The Fascism of the Left

Since I am taking a 20th Century European History class this semester, the discussion inevitably turns, at some point, to Fascism. This is a book I just purchased: Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg. I have not had a chance to read it yet, but plan to at some point. (There are numerous books that I own that "I plan to read some time.") This book came up in our discussion because our professor showed us part of Goldberg's appearance on C-SPAN's Book TV.

Goldberg is probably a better author than speaker, but from what he said I think the book will be very good.

From what he said in the talk, I agree with his point of view. I have never been comfortable with Fascism and National Socialism (Nazism) being put on the Right Wing of politics. There is nothing right wing about either of them. They were dedicated enemies of capitalism and freedom. They have much more in common with communism than classic liberalism. Notice the name of the Nazis: National SOCIALISTS. The only real difference between the Nazis and the Communists is the fact that the Commies were international in scope, while the Nazis and Fascists were localized. Add to that the fact that the Nazis lost World War II. The losers never write the history of a war. The Nazis are seen in a worse light than the Communists. Let us remember this: more people have been killed in the name of communism than fascism. Both are evil scourges.

Further Signs of Aging

I attended my first class last night, and it went well. The one odd thing is that I realized I am an old man. I am the second oldest student in class. I am not sure if some of the guys in the class have started shaving yet. Some of them look like they are twelve.

During introductions, I mentioned having children. Later, as the prof was talking about his kids, he asked how many I had, then asked the other gentlemen who is my senior how many he had. He did not bother ask anyone else.

I do think that age will work to my advantage. I had considered grad school after college, but never did it. I am more mature (hopefully) now than I was then. I am more serious now. I have experienced life. I am more widely read now. That, and I am only taking one class.

Today Is The Day

I start grad school this evening. I will be in class every Wednesday night from 6:30-9:30 for the next four months studying twentieth century European history. I would be lying if I said that I was not nervous.

Peace

Peace is a strange, often elusive thing. St. Paul talked about "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding" (Phil. 4:17).

I was jogging today. (It's a humorous sight.) I was thinking about the path that my life has taken since I graduated from college. Some would probably say that I have been unsettled in that I have not settled down into a career in the formal sense. After college, I was a cubicle jockey for six and a half years. (This is why I find so much humor in Dilbert and The Office.) Then I pastored a church for four years. For the last three years, I have been teaching at the local community college. (The time of pastoring and teaching overlapped.)

I was thinking about where I have been and where I am going. A sense of peace overcame me while I was contemplating these things. Thank God for his peace that "transcends all understanding."

When It's Our Time

I don't mean for this post to sound overly depressing, but I get reflective every year about this times.

Eleven years ago, a guy I worked with was killed in a car accident. I had known Mark for about six months. He had started working as a temp. He struggled and struggled to get on full-time. He had been in the Navy for 20 years, and was a tad bit eccentric. We hit it off. We ate lunch together nearly every day. After being let go by the department I was in, he latched on at another department. Friday, we went to lunch. He was excited because the following Monday, he was going to start full-time. As we headed back to the office after lunch, we chatted in the elevator. The elevator dinged at his floor. As the doors were closing I said, "Have a good weekend. See you Monday." The doors closed, and I never saw Mark again. He went out of town that weekend to visit his parents. The roads were bad with snow and ice. Mark lost control of his pickup and hit a tree. Dead.

This brings to memory the parable of the rich fool. This rich guy is running around talking about all the money and junk he has. "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'"

Not one of us is guaranteed one more day on this earth. My friend Mark had no idea that by the end of the weekend, he would be dead. How are we living? Are we living like we have forever? Or, are we living with the thought that we could be called home at any time? I'm not saying we should walk around in mortal fear all the time that we will drop dead.

Oh, Puh-leez!

Does anyone buy this? I mean, give me a break. This is so calculated.

Some More Thoughts About The Coming Election

One thing we have heard about this year (as we have endlessly for the past several elections) is the increasing partisanship in electioneering. Some whiny, mush brain will be interview my Katie Couric on the evening news complaining about how mean the Republicans and Democrats (mostly the Republicans) are being. They will beg and beseech the candidates to get along.

The thing that most people do not realize is that every presidential election in the history of America is fraught with partisanship, name calling, negative attacks, etc. Read a little history on the "friendly" campaign between Jefferson and Adams in 1800. Then there was the "love-fest" in 1860. The fact is simple: it happens in every election.

Really, that is one of the thing that makes our country great. We can disagree and still respect each other. Many countries shoot dissenters.

Reality Show Unreality

When is this insipid run of reality show TV going to end?

I have never really liked any of these shows. Survivor is the worst. The Apprentice is almost as bad. Last night, Donald Trump gave us the newest incarnation of The Apprentice with celebrities (woo wee).

I guess it is easier to do reality TV than regular TV. One does not have to pay writers, who are still out on strike whining about money (boo-hoo). Instead you TV of (to borrow a phrase from Rush Limbaugh) "rank amateurs."

The thing I really do not like about reality shows is that they are not reality at all. Take Survivor. If people were stuck somewhere they would not get "voted off." The reason that there is no real reality TV is that most of our lives are not all that interesting, and no one would watch. So, they make up these "reality" shows.

Give me old-fashioned unreality TV.

Vacation Pictures

Here are some pictures from our vacation.
The first one: No, that not the "great white whale," that is me hitting the water slide.
The second: The ship we were on.
The third: Roatan, Honduras.
The fourth: Mayan Ruins at Altun Ha in Belize.
The fifth: Elmslie Church in George Town, Cayman Islands.
The sixth: Church of the Nazarene School in Belize City, Belize.

If an 11-year-old can understand this...

The BCS bowls, so far, have been a total snooze-fest. The best games were non-BCS games.

Our local university beat the darling of last year's BCS. Our local radio station made mention of our team being "bowl champions." My daughter asked, "Does that mean they are the champions of all?"

"No," I replied, "They won their game."

We then proceeded to have a small discussion of how they don't have a football playoff. They play one (completely meaningless, to 99% of the country) bowl game then go home. My daughter queried as to why the winners don't get to play another game. She said something to the effect that if the fans will pay to see one bowl game, they will keep paying to see more games if their team wins.

I think, and have for a while now, that a playoff is the answer. I do love the fact that USC and Georgia got shutout. It throws the whole BCS think into a tizzy.

This Takes Way Too Long

No, I am not talking about how long the college bowl season lasts.

The political process in the United States is way too long. Most of the candidates have been running for better than a year now. Even Fred Thompson was sort of running while he was not officially running. The campaign kicked off shortly after the 2006 mid-term elections. Except for John Edwards, who never stopped running after the 2004 elections.

In this age of over saturation of the media, from talk radio to the Internet to twenty-four cable news channels, space has to be filled. I doubt that anything will ever stop it. It will probably get worse before it gets better. In many ways, I am glad I do not live in a early primary/caucus state. I would probably have thrown something through my television set.

Only ten months to go. Then we get to hear about John Edwards campaigning in Iowa, again.

Vacation Recap

This past Christmas vacation was very much different from any we have had.

My wife's parents took us and my wife's sister's family on a cruise through the western Caribbean. We set sail on December 23, and spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day floating southward. On December 26, we landed in Belize, a small Central American country. We visited the ancient Mayan ruins at Altun Ha. (If you say it fast enough, it sounds like Altoona.) On the 27th, we were at Roatan Island in Honduras. The following day we visited Grand Cayman. (That was great because I had to check in on my offshore bank accounts. I wish!) The 29th, we floated north toward Florida, and we debarked on the 30th.

All in all, it was a very relaxing vacation. I have never seen such small showers, and so much food. The water in the Caribbean was blue and clear as glass. The weather was quite balmy. (Sorry, to those stuck in colder climates.)

Happy New Year, to all.