Almost Classical

A lot has happened in the last few months, and even now I don’t find myself particularly motivated to write on most of the events. Instead, I like to see patterns and comment on those large, inescapable patterns politicians and the public would rather ignore. Islamic radicals have been a “pattern” since the start of the religion. I don’t mean that every Islamic individual or even Islamic nation has been a problem, but I do mean that Islam seems to have a fair number of radical believers unwilling to enter the modern world. I’m tired of the excuse that Christianity was “just as bad” in some way. I’m not a Christian, and I’m not about to defend any religion or Colonialism, but I also don’t think we should be comparing a current problem to the sins of humanity over the last six thousand or more years. Yes, the Crusades were terrible — but the Muslim nations won! Yes, the Ottoman Empire fell and European powers sliced up the Middle East, but Arab leaders sided with Hitler; not exactly ...

What makes a “conservative” or a “liberal?” I haven't a clue. What I do know is that each one trusts government to solve problems — what differs is which problems they thing government should solve. While I believe government should never give tax breaks to entice a business to relocate, someone else might believe in using eminent domain to replace homes with Wal-Mart Super Centers. While I might think government should conduct scientific research, someone else might claim private industry is better suited for everything. (DARPA’s little network being what we are using to exchange e-mail makes my point. And if you think industry solves everything, look at how long HDTV is taking to appear in the U.S.) Our perceptions of power and how it should be used are what is interesting. What we think is a “moral” role for government varies so much that no matter who or what is in power, half the society will be disappointed and even offended.