Iran Improv

There's a good reason why people aren't reassured by the Bush administration's protestations that they are not planning to attack Iran. After all, they didn't plan much before attacking Iraq.

Twin Towers' Twins

We must rebuild the World Trade Center as soon as possible. It is irrelevant whether it ever serves again as an office building. We must perform restorative plastic surgery on one of the world's great skylines, replacing what was stolen from one of the world's great cities. The proposed replacements, a spire, a twisted tower, whatever, are like replacing a nose with an ear: what might look fine in it's place looks hopelessly out of place. Let's not leave this gash as a testimony to the terrorists' misguided act. Upon viewing the city's skyline now, our eyes are drawn southward to answer: pre- or post-9/11? We must again be able to view the city without the pang of the missing towers. It is far better that we only wonder: are they the originals or their twins?

“Come, take them”

With these words, the outnumbered Greeks at Thermopylae answered the invading Persians' demand that they give up their weapons. Facing overwhelming odds, the Greeks gave their lives to defend their way of life. For inspiration and bravado, their response sure beats “bring it on” and even the succinct but practically illiterate “nuts”.

Two and a half millennia later, the East and West are still struggling. Now, though the odds are reversed, when Islamic extremists demand we give up our freedoms the Bush administration says “Here, have them”.

"Just following orders", NOT!

The judgments in the Nuremberg trials all rejected the Nazi's defense that they were "just following orders". Though a form of "victor's justice", these judgments did establish a precedent that was applied, belatedly, to some atrocities committed by Americans in Vietnam.

U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada refused to go to Iraq because he believes the war is illegal. His court martial was recently declared a mistrial. Unfortunately, it's unlikely that this administration and it's thuggish Department of Justice will reverse 6 years of persistent, pervasive abuse of prosecutorial discretion that has produced, thankfully, very few guilty verdicts. If only the CIA agents now under indictment in Italy and Germany for their roles in the illegal "extraordinary renditions" (torture) had been willing to accept personal responsibility. If enough soldiers and officials have the courage to refuse inhuman, immoral, or illegal orders, the war will stop.

Obama, '08, Oh yeah!

Senator Barack Obama announced yesterday that he is running for President of the United States. He made his announcement in Springfield Illinois, echoing the “house divided” theme sounded 150 years ago by another tall, skinny lawyer from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln. Acknowledging it was "an improbable quest", he echoed another noble hero, Don Quixote. Improbable, but not impossible. Obama has already survived 2 years of growing expectations, which started at impossible heights when he first introduced himself to the country in an electrifying speech before the Democratic Convention in 2004. Beats there a heart so cynical that it doesn't thrill to this man, his potential, and what it could mean to healing our country and our world?

Most politicians are either rhetorically inspiring or rationally convincing. Obama manages to be both, appealing to the emotions and the mind. Perhaps this is due, in part, to the fact that he so clearly embodies his core message of unity, being black and white. Enough pop psychology! This is a clearly healthy and self aware unity.

If you want to learn more about his ideas and thinking, listen to his weekly podcast, a brief monologue on a single issue of national importance (direct from the Senate site or on Apple iTunes). Though I disagreed with his vote against confirming Roberts, I had to concede that he made good points in support of his decision. He has a very good grasp of politics and even seems to have a mature perspective on his charisma. Though only a junior Senator, his opinion is clearly respected by his colleagues and even by the Administration.

We need another Lincoln. His announcement comes on a day when the dictator of Russia, Putin, could rationally charge that the US was reigniting the nuclear arms race. Electing Obama President could be the first step on a long journey of healing the divisions – domestic and international - that have been exploited and made worse by the current administration.

Percy Julian, Chemist and Pioneer

Nova, the PBS science program, had a wonderful show on Percy Julian, Ph.D., a great chemist whose life in the early 20th century demonstrated the best in human nature and some of the worst in American racism.
The highs and lows are dramatic and extreme: a childhood revelry in nature ended with him encountering the victim of a lynching. He was denied a high school education because he is an African American but his teacher parents kept him learning. With a 10th grade education, he enrolled as a subfreshman at DePauw and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and top of his class. Then his grandmother showed him her scars from slavery. He went to Vienna to pursue his doctorate; both his science and social life flowered. Upon his return to America, racism was exploited by colleagues and competitors who wanted to hurt him.
In addition to a few merely important molecules, this man synthesized progesterone and cortisone. PROGESTERONE and CORTISONE, two of the most important drugs in the 20th century! These syntheses are landmarks in organic chemistry and pharmacology. Progesterone is key to birth control pills and cortisone is a very important anti-inflammatory. Why is Percy Julian's name not well known? Thank you, Nova and PBS, for this wonderful show about an impressive human being.

Bears + Colts = Super Bowl XLI

It's hard to choose a favorite in today's game. Usually, you like or dislike one team. I like both because they are great teams with winning personalities characterized by enthusiasm and hard work, qualities often in short supply among pro teams. The record-setting Colts quarterback, Peyton Manning, has never even been in the Super Bowl before. The young Bears quarterback, Rex Grossman, has struggled publicly without losing his spirit. The coaches, Lovey Smith and Tony Dungy, are the first black head coaches in the Super Bowl. They are apparently also nice guys, not the yelling curmudgeons who have set the recent pattern. The rain brings some gritty reality to what can sometimes be a sterile game. The weather also makes the ball slippery, leading to 4 turnovers in the first half and some added excitement. Just a couple points separating the teams after the first half.

The half time entertainer is the once and future Prince. I hope his guitar is grounded in the driving rain! Or am I naïve and everything is just acting to a recording? It certainly looks real.... The only other risk of a wardrobe malfunction would be losing his do-rag. There it goes, off into the crowd. Purple Rain in the rain – cool! Probably would've been good in fair weather but it was awesome in these conditions.
Colts are looking good in the first drive of the second half. Let's hope the second half is as good as the first. About half the commercials are worth watching - the job search company is best so far. Time to enjoy!

You say “potatoe”

Flora Lewis in the New York Times has an article on the slide toward “idiocracy”, news from Bethlehem. We shouldn't be surprised. W misses no chance to proclaim his desire to expand “dumbocracy” in the world. But for their ineptitude, I'd be worried about his equally fervent war on “tourists”. Now, can anyone figure out what “noo-kuler” means?