The Problem with Faith

Regular readers of this blog know that I am a fierce critic of religious dogmatism, and frequently warn of the dangers of blind faith. An event recently in the news highlights my concerns.

In the town of Petersburg, Kentucky, a new multimedia "Creation Museum" opened this week. The museum seeks to convince visitors of the literal truth of the Biblical story of creation as set out in the Book of Genesis. You can visit the museum's website at http://www.creationmuseum.org/ and form your own opinions, but I would just offer a few thoughts.

The museum's displays, while interesting and appealing, fly in the face of hundreds of years of scientific discovery and scholarship. They ignore or offer bizarre explanations for facts that have been scientifically established and proven.

In short, the museum is a monument to the power of blind faith. Why is this dangerous? Because when people, particularly impressionable young people, rely on faith rather than the evaluation and weighing of evidence, they lose the ability to think critically and make reasoned judgements about the world around them. You don't have to look far to see what happens when faith trumps everything else: the intellectual and moral stagnation of the Islamic nations of the Middle East presents a warning sign that should be obvious to any observer.

Ambrose Bierce once defined faith as "Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel." Visit the Creation Museum and see just how accurate his definition is.

And then worry about the future.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

A Different Look at the Issue of Breastfeeding in the Workplace

Even in the disgusting mess of roiling hatreds that is the Middle East, every so often something happens that is so utterly silly that you just have to stop and laugh. It happened yesterday, when I read an article posted to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) website on May 25th. Visit MEMRI by clicking the link in my link list, and then check report number 355: "Al Azhar Lecturer Suspended after Issuing Controversial Fatwa (religious ruling) Recommending Breastfeeding of Men by Women in the Workplace."

Yes, you read correctly.

Dr Izzat Atiyya, the head of the Hadith (sayings of Mohammed) Department of Al Azhar University in Cairo, was attempting to solve a difficult problem for business people: how can two good Muslims, an unmarried man and a woman, have a business relationship which may require them to work together unchaperoned - a situation forbiden within Islam? Dr Atiyya's elegant solution: the woman should breastfeed the man, which would "...transform the bestial relationship between [two people] into a religious relationship based on [religious] duties..." He went on to explain in the interview documented by MEMRI that, "I also insist that the breastfeeding relationship be officially documented in writing...The contract will state that this woman has suckled this man...After this, the woman may remove her hijab and expose her hair in the man's [presence]..."

While I would certainly agree that we in the West could use a little more restraint in sexual relationships between adults, the sexual pendulum has obviously swung far in the other direction in Islamic culture when the need for such a silly fatwa is perceived.

It should be noted that Dr Atiyya's fatwa was not universally supported. In fact, it generated a storm of controversy and resulted in his being suspended from his position at the university.

With all the misery and suffering in the Middle East, with all the religious bigotry and political stupidity that makes the region such a snakepit and threatens the peace of the entire world, it's good to know that responsible Islamic scholars are concerned with critical issues like allowing a man and woman to work together if she documents that she has breastfed him, thereby (according to Islamic law) turning him into a member of her family.

You just have to shake your head at the idiocy.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

Curses!

I'm living with a curse.

No, it's not like the curses you see in horror movies, where the victims get strangled in the night by walking corpses, or die in ghastly accidents, or waste away to nothing a la Stephen King. My curse manifests itself in strange and insidious ways:

- If I get into the shortest line at a supermarket, it stops moving...and if I change to another line, that one will stop moving, too.

- If the radio traffic reports say the highway where I'm going is wide open and moving at speed, it will have ground to a standstill before I get there...and the gas tank will contain only thin fumes.

- If I have to fly anywhere, the length of the flight is inversely proportional to the probability of getting a narrow middle seat between two grossly overweight, sweaty, and obnoxious people...and we'll end up sitting on the tarmac for at least an hour waiting to take off...AND we'll circle in a holding pattern at our destination, ensuring that I miss my connecting flight.

- And so on.

I'm firmly convinced that when my remote ancestors lived in Eastern Europe many hundreds of years ago, one of them aggravated an old gypsy who waggled her crooked fingers and muttered words of power that have rumbled down through the centuries to bedevil me today. How else can I explain all the annoying things that happen to me on a regular basis?

But it isn't just my problem. There seem to be a lot of curses making life miserable in the world for people other than myself.

- The curse of utter bullheadedness and stupidity that keeps people in the Middle East from working together to solve their problems and build a better life.

- The curse of religious absolutism that leads to scientific ignorance and cultural stagnation.

- The curse of lack of respect and tolerance for each other.

- And so on.

I suppose that, on the whole, my curse isn't so bad after all.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

Memorial Day

For those readers who don't live in the United States, we have two national holidays here that honor the men and women who have served in our military.

Veterans' Day is celebrated on November 11th - the anniversary of the armistice which ended World War I. In fact, it used to be called Armistice Day until after World War II, when the focus of the celebration was changed to honor our service members. Veterans' Day recognizes those who served in the armed forces; in particular, those who actually fought in the nation's wars.

Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May, and honors those who have died in military service. From the Revolutionary War in the 1700's to Iraq and Afghanistan today, millions of men and women have answered the nation's call to duty and have given their lives in the service of something greater than themselves, and it's only right that we should set aside a day to honor them. They did a terrible job that most of us would rather not do, and paid the ultimate price.

Like most of our national holidays, the essential meaning of Memorial Day has changed over the years. Across the country wreaths will be laid and little flags placed at graves, politicians will intone the right speeches, and families will mourn young lives taken away too soon. And also across the country, car dealerships and other retailers will mark the occasion with sales and promotions to boost their bottom line. Swimming pools will open as the day marks the traditional start of summer. And, unfortunately, this year, Memorial Day will be used by all sides as an opportunity to make political statements in favor of or opposition to the grinding war in Iraq.

And this is wrong.

Paul Morin, the national commander of the American Legion - a wartime veterans organization - wrote an eloquent article the other day in which he urged the separation of politics from the day set aside to honor our dead. The last paragraph of his article is worth quoting:

"Americans need to remember why Memorial Day is special. It's not about picnics or trips to the beach. It's not about making pro- or anti-war statements. It's not about supporting political candidates. it's about honor, duty, and the ultimate sacrifice. It's about people who have decided that the United States is worth dying for."

As you go about your routine on this day, those are good words to keep in mind. I served in the United States Air Force for 23 years, and had the good fortune never to have heard a shot fired in anger. Many others aren't so lucky. It's not asking too much to set aside one day out of 365 to show our appreciation for their sacrifice.

Have a good day. And on Memorial Day and Veterans' Day, thank a serving or retired Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine for their sacrifices that allow you to have it in peace and freedom.

More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

Dining in the Dark

Yesterday evening after our dance coaching session, Agnes and I decided to stop at a local restaurant for dinner. One of the things I've long noticed about restaurants (as opposed to more pedestrian eateries like diners, greasy spoons, hamburger joints, etc) is that the lighting is always set very low. This is ostensibly to provide "atmosphere," but I suspect other possible motives:

1. They're attempting to recreate the romantic surroundings of the deepest level of a Chinese coal mine at midnight;

2. The entire wait staff is ugly and their employment contracts specify low lighting to prevent embarassment;

3. The printer made lots of mistakes on the menus and the management wants the lights low enough that you won't be able to see the typos; or

4. The prices are so high that the standard restaurant dodges of spelling out the prices to discourage reading ("twenty-five dollars and ninety-five cents") or simply putting down small, apologetic numbers ("50" instead of "$50.00) aren't considered enough, and they keep the lights low so you won't get your sticker shock until the bill arrives.

Whatever.

I'm getting a little older and my eyes aren't what they used to be, so I always appreciate a little more light. It improves my aim when I'm reduced to biting the waitress's arm when we've waited too long for the entree.

Which reminds me...it's time for breakfast.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

Deterring the Unthinkable

Back on May 8th the New York Times ran an interesting and frightening article titled "U.S. Debates Deterrence for Nuclear Terrorism." (You can read a summary of the article, or buy a copy, at http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20714F93D550C7B8CDDAC0894DF404482). Upsetting as this topic is, it's worth thinking hard about.

We live in a world in which the nuclear genie is out of the bottle for good. Once the property only of major nation states like the United States, Russia, and the U.K., nuclear weapons have proliferated to unstable and dangerous regimes like Pakistan and North Korea, leading to a deadly question: will traditional theories of deterrence (which imply a conventionally rational opponent) work against a foe motivated by religious passions (Iran, Pakistan, or Al Qaeda) or desperation for regime survival (North Korea)?

This is a question of much more than academic interest. The president of Iran has spoken of his desire to "wipe Israel off the map," and it has long been known that Al Qaeda is seeking the technology and materials to build nuclear weapons. Indeed, the belief - right or wrong - that Saddam Hussein was acquiring nuclear weapons was the professed reason for the disastrous invasion of Iraq in 2003. Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of individuals and groups motivated by belief in a paradise beyond this world are a horrifying thought...how do you deter the employment of a weapon by someone who believes he is doing God's will by employing it against you, and will be rewarded for it in the next life?

The Times article didn't offer any recommendations for how to achieve this deterrence...it simply teed up the issue and noted that "government experts" are meeting weekly to discuss it. This in itself is frightening, as very few groups representing agencies from across the government ever achieve anything worthwhile. As it happens, I have some ideas on this topic - none of which would probably ever be considered for implementation because they would represent a radically different approach to the problem from the standard government-selected options, which generally fall into two categories: 1 - bomb them; or 2 - create huge programs to throw money at the problem until it recedes into obscurity and can be safely ignored until the next crisis.

In a few months time (assuming we're all still here) I'll share my ideas with you. Until then, rest assured that your government has it's best minds hard at work on the problem.

You may want to practice the old duck-and-cover now.

Have a good weekend. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

Pay Me Now, or Pay Me Later

Recent news reports about contaminated pet food and toothpaste imported from China have put a spotlight on the downside of the low prices we enjoy on many goods. It is clear now that one reason goods imported from China are so inexpensive is that they are not manufactured to the same standards of safety, environmental protection, and (in the case of foodstuffs) wholesomeness as those produced at higher cost here at home.

You can pay me now, or you can pay me later - it's an old adage, and every bit as true in this case as in any other. We can cut corners to have low prices, but the bill eventually gets paid in terms of health and safety issues. I obviously like saving money and not paying more for my goods than necessary...but if the ultimate cost of that low price is a threat to my or my family's safety, I think I'd rather pay the higher price.

Is it possible to enforce U.S. standards of foodstuff safety on processed foods imported from overseas? Probably yes. Should we do it? Absolutely.

Because you can't put a price tag on safety.

Have a good day and a safe Memorial Day weekend. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

You'd Better Be Sexy...

A CNN report a few days ago was headlined, "If You're A Female Singer, You'd Better Be Sexy" (read it at http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/05/18/music.sexysingers.ap/index.html)

Where I come from, this is known as a keen grasp of the obvious.

I've written several times in this blog about our society's obsession with youth and beauty, and I'm certainly neither the only nor the smartest commentator to have made this observation. But the CNN article hits on a significant problem for female singers and actresses - if you aren't beautiful, all the talent in the world won't necessarily help you.

There was a time, not all that long ago, when a talented female singer could get away without being conventionally beautiful - think about Janis Joplin and Mama Cass Elliot. Naturally, good looks are an asset, but when they begin to overshadow talent, something's gone wrong.

The problem is worse today, now that high-definition TV is the coming standard and you can see every acne blemish and count every hair. HDTV magnifies the flaws that older technology helped hide, and so talent tends to be pushed even further to the background by the need to seek out the truly telegenic stars.

When beauty and talent come together in one package, it's great. But it's just a shame that if we have to pick one or the other, we go for the beauty first. This is, of course, why a witty and intelligent, yet plain fellow like myself labors in the relative obscurity of the blog world instead of being a highly-paid television commentator.

Sigh.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

Thinking About Presidents

Former President Jimmy Carter has made headlines by calling President Bush's international relations "the worst in history." I can't argue with him on the disastrous effects of the current president's foreign policy ineptitude, but his own track record on foreign relations could have been more even and given his comments more heft.

Granted, Jimmy Carter had some very hard knocks as president - not the least of which was the Iran hostage crisis that doomed his presidency. But we elect our presidents at least in part on our perceptions of how they will be able to handle world-class crises. In some ways, Carter was a forward-thinking and dynamic president: he brokered the Camp David peace accords between Israel and Egypt that, so far, still keep a peace of self-interest between the two nations. He also orchestrated the transfer of the Panama Canal to Panamanian control, a move bitterly opposed and resented at home, but one which raised the standing of the United States in Latin America. I doubt whether George Bush could have had the capacity to take on these issues (not to mention the interest in doing so).

Were Jimmy Carter still president, I don't believe we would have invaded Iraq, and the United States would almost certainly be much more aggressively engaged in seeking peace between Israel and the Palestinians. I also suspect that he'd have failed, given that neither Israel nor the Palestinians are able or willing to make the sort of compromises necessary to achieve a lasting peace.

I think Jimmy Carter, for all his faults, was a man of principle who was the president we needed at the moment. He projected an image that helped the nation get over the lingering stench of Watergate and enjoyed a few successes in foreign policy; unfortunately, he was undone by the Iranian revolution and hostage crisis that he was unable to deal with effectively. That failure set the stage for the election of Ronald Reagan, the end of the Cold War, and all the events, good and bad, which flowed from it.

As the nation gears up for next year's presidential election, I look around at the field of likely candidates and hope for a button on the voting machine that says "None of the Above." Our ideal president needs the compassion of a Jimmy Carter, the communicative skills of a Ronald Reagan, the intellectual prowess of a Woodrow Wilson, the political wiliness of a Franklin Roosevelt, and the foreign policy skills and - when necessary - pragmatically ruthless power of a Richard Nixon.

Unfortunately, that person's not out there. And that's too bad...for the nation and the world.

Have a good day. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

The Triumph of Principle

A current news story reads like something out of a novel by Robert Ludlum: representatives of the President visit a hospital to pressure a sick official to authorize a program of questionable legality. The official's deputy races to the hospital to support his boss, who rallies from his sickbed to face down the President's men and deny his support to their proposal. The President's minions, ignoring the sick man's deputy, stalk from the room...and the President later authorizes the program over the objections of his advisors.

Former Attorney General John Ashcroft, who has suffered his share of criticism over the years, was the hero of this story, rallying in his illness to stand on principle and deny the approval of a questionable program sought by the President's men - Alberto Gonzalez (now the Attorney General) and White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card. The details have been provided in dramatic testimony by the fourth man in the story, then-Acting Attorney General James Comey.

There's a joke that when you enter high government service, you are required to rent a safety deposit box to hold your pride, dignity, integrity, and self-respect until your term of duty is over. It allows you to cringe and be grilled and insulted by grandstanding Congressmen in front of the TV cameras, and to respond to the stupidest of questions and accusations with a game face. But it's good to see that at least one official retained enough of his honor to stand up to the President on a matter of principle.

We may never know, at least, not any time soon, the details of the program to which Mr Ashcroft objected. And we have only the testimony of Mr Comey as to what transpired during the dramatic showdown in the hospital. But I'd like to think that Mr Comey is correct, and that we are served by at least some people whose sense of integrity and moral courage is strong enough to stand up to the highest pressure our government can apply.

There haven't been many recent opportunities to be proud of our government officials, but this is one. Let's hope there are more.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo