What if Barabas was an insurgent against the Roman empire. What if Barabas was being held by the Romans for rebelling and trying to lead Israel to freedom? Can you blame them for wanting a rebel leader back instead of some dude who promised to be the Messiah and did no earthly rescuing? I can't...
Which brings me to my point. Which is somewhat ironically Point of View. Who thinks about all the people who died on the death star? I think alot of problems could be solved around the world with just a dap of the golden rule. Thats the cure for agression. Not this fix from above. change is a grass roots thing, and only there will it have any chance of working.
11 May 2008
09 May 2008
Schmitt and the Realists
Here's a paper I just had to write for 506. Check it out if your interested in the problems of a universal declaration of human rights and an end to wars of aggression as mandated by a multi-national world authority. the formatting is weird cause i don't quite know how to use the wisc webspace yet, but im working on it...
http://mywebspace.wisc.edu/jtmorrison/web/506.2.5.txt
ps, besides all of the problems accompanying this line of universalist thought, i can't stand for simply for its universality. Universal is the lack of individuality and freedom, no matter the subject, and this is a door I will never support opening. A moral hegemony is the most frightening entity I can think of in the public sphere.
JTspruce
http://mywebspace.wisc.edu/jtmorrison/web/506.2.5.txt
ps, besides all of the problems accompanying this line of universalist thought, i can't stand for simply for its universality. Universal is the lack of individuality and freedom, no matter the subject, and this is a door I will never support opening. A moral hegemony is the most frightening entity I can think of in the public sphere.
JTspruce
08 May 2008
I'm a Man, man
Got to love the Navy's (or the Armed Forces' in general) recruitment tactics. Recieved a call from our favorite recruiter, just doin his job, trying to get me to commit immediately to the Navy. To do so, however, would be to pass up the opportunity to go to Europe next year, something I'm not willing to do. He called into question if i was truly commited to doing it. I understand that he has to do that; he doesn't know me well enough to know I have made a commitment to myself to do this, and only an act of God will get in the way of it. So I can't really blame him. Which brings me to the point of today...
Here's an idea about being a great man.
The difference between a good man and a great man cannot be determined by accomplishments. Many good men are considered great because of their circumstances only. The great must know they are great on the inside, know without a doubt who they are. I do not mean to imply anything here, I can only one day hope to be a great man. Regardless, my definition of greatness has nothing to do with accomplishments. Importance and Greatness are not similies. Greatness relies on an inner peace, an absoluteness about who you are and what you are doing in this world. It is a realization of ability and a challenge to fufill yourself to your greatest potential. Constant redefinition of this is also part of it. It is a wonderful duality. The certainty of the necessity of change. Knowing that you are doing your best to be who you are and at the same time realizing the need to change that person for the better. In a way, it relates to the concept of Christian humility. Regardless of how hard you try, you will sin. It is a certainty. You can be the best and still have room for improvement. Humanity is flawed from the start, and yet there is hope. You can find strength, and there is hope for the future. It is def. something to aspire to.
Some day...
sweet.
post script.
Snack pack. what a find. my favorite.
the end.
Here's an idea about being a great man.
The difference between a good man and a great man cannot be determined by accomplishments. Many good men are considered great because of their circumstances only. The great must know they are great on the inside, know without a doubt who they are. I do not mean to imply anything here, I can only one day hope to be a great man. Regardless, my definition of greatness has nothing to do with accomplishments. Importance and Greatness are not similies. Greatness relies on an inner peace, an absoluteness about who you are and what you are doing in this world. It is a realization of ability and a challenge to fufill yourself to your greatest potential. Constant redefinition of this is also part of it. It is a wonderful duality. The certainty of the necessity of change. Knowing that you are doing your best to be who you are and at the same time realizing the need to change that person for the better. In a way, it relates to the concept of Christian humility. Regardless of how hard you try, you will sin. It is a certainty. You can be the best and still have room for improvement. Humanity is flawed from the start, and yet there is hope. You can find strength, and there is hope for the future. It is def. something to aspire to.
Some day...
sweet.
post script.
Snack pack. what a find. my favorite.
the end.
06 May 2008
Post Script
http://freedom.indiemaps.com/
frickin sweet. awsome map, gets you thinking about how they come up with these numbers...
frickin sweet. awsome map, gets you thinking about how they come up with these numbers...
No Drama in the Somma
It is summer. Almost. Just barely. Almost. School likes to tease us by giving us nice days during which we must study study study. Oh well. Good thing I am practiced at telling school to go fuck off...
Which brings me to my point. Liberalism vs. Realism. A world state vs. Realism. I can't get the images of Firefly out of my head when we deal with issues like these in class and in readings. The image of the total state doesn't scare me so much as disgust me. If we can't trust our governments currently, how on earth can we trust the moral loftiness of a world state. The end of war doesn't jibe well with my view on power structure. There will always be something worth fighting for. There SHOULD always be something worth fighting for. If you can't find anything, you don't yet know how they are abusing you using a power structure to mask their intentions and actions. We have been warned, from the depths of history, to guard against those who would make us passive by showing us the "good life", by those who will redefine honor, duty, and virtue to suit their needs. Pleanexia or Sophrosyne? The Protestant Ethic or The Hive of Bees? The World State or the pit fight for your own view of truth. Kant or Schmitt? It is not a relative matter. Power structures must be kept local to minimize the damage done by their misuse. They will never cease to be misused. Ethics will shift with time, in no uncertain terms. What we agree as right today will not be so to our children's children. To codify them is to ban gay marriage in the state constitution. Utterly ridiculous. The choice is easy. At least for me.
Peace for now.
Which brings me to my point. Liberalism vs. Realism. A world state vs. Realism. I can't get the images of Firefly out of my head when we deal with issues like these in class and in readings. The image of the total state doesn't scare me so much as disgust me. If we can't trust our governments currently, how on earth can we trust the moral loftiness of a world state. The end of war doesn't jibe well with my view on power structure. There will always be something worth fighting for. There SHOULD always be something worth fighting for. If you can't find anything, you don't yet know how they are abusing you using a power structure to mask their intentions and actions. We have been warned, from the depths of history, to guard against those who would make us passive by showing us the "good life", by those who will redefine honor, duty, and virtue to suit their needs. Pleanexia or Sophrosyne? The Protestant Ethic or The Hive of Bees? The World State or the pit fight for your own view of truth. Kant or Schmitt? It is not a relative matter. Power structures must be kept local to minimize the damage done by their misuse. They will never cease to be misused. Ethics will shift with time, in no uncertain terms. What we agree as right today will not be so to our children's children. To codify them is to ban gay marriage in the state constitution. Utterly ridiculous. The choice is easy. At least for me.
Peace for now.
20 March 2008
Stream of Thought...
There has been too much writing sans thought. Or outline for that matter. I am not a fan. Without any more ado...
Got back from skiing today. Amazing. Certainly makes me feel grateful for the opportunities presented to me. How can you not be thankful on top of a mountain (for pleasure)? With the season of lent coming to a close it seems that we have much to be thankful for. Money may be short, but friends are plentiful. Always plentiful.
I was having a conversation the other day about the rationality of religion. Is it possible to remove a diety from the picture and still find the organization useful? I would say yes. Its by far the simplest form of community, and there is nothing wrong with that. It teaches a set of values that are useful for making the community successful and thriving. That presupposes work and such is a preferred goal, but one im willing to admit. Religion has a purpose sans god and worship, and that is as an orginizational apparatus.
Does it lose its purpose without a diety to worship? probably. How then, do you keep intellegence, logic, and sanity within the community? Faith is a horrible excuse for an organization with huge potential for good. However, maybe you can rationalize thusly:
1. religions are founded on firstly a fundamental belief in a creator. a diety whose power is worthy of worship so as to appease or recognize.
2. Life, the jump from matter to what is defined as life, cannont be scientifically demonstrated.
With these two statements in mind, there is an impass. Science can show imperically, and with relative reason that many of the examples of faith are not 100% truth. However, we know these examples to uphold some of the greatest instutions man has made. Perhaps we can take the uncertainty of creation and say that LIFE itself is divine. If faith is an answer for lapse or absence of reason, this would be a good place to insert it. If you build religion for a respect for life overall, you may be able to rationalize religion in general.
Got back from skiing today. Amazing. Certainly makes me feel grateful for the opportunities presented to me. How can you not be thankful on top of a mountain (for pleasure)? With the season of lent coming to a close it seems that we have much to be thankful for. Money may be short, but friends are plentiful. Always plentiful.
I was having a conversation the other day about the rationality of religion. Is it possible to remove a diety from the picture and still find the organization useful? I would say yes. Its by far the simplest form of community, and there is nothing wrong with that. It teaches a set of values that are useful for making the community successful and thriving. That presupposes work and such is a preferred goal, but one im willing to admit. Religion has a purpose sans god and worship, and that is as an orginizational apparatus.
Does it lose its purpose without a diety to worship? probably. How then, do you keep intellegence, logic, and sanity within the community? Faith is a horrible excuse for an organization with huge potential for good. However, maybe you can rationalize thusly:
1. religions are founded on firstly a fundamental belief in a creator. a diety whose power is worthy of worship so as to appease or recognize.
2. Life, the jump from matter to what is defined as life, cannont be scientifically demonstrated.
With these two statements in mind, there is an impass. Science can show imperically, and with relative reason that many of the examples of faith are not 100% truth. However, we know these examples to uphold some of the greatest instutions man has made. Perhaps we can take the uncertainty of creation and say that LIFE itself is divine. If faith is an answer for lapse or absence of reason, this would be a good place to insert it. If you build religion for a respect for life overall, you may be able to rationalize religion in general.
11 March 2008
"I've got a bad feeling about this..."
What a good quote. The thing is though, i don't have a bad feeling about this. i'm on the upslope. finally. its been far too long since ive been on an upslope. a year ago around this time i resolved to be a different person, to create my own upslope. i had much to work on. this summer i braced myself for the change that was to take place. this fall, i was everything i wanted to be. and now, things are starting to go right for me. its a testament to the power of will and sacrifice. it was a long down swing. quite a long one. one that started at the end of my senior summer. there have been moments of happiness, but no progress as a person; no progress for my life. i think thats really the important measure in life. progression. goals and self-realization. identifying what you do not enjoy about yourself, finding things you can rally around, symbols or ideas, and then working for change. no one is ever perfect. but the closer to your own brand of perfect you can get, the greater the frequency of moments of happiness.
now that im who i want to be, whats to stop me? there is nothing. i am already everything i want. content. happiness comes to the content, drawn like a magnet. i have a plan, i have great company on my path, and i have the right equipment to complete the journey. the only thing that remains is time and willpower: those i have plenty of. it is a good time to be me. Hallejulah!
...
Shorty is great. what more can i say? i know her, but how well do i really? i like what i know so far, but how deep does she go? she's in my mind often.
now that im who i want to be, whats to stop me? there is nothing. i am already everything i want. content. happiness comes to the content, drawn like a magnet. i have a plan, i have great company on my path, and i have the right equipment to complete the journey. the only thing that remains is time and willpower: those i have plenty of. it is a good time to be me. Hallejulah!
...
Shorty is great. what more can i say? i know her, but how well do i really? i like what i know so far, but how deep does she go? she's in my mind often.
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