Plato’s Divided Line and the Iraq War

The Divided Line analogy of Plato’s Republic presents in a few lines perhaps the single greatest discussion of human epistemology among all philosophical works.  More than 2000 years later, we are still far short of realizing its full implications. The passages identifies an essential distinction between discursive reasoning, dianoia, and a superior form of knowledge, [...]

The Senate’s Compliance in the Iraq War

Breaking headline: Iraq report rips U.S. leaders : Senators: Invasion misused intelligence. Don’t you think this is a little late? Yes, the Bush administration lied. They willingly exaggerated the threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) as a pretext for invading Iraq. And you (John D. Rockefeller, the Senate Intelligence Committee, and the rest of [...]

Notes: On how the people in America and in Gaza are brothers and sisters

On how the people in America and in Gaza are brothers and sisters A logical proof: 1. I am an American currently living in the center of Brussels. Perhaps half of the dealings I have each day are with Muslims from countries like Morocco, Pakistan, and Turkey, whose shops I visit and whose services I [...]

Notes: the spiritual children of Abraham should not battle each other

Some entries in this blog are formal articles. Others, like this one, take more the form of working notes, outlines for later development, or ‘thinking out loud’. Some are complete, and some are just sketches. For now I will label such entries as ‘Notes’. I am aware of and distressed by the current suffering of [...]

Comments on “A Common Word between Us and You”

Comments on “A Common Word between Us” In October of 2007, 138 Muslim leaders, clerics, and scholars published an open letter to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI titled, A Common Word between Us and You. The letter was unambiguously positive and well motivated. The summary of the letter states succinctly (and correctly): “The future of [...]

A Reply to Osama bin Laden

A Reply to Osama Bin Laden John S. Uebersax PhD Preface Following the attacks of September 2001, Osama Bin Laden has delivered several addresses to Americans (e.g., October 2004; April 2006; September 2007). Since the American people themselves, and not their government or corporations, were addressed, and further since the people were the victims the [...]

The Kucinich Plan For Iraq

Rep. Dennis Kucinich has drafted a plan for ending the US military involvement in Iraq. http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_rep__den_070108_the_kucinich_plan_fo.htm “There is a compelling need for a new direction in Iraq, one that recognizes the plight of the people of Iraq, the false and illegal basis of the United States war against Iraq, the realities on the ground which [...]

News: Roman Colosseum – Protest Against the Death Penalty

Credit is due the mayor and people of Rome for speaking out against the death penalty. As the Roman Colosseum is a place sanctified by martyrs’ blood, may the demonstration have the force of prayer. http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,,21023287-5005961,00.html ROME lit up the arches of its ancient Colosseum at dusk overnight to protest against the death penalty after [...]

Capital Punishment – Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti and Awad Hamed al-Bandar

I protest the planned use of capital punishment in the cases of Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti and Awad Hamed al-Bandar. Both men were convicted in connection with the killing of 148 men of the city of Dujail and with other reprisals against the civilian population of the city following a failed assassination attempt against Saddam Hussein [...]

Arguments Against Death Penalty for Saddam Hussein

We pursue here a logical analysis of the question: Should Saddam Hussein be granted clemency and not executed? 1. Argument from the Nature of a Head of State It is unseemly to execute a former head of state. It violates the dignity of the office. Regardless of his or her offenses, a head of state [...]