve to death unless a court intervenes.
Sometimes I question the motivations of Terri's husband, Michael Schiavo. He seems to have resigned himself to the belief that his wife is dead (which she is not,) and wants to have her starve to death so he can move on with his life.
Other times, I look at Terri's parents and say that they have to be delusional to believe that their daughter will ever improve. Doctors say that she has no chances of improving. Yet doctors have often been wrong, and often attribute their false predictions to "miracles" after people make incredible comebacks. It's also possible that advances in medical technology could be used to help Terri Schiavo someday down the road. (The irony is not lost on me that many of Terri Schiavo's supporters are opposed to fetal stem cell research.)
Terri Schiavo's case is not as simple as pulling the plug on somebody who is brain-dead. She has lost many of her vital functions but is still clearly alive. I often wonder what she thinks about, trapped in her mental prison and unable to talk to the world. If I were in her situation, I would definitely want to die. But the reality is that I am NOT in her situation; I should not decide Terri Schiavo's fate, nor should anybody else decide that for her. With her inability to communicate with the rest of the world, I would err on the side of letting her live. If anything, allowing her to starve to death would be the cruelest death of all.
The moral of the story is for everybody to write a living will. I would never want to put my family in the situation where they had to decide whether I should live or die; nor should anybody else.
Sometimes I question the motivations of Terri's husband, Michael Schiavo. He seems to have resigned himself to the belief that his wife is dead (which she is not,) and wants to have her starve to death so he can move on with his life.
Other times, I look at Terri's parents and say that they have to be delusional to believe that their daughter will ever improve. Doctors say that she has no chances of improving. Yet doctors have often been wrong, and often attribute their false predictions to "miracles" after people make incredible comebacks. It's also possible that advances in medical technology could be used to help Terri Schiavo someday down the road. (The irony is not lost on me that many of Terri Schiavo's supporters are opposed to fetal stem cell research.)
Terri Schiavo's case is not as simple as pulling the plug on somebody who is brain-dead. She has lost many of her vital functions but is still clearly alive. I often wonder what she thinks about, trapped in her mental prison and unable to talk to the world. If I were in her situation, I would definitely want to die. But the reality is that I am NOT in her situation; I should not decide Terri Schiavo's fate, nor should anybody else decide that for her. With her inability to communicate with the rest of the world, I would err on the side of letting her live. If anything, allowing her to starve to death would be the cruelest death of all.
The moral of the story is for everybody to write a living will. I would never want to put my family in the situation where they had to decide whether I should live or die; nor should anybody else.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
No Turning Back
Today we mark the second anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It's hard to believe that two long and oftentimes frustrating years have gone by since that attempt to decapitate the Saddam Hussein regime.
I was so confident and so elated at the time that Saddam Hussein was dead. I stayed up all night with CNN on TV, watching the Iraqi Information Minister and the bespectacled Saddam (I believed that the Saddam message had been pre-recorded, and we now know that many of Saddam's messages were. We also know that Saddam was never in Dora Farms, that it wasn't a bunker, and that the two Iraqis who reported it to us were liars.) I heard the reports of missiles and even an airplane crashing into the Marine camps in Kuwait, and I was scared that the chemical barrage was beginning.
My feelings about our actions in Iraq have been mixed, but our feelings towards all wars should be that way. No matter how just our cause, it does not change the fact that good men will die, and they still are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The proper way to view our invasion of Iraq was that it was an essential part of bringing stability to the middle east, after we established ourselves in the guardian role after Operation Desert Storm. Not only did we have to remove Saddam Hussein and his allies, but we had to erase the social conditions that created Saddam Hussein. The first part of this mission was comparatively easy; the second part is proving to be increasingly difficult.
There is no doubt that Team Bush has botched many parts of this operation, particularly in building a case for war that relied so heavily on Weapons of Mass Destruction (when there existed so many better reasons why Saddam had to go.) Perhaps we should have heeded the words of Marine General Tony Zinni, who thinks we should have waited longer, built a coalition, developed a better occupation plan.
Or perhaps Zinni is totally wrong, and we should have taken out Saddam many years before, back before he started planning an insurgency. As far as we know, the Iraqi insurgency was planned just after 9/11, and possibly even earlier that.
The people of Iraq have borne the burdens of this 15-year struggle, for the errors of their government and ours. My feelings towards them are ambivalent; I feel sorry for their sufferings if they are committed to a free Iraq. If they support Saddam or the insurgents or Moqtada al Sadr, they can choke on their own feces, die, and burn in hell as far as I'm concerned.
Look back over the past two years at the course we have created. A monster is imprisoned and his regime dismantled, yet there is plenty of work to be done. The seeds of democracy are planted, but they must be tended and protected from the flocks of predators. There is no turning back now.
I was so confident and so elated at the time that Saddam Hussein was dead. I stayed up all night with CNN on TV, watching the Iraqi Information Minister and the bespectacled Saddam (I believed that the Saddam message had been pre-recorded, and we now know that many of Saddam's messages were. We also know that Saddam was never in Dora Farms, that it wasn't a bunker, and that the two Iraqis who reported it to us were liars.) I heard the reports of missiles and even an airplane crashing into the Marine camps in Kuwait, and I was scared that the chemical barrage was beginning.
My feelings about our actions in Iraq have been mixed, but our feelings towards all wars should be that way. No matter how just our cause, it does not change the fact that good men will die, and they still are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The proper way to view our invasion of Iraq was that it was an essential part of bringing stability to the middle east, after we established ourselves in the guardian role after Operation Desert Storm. Not only did we have to remove Saddam Hussein and his allies, but we had to erase the social conditions that created Saddam Hussein. The first part of this mission was comparatively easy; the second part is proving to be increasingly difficult.
There is no doubt that Team Bush has botched many parts of this operation, particularly in building a case for war that relied so heavily on Weapons of Mass Destruction (when there existed so many better reasons why Saddam had to go.) Perhaps we should have heeded the words of Marine General Tony Zinni, who thinks we should have waited longer, built a coalition, developed a better occupation plan.
Or perhaps Zinni is totally wrong, and we should have taken out Saddam many years before, back before he started planning an insurgency. As far as we know, the Iraqi insurgency was planned just after 9/11, and possibly even earlier that.
The people of Iraq have borne the burdens of this 15-year struggle, for the errors of their government and ours. My feelings towards them are ambivalent; I feel sorry for their sufferings if they are committed to a free Iraq. If they support Saddam or the insurgents or Moqtada al Sadr, they can choke on their own feces, die, and burn in hell as far as I'm concerned.
Look back over the past two years at the course we have created. A monster is imprisoned and his regime dismantled, yet there is plenty of work to be done. The seeds of democracy are planted, but they must be tended and protected from the flocks of predators. There is no turning back now.
Friday, March 18, 2005
Tier II
After last night's awesome presentation by Kevin Mickey of Scaled Composites, it's likely that we won't see an orbital spacecraft from them anytime soon. It's also clear that the SpaceShipOne design can't be scaled up into an orbital vehicle.
What will Burt Rutan's "Tier II" orbital spacecraft look like? The design challenge it poses probably causes him to lose sleep at night. It certainly does for me.
Over the past few days, a new idea popped into my head. I would approach the problem by applying near-term or on-the-shelf technologies. I started off with a few groundrules:
1) Nothing unrealistic, like single-stage rockets. Three stages would be optimal based on he weight/complexity tradeoff.
2) No cross-feeding of propellant between boosters
3) Maximum commonality between stages
4) All spent boosters must fly back to base
5) The manned orbiter must glide back to a horizontal landing.
My solution is a parallel cluster of three winged boosters, filled with kerosene and oxygen, and topped off by a lifting-body spaceplane (like the HL-20 or X-38.)
The mission would go something like this: the rocket lifts off, then the center booster's engine throttles down shortly afterwards. The center booster saves fuel while the outer ones burn out, fall off, and fly back to earth. The center booster carries the lifting body almost all the way to orbit, performing an abort-once-around to the launch site. The lifting body contributes the final burn to insert itself into orbit.
The lifting body could carry crew or cargo, but not both. Special-purpose lifting bodies would be built for crew or cargo, meeting the different requirements of each mission within a common airframe (docking collars and payload bay doors being optional.) A collar around the base of the lifting body would house rockets that could pull the craft away from its booster for an abort while the boosters are burning.
The lifting body would de-orbit in the fashion of the shuttle, but with one big difference: it would have small, slender wings that would be tucked into the fuselage until the craft decelerates to subsonic speed. Swing wings are generally heavy, but cruise missiles have taught us how to build simple, lightweight wings with no moving surfaces.
I'm sure this space-taxi concept has its drawbacks, but I still fail to see a better solution on the horizon. The space shuttle certainly wasn't the answer to the problem of routine manned spaceflight. I hope Burt will come up with the great idea that saves us all.
What will Burt Rutan's "Tier II" orbital spacecraft look like? The design challenge it poses probably causes him to lose sleep at night. It certainly does for me.
Over the past few days, a new idea popped into my head. I would approach the problem by applying near-term or on-the-shelf technologies. I started off with a few groundrules:
1) Nothing unrealistic, like single-stage rockets. Three stages would be optimal based on he weight/complexity tradeoff.
2) No cross-feeding of propellant between boosters
3) Maximum commonality between stages
4) All spent boosters must fly back to base
5) The manned orbiter must glide back to a horizontal landing.
My solution is a parallel cluster of three winged boosters, filled with kerosene and oxygen, and topped off by a lifting-body spaceplane (like the HL-20 or X-38.)
The mission would go something like this: the rocket lifts off, then the center booster's engine throttles down shortly afterwards. The center booster saves fuel while the outer ones burn out, fall off, and fly back to earth. The center booster carries the lifting body almost all the way to orbit, performing an abort-once-around to the launch site. The lifting body contributes the final burn to insert itself into orbit.
The lifting body could carry crew or cargo, but not both. Special-purpose lifting bodies would be built for crew or cargo, meeting the different requirements of each mission within a common airframe (docking collars and payload bay doors being optional.) A collar around the base of the lifting body would house rockets that could pull the craft away from its booster for an abort while the boosters are burning.
The lifting body would de-orbit in the fashion of the shuttle, but with one big difference: it would have small, slender wings that would be tucked into the fuselage until the craft decelerates to subsonic speed. Swing wings are generally heavy, but cruise missiles have taught us how to build simple, lightweight wings with no moving surfaces.
I'm sure this space-taxi concept has its drawbacks, but I still fail to see a better solution on the horizon. The space shuttle certainly wasn't the answer to the problem of routine manned spaceflight. I hope Burt will come up with the great idea that saves us all.
Geneva Part II
The publication of my Geneva Conventions critique in The Avion was met with what I would term a very bitter response. I sent the following letter to the person who wrote the reply. Normally, a piece of personal communication like this would be kept confidential, but because many of my conservative friends have had the same complaints as my current intellectual sparring partner, I felt they should be entitled to the same reply. Further, the author of the rebuttal has yet to say if he's read my reply.
The letter, in abridged form:
I felt it was prudent that I reply to your defense of the current Geneva Conventions. The truth is that you and I are not as far apart on the issue as you may believe. I never thought I’d see the day when I would be called “a radical liberal,” as my views fall squarely in the Conservative-Libertarian area of the political spectrum. I believe that the United States has to do whatever it can to protect itself from all terrorists, and that bringing freedom, stability, and representative government to Iraq is an essential part of that mission.
Also, I detest the insurgents/terrorists. Although I do not underestimate their abilities to create fear, chaos, and death, I have no respect for their goals or means. They bring great dishonor to their faith and their people.
I never disputed that detained terrorists and insurgents are violating the Geneva Conventions. What I do recognize, however, is that many influential leaders throughout the world wrongly feel that these irregulars SHOULD be treated as lawful combatants. This is the opinion of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the American Civil Liberties Union, other international “human rights” groups, many U.S. Senators, and several federal judges in this country who have ruled in favor of captured terrorists. Even our Supreme Court has tried to give the federal court system oversight over Guantanamo Bay (which, by all credible accounts, is far more lenient to the prisoners than the prisons in Iraq, Afghanistan, and countries that we have “rendered” prisoners to.
I do not propose that we totally cave in to the beliefs of human rights groups and activist judges. My proposed course of action is to strike a compromise. I believe we need a third category for these irregular fighters that would have some, but not all, PoW protections. In all fairness, the captured terrorists should not be treated with such dignity, as they are war criminals (a designation used to refer to the president by the advocates for the captured terrorists.) But the US is held to a higher standard throughout the world, and we will further erode our stature as a leader and a protector of human freedoms if we do not show any mercy.
I realize this step is highly idealistic, and we should not expect other countries to reciprocate our kindness. I think that the treatment of brave men like Scott Speicher, Donald Walters, Matt Maupin, Nick Berg, or Kenneth Bigley would have been no different no matter what policies we put in place regarding our captured enemies.
Then again, the Geneva Conventions by their nature are highly idealistic. As I said, they want prison camps to be run like the prison in Hogan’s Heroes. The interrogation policies approved by our defense secretary (as opposed to the extreme methods once used at Abu Ghuraib) are not unreasonable, in my opinion, but they still violate the spirit of Geneva.
I am a pragmatist, and while I feel that physical abuse during interrogations is crude, there are rare circumstances where it may be justified. Certainly, I think we can make exceptions in our policies regarding high-ranking al Qaeda figures and Baathist leaders. I defend the actions of Lt. Col. Allen West, who discharged a pistol during an interrogation so he could extract information that saved the lives of his men.
The use of the illegal combatant designation was the correct decision by President Bush and his chief legal counsel, Alberto Gonzalez. I feel they have erred by not establishing a clear and firm policy of what the captured terrorists ARE, now that we have established what the terrorists ARE NOT (lawful combatants.) They have also failed to come up with a firm policy regarding who is eligible for civil trial instead of a military tribunal. American Taliban John Walker was given a civil trial that he did not deserve; he was captured fighting with the enemy in a combat zone. He should have been stripped of his citizenship, then put before a military tribunal for punishment in a military prison. Jose Padilla, on the other hand, was arrested by civilian authorities and placed in a U.S. Navy brig. Our new attorney general should resolve the past confusion by making it clear that terrorists captured in a combat zone will receive military justice while terror suspects captured within the U.S. should be put before civilian authorities.
My motive is to uphold the reputation of the United States in the face of international and domestic criticism. As unjust as this criticism may sound, it is important for the US to always portray itself as the good guy who plays by an established set of rules. I feel the “game” has changed and we need to law out new rules so we can avoid being called “cheaters.”
I doubt that my rebuttal has done anything to sway your opinion, but I hope that it has given you an insight into my thought process and will help you to get a better feel for my character and motivations. Many of my friends have taken the same stance in reaction to my proposal that you have, so I feel like I owe them an explanation as well. If you choose to continue this dialogue feel free to drop me an e-mail or talk to me.
After I wrote this, John McCain expressed his concern that our policy on interrogations isn't specific enough or uniform. All I want is a realistic policy that allows for psychological and sensory deprivation techniques to be used during interrogations while avoiding the crude physical abuse that our enemies use against our guys. Further, this policy should be internationally agreed to so that other countries won't come bitching to us when people come out of American prisons complaining of mistreatment.
The letter, in abridged form:
I felt it was prudent that I reply to your defense of the current Geneva Conventions. The truth is that you and I are not as far apart on the issue as you may believe. I never thought I’d see the day when I would be called “a radical liberal,” as my views fall squarely in the Conservative-Libertarian area of the political spectrum. I believe that the United States has to do whatever it can to protect itself from all terrorists, and that bringing freedom, stability, and representative government to Iraq is an essential part of that mission.
Also, I detest the insurgents/terrorists. Although I do not underestimate their abilities to create fear, chaos, and death, I have no respect for their goals or means. They bring great dishonor to their faith and their people.
I never disputed that detained terrorists and insurgents are violating the Geneva Conventions. What I do recognize, however, is that many influential leaders throughout the world wrongly feel that these irregulars SHOULD be treated as lawful combatants. This is the opinion of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the American Civil Liberties Union, other international “human rights” groups, many U.S. Senators, and several federal judges in this country who have ruled in favor of captured terrorists. Even our Supreme Court has tried to give the federal court system oversight over Guantanamo Bay (which, by all credible accounts, is far more lenient to the prisoners than the prisons in Iraq, Afghanistan, and countries that we have “rendered” prisoners to.
I do not propose that we totally cave in to the beliefs of human rights groups and activist judges. My proposed course of action is to strike a compromise. I believe we need a third category for these irregular fighters that would have some, but not all, PoW protections. In all fairness, the captured terrorists should not be treated with such dignity, as they are war criminals (a designation used to refer to the president by the advocates for the captured terrorists.) But the US is held to a higher standard throughout the world, and we will further erode our stature as a leader and a protector of human freedoms if we do not show any mercy.
I realize this step is highly idealistic, and we should not expect other countries to reciprocate our kindness. I think that the treatment of brave men like Scott Speicher, Donald Walters, Matt Maupin, Nick Berg, or Kenneth Bigley would have been no different no matter what policies we put in place regarding our captured enemies.
Then again, the Geneva Conventions by their nature are highly idealistic. As I said, they want prison camps to be run like the prison in Hogan’s Heroes. The interrogation policies approved by our defense secretary (as opposed to the extreme methods once used at Abu Ghuraib) are not unreasonable, in my opinion, but they still violate the spirit of Geneva.
I am a pragmatist, and while I feel that physical abuse during interrogations is crude, there are rare circumstances where it may be justified. Certainly, I think we can make exceptions in our policies regarding high-ranking al Qaeda figures and Baathist leaders. I defend the actions of Lt. Col. Allen West, who discharged a pistol during an interrogation so he could extract information that saved the lives of his men.
The use of the illegal combatant designation was the correct decision by President Bush and his chief legal counsel, Alberto Gonzalez. I feel they have erred by not establishing a clear and firm policy of what the captured terrorists ARE, now that we have established what the terrorists ARE NOT (lawful combatants.) They have also failed to come up with a firm policy regarding who is eligible for civil trial instead of a military tribunal. American Taliban John Walker was given a civil trial that he did not deserve; he was captured fighting with the enemy in a combat zone. He should have been stripped of his citizenship, then put before a military tribunal for punishment in a military prison. Jose Padilla, on the other hand, was arrested by civilian authorities and placed in a U.S. Navy brig. Our new attorney general should resolve the past confusion by making it clear that terrorists captured in a combat zone will receive military justice while terror suspects captured within the U.S. should be put before civilian authorities.
My motive is to uphold the reputation of the United States in the face of international and domestic criticism. As unjust as this criticism may sound, it is important for the US to always portray itself as the good guy who plays by an established set of rules. I feel the “game” has changed and we need to law out new rules so we can avoid being called “cheaters.”
I doubt that my rebuttal has done anything to sway your opinion, but I hope that it has given you an insight into my thought process and will help you to get a better feel for my character and motivations. Many of my friends have taken the same stance in reaction to my proposal that you have, so I feel like I owe them an explanation as well. If you choose to continue this dialogue feel free to drop me an e-mail or talk to me.
After I wrote this, John McCain expressed his concern that our policy on interrogations isn't specific enough or uniform. All I want is a realistic policy that allows for psychological and sensory deprivation techniques to be used during interrogations while avoiding the crude physical abuse that our enemies use against our guys. Further, this policy should be internationally agreed to so that other countries won't come bitching to us when people come out of American prisons complaining of mistreatment.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Slackbridge vs. The Marines
Another reason why labor unions suck cock.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Iraqi Army Update
An update on the Iraqi army from Tony Cordesman. It's got some good stuff in it. It confirms my argument (which I based on reports from Iraq and the Tommy Franks book) that disbanding the Iraqi army was not Paul Bremer's mistake, but something the army brought upon itself. It also offers advice for futher development of the army and adds that stabilizing Iraq will be a long, hard slog rather than a simple tipping point. I think the Iraqi army needs us to give them heavier weaponry, like our old M60 tanks and M113 armored personnel carriers. They also need political leadership who can win the support of the people who teeter between supporting the government and the savage insurgents.
Atlas Launched
We got out of Design II class yesterday for a few minutes to watch the Atlas V launch. I had never bothered to watch the unmanned rockets lift off during my four years at Riddle until yesterday. It wasn't very impressive like a shuttle launch, but it was still entertaining. The plume from the solid rockets was all I could really see, and I doubt I could have seen it at all if it didn't have the solid rocket motors attached. Surprisingly, the professor had no clue about the launch until we told him two minutes prior.
I have a lot of faith in the Atlas rockets. The Atlas II and III series had 69 successful launches and no failures, and I have similarly high expectations for the Atlas V. I like the decision to stick with kerosene propellant, because it keeps the structure smaller. It's also a more powerful rocket than its competitor, the Delta IV, in its single-core version. I will really be excited if they build a three-core "Atlas V Heavy." Similarly, it would ignite my engines if they put the upcoming CEV spacecraft atop the Atlas V, in the same way that the Mercury spacecraft was launched on an Atlas back in 1962-3.
I have a lot of faith in the Atlas rockets. The Atlas II and III series had 69 successful launches and no failures, and I have similarly high expectations for the Atlas V. I like the decision to stick with kerosene propellant, because it keeps the structure smaller. It's also a more powerful rocket than its competitor, the Delta IV, in its single-core version. I will really be excited if they build a three-core "Atlas V Heavy." Similarly, it would ignite my engines if they put the upcoming CEV spacecraft atop the Atlas V, in the same way that the Mercury spacecraft was launched on an Atlas back in 1962-3.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Score: Swift Vets 1, Hanoi John 0
At least that's what John LeBoutillier is saying in his most recent post. If you compare the news to the polling results, you will see a direct correlation between the Swift Boat Vets' first ads and the fall of John Kerry in the polls. The Democrats have made up all sorts of comforting lies to explain John Kerry's defeat at the hands of the weakest incumbent president since Jimmy Carter. They blame same-sex marriage and they blame the Osama bin Laden video.
The truth is that, for all of George W. Bush's faults, John Kerry was the weakest candidate they have run since Walter Mondale. The sad part of the story is that a group of brave and aging Vietnam veterans had to come out of the shadows to make Americans realize that John Kerry was an opportunistic, malicious, self-serving limousine liberal who lacked a plan for America.
The truth is that, for all of George W. Bush's faults, John Kerry was the weakest candidate they have run since Walter Mondale. The sad part of the story is that a group of brave and aging Vietnam veterans had to come out of the shadows to make Americans realize that John Kerry was an opportunistic, malicious, self-serving limousine liberal who lacked a plan for America.
Cycles
It seems like I am trapped in a four-year cycle that repeats itself. I'm getting burned out with school and I'm ready to take the next step. At the same time, the education I have wanted has again escaped my grasp and I will have to settle for second best. Four years ago I lost Little Rex, one of our oldest lizards, at the end of February. The situation is eerily reminiscent of the recent passing of Margie, who has joined Hungry Hungry Homer and Frisky Molly over the span of the last eight months.
At the same time, we approach the 4th anniversary of 911, and I am filled with a growing sense of dread over a future terrorist attack. While I pray daily for the safety of our nation and people, our bubble of security will inevitably break. The only thing mitigating this fear is a growing sense of hope that the seeds of democracy may sprout in the hostile soil of the middle east. The prospect of a democratic Iraq or independent Palestine or liberated Lebanon is tantalyzing and worth the effort. Perhaps that sense of hope is our measure of progress over the past four years.
My fears are probably driven by the four-year cycles of high school and college. Still, it's important for all of us to learn our lessons, break the cycles, and blaze our own trails.
At the same time, we approach the 4th anniversary of 911, and I am filled with a growing sense of dread over a future terrorist attack. While I pray daily for the safety of our nation and people, our bubble of security will inevitably break. The only thing mitigating this fear is a growing sense of hope that the seeds of democracy may sprout in the hostile soil of the middle east. The prospect of a democratic Iraq or independent Palestine or liberated Lebanon is tantalyzing and worth the effort. Perhaps that sense of hope is our measure of progress over the past four years.
My fears are probably driven by the four-year cycles of high school and college. Still, it's important for all of us to learn our lessons, break the cycles, and blaze our own trails.
Sunday, March 06, 2005
One Fierce Beer Run
We all have our excuses for not running. I'm unmotivated and have poor time-management skills. Some friends of mine used to be devoted runners until they took up drinking. We're going to try and change our ways this spring.
Friday night I went on a solo run past Beach Street, across the bridge, and back. The next day I went on a shorter run with a friend. We made the vow to run every Friday and Saturday until we get back in shape. It's a vow I intend to keep.
Much thanks to those musical perverts, the Bloodhound Gang, for giving me the title to this post.
Friday night I went on a solo run past Beach Street, across the bridge, and back. The next day I went on a shorter run with a friend. We made the vow to run every Friday and Saturday until we get back in shape. It's a vow I intend to keep.
Much thanks to those musical perverts, the Bloodhound Gang, for giving me the title to this post.
Friday, March 04, 2005
For Margie, somewhere over the rainbow
Margie died today, in the palm of Father's hand as he checked on her during his lunch break. Earlier this week I was optimistic that she might pull through; Wednesday and Thursday she really went into the doldrums. It took me a while to cry for her but I did. I feel bad that I knew so little about Marge, and that when I was home for Christmas I was too lazy to give her any real attention. Yes, I picked her out at the pet shop, but I was never there when she needed me most. I will always debate whether we should have got Nibbler when we did, even though Margie hadn't gotten over the loss of Homer yet.
Father and Sister would always play the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," by the late Israel Kamakawiwo Ole', to make Margie feel better. Herein, I reprint the lyrics, in hopes that Margie and I can see each other again on the other side of the rainbow.
OK this one's for Gabby
Ooooo oooooo ohoohohoo
Ooooo ohooohoo oooohoo
Ooooo ohoohooo oohoooo
Oohooo oohoooho ooooho
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Once in a lullaby ii ii iii
Somewhere over the rainbow
Blue birds fly
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really do come true ooh ooooh
Someday I'll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me ee ee eeh
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney tops thats where you'll find me oh
Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
And the dream that you dare to,why, oh why can't I? i iiii
Well I see trees of green and Red roses too,
I'll watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Well I see skies of blue and I see clouds of white
And the brightness of day
I like the dark and I think to myself
What a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people passing by I see friends shaking hands
Saying, 'How do you do?'
They're really saying, I...I love you
I hear babies cry and I watch them grow,
They'll learn much more
Than we'll know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world (w)oohoorld
Someday I'll wish upon a star,
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top that's where you'll find me
Oh, Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
And the dream that you dare to, why, oh why can't I? I hiii ?
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Father and Sister would always play the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," by the late Israel Kamakawiwo Ole', to make Margie feel better. Herein, I reprint the lyrics, in hopes that Margie and I can see each other again on the other side of the rainbow.
OK this one's for Gabby
Ooooo oooooo ohoohohoo
Ooooo ohooohoo oooohoo
Ooooo ohoohooo oohoooo
Oohooo oohoooho ooooho
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Once in a lullaby ii ii iii
Somewhere over the rainbow
Blue birds fly
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really do come true ooh ooooh
Someday I'll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me ee ee eeh
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney tops thats where you'll find me oh
Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
And the dream that you dare to,why, oh why can't I? i iiii
Well I see trees of green and Red roses too,
I'll watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Well I see skies of blue and I see clouds of white
And the brightness of day
I like the dark and I think to myself
What a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people passing by I see friends shaking hands
Saying, 'How do you do?'
They're really saying, I...I love you
I hear babies cry and I watch them grow,
They'll learn much more
Than we'll know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world (w)oohoorld
Someday I'll wish upon a star,
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top that's where you'll find me
Oh, Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
And the dream that you dare to, why, oh why can't I? I hiii ?
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Week of constant sorrow
My week of constant sorry is coming to a close, and not a moment too soon. All week I have been checking with my family because our pet lizard Margie is gravely ill. My poor sister is in the dumps about it, although she's done her best to take care of little Margie as best as she lovingly can.
I had to pull a term paper out of my butt and study for an electrical engineering test Monday night. I took the test Tuesday. It was crazy to say the least. I've been getting so little sleep that I need to bum drugs (Advil) off Mary so I can banish these awful headaches.
Thursday I took a Turbine & Rocket test where there wasn't enought ime for my straight-edge to box answers AND find the total temperature in a variable-area duct at the same time. I had to absorb accusations against my integrity, which always hurts my pride. While they had some validity, the person harping on me didn't have to be such a mega-bitch about it. Then I had an electrical engineering quiz on two sections I didn't bother to read. Finally I had a compliance inspection regarding an AFOATS instruction I hadn't bothered to read until this afternoon. I actually think I learned something from the instruction, although there is much more I need to digest.
Let's just hope that this week ends on a happier note, and I can learn my lessons, take them to heart, and move on with my life.
I had to pull a term paper out of my butt and study for an electrical engineering test Monday night. I took the test Tuesday. It was crazy to say the least. I've been getting so little sleep that I need to bum drugs (Advil) off Mary so I can banish these awful headaches.
Thursday I took a Turbine & Rocket test where there wasn't enought ime for my straight-edge to box answers AND find the total temperature in a variable-area duct at the same time. I had to absorb accusations against my integrity, which always hurts my pride. While they had some validity, the person harping on me didn't have to be such a mega-bitch about it. Then I had an electrical engineering quiz on two sections I didn't bother to read. Finally I had a compliance inspection regarding an AFOATS instruction I hadn't bothered to read until this afternoon. I actually think I learned something from the instruction, although there is much more I need to digest.
Let's just hope that this week ends on a happier note, and I can learn my lessons, take them to heart, and move on with my life.
Geneva Conventions: Evolve or Die
Undeniably, the United States will always be held to a higher standard than the rest of the world in upholding human rights. As the first democracy and the most libertarian society on earth, the rest of the world looks to us to set an example.
Over the past three years, this reputation as a guarantor of international human rights has taken a beating. The activities at Abu Ghraib prison have cast a dark shadow over the way the United States treats its prisoners. The Abu Ghraib incident is not the first time that America has been accused of cruelty. The protests and outcries have been going on since the first planeload of captured terrorist fighters landed at Camp X-Ray in Guantanamo Bay.
The larger issue here is whether the United States is following the rules of war. There is no good answer to this question, because the laws of war broke down the instant that the first jet was hijacked on September 11, 2001. The laws of war, as spelled out in the Geneva Conventions, have become largely obsolete in this era of international terrorist organizations.
The Geneva Conventions came about in 1864 and were further revised in 1906, 1929, and 1949. The third revision was a reaction to World War I and the subsequent peace movement; the fourth was motivated by World War II. Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union can hurl all of the allegations and file as many lawsuits as they please, but it does not change the fact that the Geneva Conventions are too old to deal with the question of detained terrorists and irregular fighters.
Geneva lays out many rules defining what a “lawful combatant” is. They have to wear an identifiable uniform, carry their weapons openly, and fight for a recognized government. Neither al Qaeda fighters nor Iraqi insurgents fall under this definition.
While the Geneva Conventions extend Prisoner of War privileges to militias and civilian resistance fighters, the majority of al Qaeda fighters and Iraqi insurgents also fail to meet those standards; they conceal their weapons, take refuge in protected sites like mosques and schools, and cut the heads off innocent civilians. When the insurgents and terrorists take prisoners, they would rather do an al Jazeera-style beheading than follow Geneva. They give no reason for their enemies to show them humane treatment.
Bush Administration policy has been to lump these captured terrorists into the other legal definition given by Geneva: unlawful combatants. In the past, this category has extended to spies and saboteurs.
The difference between the treatment of captured lawful combatants and captured unlawful combatants is like night and day. Lawful combatants ‘cannot be subjected to unpleasant treatment in any way,’ according to the idealistic convention. In other words, a day in a prison camp should be like an episode of Hogan’s Heroes. The treatment for unlawful combatants is less specific. Historically, spies and saboteurs have been executed on sight. By comparison, a few years in Gitmo seems merciful.
The Geneva Conventions need to change with the times, to recognize that terrorist fighters are a different breed of combatant with different rules for their treatment when captured. While they do not deserve the same protections as Prisoners of War, most of us can agree that they deserve food, water, clothing, and some form of trial before their final punishment.
Other issues are less clear and need to be addressed by delegates from countries that support the Geneva Conventions. What constitutes torture? While most believe that physical abuse should not be used as an interrogation method, other techniques are less certain. Is it torture to stand on one’s feet for four hours? The ACLU may say “yes,” while Defense Secretary Rumsfeld can stand on his feet for eight hours per day and not tire. Further, the status of private security organizations should be spelled out, should the Geneva Conventions be amended. While they provide security for civilians and can logically be seen as civilians, others may think that they are mercenaries.
The most important goal for the international community is creating a legal definition for terrorist fighters. If they receive no legal protections, the United States will embark on the slippery slope towards abandoning all Prisoner of War protections. The most egregious example of this is Vietnam. Because the Vietnamese communists referred to captured pilots as “air pirates” and “war criminals” instead of Prisoners of War, these men were denied the most basic rights under Geneva and subjected to unthinkable cruelty.
The Geneva Conventions must never be treated as a sacred cow. As warfare continues to evolve, the conventions will also have to evolve as a moderating force to prevent warfare from escalating into total savagery. Just as World War I and World War II inspired updates to the conventions, the global war on terrorism deserves the same treatment.
Over the past three years, this reputation as a guarantor of international human rights has taken a beating. The activities at Abu Ghraib prison have cast a dark shadow over the way the United States treats its prisoners. The Abu Ghraib incident is not the first time that America has been accused of cruelty. The protests and outcries have been going on since the first planeload of captured terrorist fighters landed at Camp X-Ray in Guantanamo Bay.
The larger issue here is whether the United States is following the rules of war. There is no good answer to this question, because the laws of war broke down the instant that the first jet was hijacked on September 11, 2001. The laws of war, as spelled out in the Geneva Conventions, have become largely obsolete in this era of international terrorist organizations.
The Geneva Conventions came about in 1864 and were further revised in 1906, 1929, and 1949. The third revision was a reaction to World War I and the subsequent peace movement; the fourth was motivated by World War II. Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union can hurl all of the allegations and file as many lawsuits as they please, but it does not change the fact that the Geneva Conventions are too old to deal with the question of detained terrorists and irregular fighters.
Geneva lays out many rules defining what a “lawful combatant” is. They have to wear an identifiable uniform, carry their weapons openly, and fight for a recognized government. Neither al Qaeda fighters nor Iraqi insurgents fall under this definition.
While the Geneva Conventions extend Prisoner of War privileges to militias and civilian resistance fighters, the majority of al Qaeda fighters and Iraqi insurgents also fail to meet those standards; they conceal their weapons, take refuge in protected sites like mosques and schools, and cut the heads off innocent civilians. When the insurgents and terrorists take prisoners, they would rather do an al Jazeera-style beheading than follow Geneva. They give no reason for their enemies to show them humane treatment.
Bush Administration policy has been to lump these captured terrorists into the other legal definition given by Geneva: unlawful combatants. In the past, this category has extended to spies and saboteurs.
The difference between the treatment of captured lawful combatants and captured unlawful combatants is like night and day. Lawful combatants ‘cannot be subjected to unpleasant treatment in any way,’ according to the idealistic convention. In other words, a day in a prison camp should be like an episode of Hogan’s Heroes. The treatment for unlawful combatants is less specific. Historically, spies and saboteurs have been executed on sight. By comparison, a few years in Gitmo seems merciful.
The Geneva Conventions need to change with the times, to recognize that terrorist fighters are a different breed of combatant with different rules for their treatment when captured. While they do not deserve the same protections as Prisoners of War, most of us can agree that they deserve food, water, clothing, and some form of trial before their final punishment.
Other issues are less clear and need to be addressed by delegates from countries that support the Geneva Conventions. What constitutes torture? While most believe that physical abuse should not be used as an interrogation method, other techniques are less certain. Is it torture to stand on one’s feet for four hours? The ACLU may say “yes,” while Defense Secretary Rumsfeld can stand on his feet for eight hours per day and not tire. Further, the status of private security organizations should be spelled out, should the Geneva Conventions be amended. While they provide security for civilians and can logically be seen as civilians, others may think that they are mercenaries.
The most important goal for the international community is creating a legal definition for terrorist fighters. If they receive no legal protections, the United States will embark on the slippery slope towards abandoning all Prisoner of War protections. The most egregious example of this is Vietnam. Because the Vietnamese communists referred to captured pilots as “air pirates” and “war criminals” instead of Prisoners of War, these men were denied the most basic rights under Geneva and subjected to unthinkable cruelty.
The Geneva Conventions must never be treated as a sacred cow. As warfare continues to evolve, the conventions will also have to evolve as a moderating force to prevent warfare from escalating into total savagery. Just as World War I and World War II inspired updates to the conventions, the global war on terrorism deserves the same treatment.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Around the world in four days
Millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett is currently weighing his options as his sensors indicate "low fuel" during his quest to make the fastest flight around the world. I don't know if the signifigance of this date has been lost on Fossett, but it's also the anniversary of Lucky Lady II's nonstop flight around the world.
Between Feb. 26 and March 2, 1949, the first nonstop flight around the world was accomplished by a Boeing B-50 Superfortress, Lucky Lady II. Although the world had been circumnavigated by a pair of Douglas World Cruisers in 1924, nobody had ever done it without stopping--until the advent of midair refueling.
Unlike most records, the feat of Lucky Lady II and her crew was more than a stunt. It validated the concept of global reach, made possible through aerial refueling. The new technology would transform airpower into a strategic instrument of national policy.
Sadly, Lucky Lady II was almost totally destroyed shortly after her record-setting flight. Fortunately, her place in history saved her fuselage from being scrapped. As a monument to this tremendous moment in history, she is on display at the Planes of Fame museum.
Between Feb. 26 and March 2, 1949, the first nonstop flight around the world was accomplished by a Boeing B-50 Superfortress, Lucky Lady II. Although the world had been circumnavigated by a pair of Douglas World Cruisers in 1924, nobody had ever done it without stopping--until the advent of midair refueling.
Unlike most records, the feat of Lucky Lady II and her crew was more than a stunt. It validated the concept of global reach, made possible through aerial refueling. The new technology would transform airpower into a strategic instrument of national policy.
Sadly, Lucky Lady II was almost totally destroyed shortly after her record-setting flight. Fortunately, her place in history saved her fuselage from being scrapped. As a monument to this tremendous moment in history, she is on display at the Planes of Fame museum.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Inshallah, revisited
A major difference between Islamic and Christian cultures is their attitudes towards death. It is common for Muslims to be at peace with their impending deaths. For Christians, imminent death is met with much kicking and screaming.
For devout Chrisitians who believe their place in the afterlife is in heaven, it would be expected that they too would be at peace with death as many Muslims are. Yet the majority of Christians aren't, and that has me searching for answers.
In Islam, the path to paradise is fairly well-defined. If you die as a martyr, you go to Paradise and get your way with 72 virgins. If you are a devout Muslim who follows the five pillars of Islam, you go to paradise. If you are a sinful Muslim, you atone for your sins in the hellfire before going to paradise. For everybody else, you stay in the hellfire for good.
Things aren't so clear-cut with Christianity. The Bible tells us an awful lot about hell but very little about heaven. It gives us ten commandments, which are very practical rules for living a good life. But are the ten commandments enough? Jesus says that all who believe in him will be saved. But must we also do good works and follow in the ways of Jesus to be saved? The Bible is ambiguous on this question, and this became one of the major reasons for the schism between Martin Luther and the Catholic Church.
I have taken the view that death is unavoidable no matter what awaits us in the afterlife, so I have tried to be at peace with that. That being said, it's important for us to listen to our hearts and live each day as we believe our God wants. We should respect ourselves, respect each other, and good results are bound to follow in this life and the life after it.
For devout Chrisitians who believe their place in the afterlife is in heaven, it would be expected that they too would be at peace with death as many Muslims are. Yet the majority of Christians aren't, and that has me searching for answers.
In Islam, the path to paradise is fairly well-defined. If you die as a martyr, you go to Paradise and get your way with 72 virgins. If you are a devout Muslim who follows the five pillars of Islam, you go to paradise. If you are a sinful Muslim, you atone for your sins in the hellfire before going to paradise. For everybody else, you stay in the hellfire for good.
Things aren't so clear-cut with Christianity. The Bible tells us an awful lot about hell but very little about heaven. It gives us ten commandments, which are very practical rules for living a good life. But are the ten commandments enough? Jesus says that all who believe in him will be saved. But must we also do good works and follow in the ways of Jesus to be saved? The Bible is ambiguous on this question, and this became one of the major reasons for the schism between Martin Luther and the Catholic Church.
I have taken the view that death is unavoidable no matter what awaits us in the afterlife, so I have tried to be at peace with that. That being said, it's important for us to listen to our hearts and live each day as we believe our God wants. We should respect ourselves, respect each other, and good results are bound to follow in this life and the life after it.
