Reflections along the way.

Day: July 24, 2006

War, Middle East and a World Divided

Like the war in Iraq, it seems this war in Israel divides people all around the world. Reading the Iraqi bloggers on Global Voices Online, I found bloggers who believe this war must continue until Syria and Iran are also broken whereas other who feel Israel needs a stunning defeat to break their aggressive tendencies. Just like the Iraq situation, I read various opinions and see points by both sides. I am painfully aware of the de-personalization of humans on both sides, and yet what is the resolve? Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy believed that war is the natural state of man and that peace is a rhythm that must be created and maintained. Unfortunately, our world does little to even seek out this rhythm. Many of the voices I hear in Iraq and the Middle east often speak with war in the voice even when they advocate peace.

Violent spirits cannot bring peace. The pattern of peace is the cross. The true peacemaker doesn’t throw words like knives but lays down his life. But that’s another topic.

Is Bush a Conservative?

William F. Buckley, the founder of National Review and a fundamental mentor of modern conservatism, suggests in a recent CBS interview that George Bush does not really operate from a consistent conservative ideology. I’ve followed Buckley for years, observing his fascinating style of rhetoric (true rhetoric–not the cheap emotion mudslinging we see on news talk shows), and his interesting approach to societal issues. Most people who hate conservatism might do well to read a little Buckley to find out if it is really conservatism they hate or something else. Anyway, some folks might enjoying reading this interview.

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