Euripides wrote Hecuba around 425 B.C., his first anti-war drama, which depicts the plight of Hecuba, the queen of Troy, after the city was destroyed and she was taken captive. While she is a prisoner of Agamemnon, encamped on the shores of Thrace, she has to endure the sacrifice of her daughter, Polyxena, on the tomb of Achilles as his just reward for his death at the hands of Paris. That very same day, the corpse of her son Polydorus washes ashore and is brought to Hecuba. Bereft of two children in one day, Hecuba seeks vengeance on Polymestor, king of Thrace, who murdered Polydorus. Before Troy fell, king Priam had sent Polydorus to Trace with a large cache of gold in order for him to be kept safe by Polymestor. However, as soon as Troy fell, Polymestor murdered Polydorus and stole the gold.
Hecuba entreats Agamemnon to avenge her son’s death but he refuses since there is a treaty between him and Polymestor. Hecuba then devises a plot, using the large contingent of Trojan maidens being held captive, so that Agamemnon doesn’t have to break his treaty. Hecuba calls Polymestor to bring his two children and meet with her. While in her tent, the Trojan maidens kill the two children and poke out Polymestor’s eyes. Polymestor begs Agamemnon to avenge him, but he refuses. Polymestor then curses Agamemnon, Cassandra and Hecuba. He relays a prophesy by Dionysus that Hecuba will commit suicide by jumping into the sea and Agamemnon, along with Cassandra, will be murdered by his own wife, Clytemnestra when he returns home. Agamemnon scoffs and has Polynestor banished to a deserted island.
Euripides portrays the horrible aftermath of war and all of the political and personal intrigue that follows. Violence begets more violence and those who live by violence die violent deaths. This echoes Jesus’ warning, “All who draw the sword will die by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52).
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
Spiritual vs. Physical?
Why do people think the spiritual life demands withdrawal from the ordinary? Because they've been taught, at least by implication, that the physical is a block to the spiritual. When we assume that the spiritual, unlike the physical, is impervious to corrosion, then we assume that all things material are not to be honored. But the fact of the matter is, the material is the vehicle of the spiritual.
Joan Chittister
Joan Chittister
Rhythm of Life
The rhythm of life for a kingdom dweller puts chronos in service of kairos, the cyclical in service of the directional, the calendar in service of the kingdom. ... As we submit our anarchy to a rhythm, in a sort of earthy, mystical way, all of life is lived lucidly, intentionally, and to the glory of God. Every washing becomes a baptism; every eating a Communion. Every sleeping becomes a dying; every rising a resurrection.
Kenneth Gottman
Kenneth Gottman
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Mercy vs. Justice
God acts mercifully not by contradicting his justice but by doing what is over and above it .... Mercy does not displace justice; rather it is the fullness of justice.
- Thomas Aquinas
- Thomas Aquinas
Traitor
Stephen Coonts has written a compelling post 9-11 spy novel entitled The Traitor. Tommy Carmalini is a CIA agent who specializes in breaking and entering in order to plant surveillance bugs and cameras. In this novel, he is sent to France to help secure the meeting place for the G-8 Summit where all the leaders of the G-8 nations will meet for a historic conference. Tommy is assigned to help determine the nature of the relationship between a French Intelligence official and his supposed Al Qaeda informant.
Coonts does an excellent job of maintaining suspense and keeping the interest high. There is plenty of action, but it is balanced by detailed description and valuable cultural and intelligence information. He adeptly switches between first person and third person perspectives, letting us in on the mental, emotional and psychological workings of a master spy while also providing access to information and events that Tommy can’t experience.
I felt that by reading the book I had tasted a little bit of French culture and got a whirlwind tour of Paris. The differences in political and intelligence operations between France and the United States was also interesting. While the story is pretty realistic and believable, Tommy, in his own words, repeated several times in the book, is too lucky. However, the unfolding of events and the unraveling of limited information, with desperate attempts to make sense of insufficient data, while trying to determine what is true and what is misinformation, makes the plot compelling. It sheds light on the difficulty of tacking, thwarting and capturing terrorists while also revealing how difficult it is for terrorists to carry out their plots without being detected and stopped.
One of the mysteries of the story is determining who the traitor is.
Coonts does an excellent job of maintaining suspense and keeping the interest high. There is plenty of action, but it is balanced by detailed description and valuable cultural and intelligence information. He adeptly switches between first person and third person perspectives, letting us in on the mental, emotional and psychological workings of a master spy while also providing access to information and events that Tommy can’t experience.
I felt that by reading the book I had tasted a little bit of French culture and got a whirlwind tour of Paris. The differences in political and intelligence operations between France and the United States was also interesting. While the story is pretty realistic and believable, Tommy, in his own words, repeated several times in the book, is too lucky. However, the unfolding of events and the unraveling of limited information, with desperate attempts to make sense of insufficient data, while trying to determine what is true and what is misinformation, makes the plot compelling. It sheds light on the difficulty of tacking, thwarting and capturing terrorists while also revealing how difficult it is for terrorists to carry out their plots without being detected and stopped.
One of the mysteries of the story is determining who the traitor is.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Seeking with Groans
In his article “Seeking with Groans: The moral universe of film noir” Thomas Hibbs explores the cultural and moral implications of the detective movie genre in Books & Culture, March/April 2007, pages 41-43. If you are interested in movies or crime dramas, this is an excellent article to give you a fresh perspective. There is no consensus on a unifying definition of film noir. One of the main features of film noir is its pessimism that is a counter to the optimistic, progressive vision of postwar America that turns the American dream into a nightmare. It also counters the Enlightenment vision of the city as the locus of human bliss, where human autonomy and rational economics combine to satisfy human desire. In film noir, however, the city is dark and foreboding that frustrates the fulfillment of human desire.
Noir films focus on characters who try to live decent, peaceful, domestic lives until some chance event pulls them back into their dark past and the history of violence repeats itself, engulfing the protagonist. Traditional detective fiction provides a clear sense of public justice and offers a clear solution to the struggle between the detective and the criminal. In film noir, however, there is no clear sense of justice and presents a “puzzle of character” and the struggle is between the detective and himself. The city becomes not a place of light and pleasure but the tall buildings block out the light and trap the characters in a labyrinth that frustrates their desires. Film noir offers no clear way out of the trap.
Hibbs sees film noir offering the main character a type of redemption, not in the sense of cheap grace, but offers an “authentically penitential” path of “difficult spiritual growth.” The end of the film tends to combine physical brutality with the lingering possibility of love and fidelity, suggesting that even in a corrupt world, a certain kind of integrity is still possible and that in certain circumstances, defeat can be victory. The protagonist discovers that he must live by some other code than brute force in a world with a loss of clear moral codes. When a character tries to violate the limits of the human condition, it is rarely successful. And redemption, while present, is usually partial, yet personal. Film noir, then, seems to be an attempt to discover the lost moral code while truthfully speaking about eh human condition. While it repudiates old-fashioned American optimism, it doesn’t succumb to nihilism, but, in Pascal’s words, “seeks with groans” looking for redemption.
You can read this article at: http://www.ctlibrary.com/43011
Noir films focus on characters who try to live decent, peaceful, domestic lives until some chance event pulls them back into their dark past and the history of violence repeats itself, engulfing the protagonist. Traditional detective fiction provides a clear sense of public justice and offers a clear solution to the struggle between the detective and the criminal. In film noir, however, there is no clear sense of justice and presents a “puzzle of character” and the struggle is between the detective and himself. The city becomes not a place of light and pleasure but the tall buildings block out the light and trap the characters in a labyrinth that frustrates their desires. Film noir offers no clear way out of the trap.
Hibbs sees film noir offering the main character a type of redemption, not in the sense of cheap grace, but offers an “authentically penitential” path of “difficult spiritual growth.” The end of the film tends to combine physical brutality with the lingering possibility of love and fidelity, suggesting that even in a corrupt world, a certain kind of integrity is still possible and that in certain circumstances, defeat can be victory. The protagonist discovers that he must live by some other code than brute force in a world with a loss of clear moral codes. When a character tries to violate the limits of the human condition, it is rarely successful. And redemption, while present, is usually partial, yet personal. Film noir, then, seems to be an attempt to discover the lost moral code while truthfully speaking about eh human condition. While it repudiates old-fashioned American optimism, it doesn’t succumb to nihilism, but, in Pascal’s words, “seeks with groans” looking for redemption.
You can read this article at: http://www.ctlibrary.com/43011
Look Again
Timothy Larson, in his article “Look Again” in Books & Culture, March/April 2007, pages 44-45, reviews two books on Christian art, William Holman Hunt and Painting the Bible. He laments that modern Americans have “impatient eyes” because we have been programmed to expect one picture to be quickly replaced by another as fast as our brains can take them in. “We flatter ourselves that we are the most sophisticated viewers ever, when all the while we demand images so crude, they can be exhausted in the blink of an eye.”
He claims that we are impatient with sacred art in a different way—impatient with its very right to exist. We are afraid of being caught endorsing propaganda that we shy away from art that expresses our own vision of the world, no matter how good it might be. Art, however, has always been a powerful way of communicating the faith. William Holman Hunt was inspired by the atonement of Christ and personal conversion, so much so, that all of his paintings are the result of these sacred realities. Many of his paintings were also sermons, complete with accompany biblical texts.
Larson quotes Ruskin: “We have been so long accustomed to see pictures painted without any purpose or intention whatsoever, that the unexpected existence of meaning in a work of art may very naturally at first appear to us as an unkind demand on the spectator's understanding.”
He quotes Beatrix Potter commenting on Hunt’s paintings: “My father objects to it that he can't understand it, but I had rather a picture I can't understand than one with nothing to be understood.”
He concludes : “Despite all the faux bravery of our endlessly proliferating "post"- movements, it strikes me that it would take far greater courage in our day for a few hearty souls of real intellectual mettle to pursue some daring "pre"- experiment. The Pre-Raphaelites knew that it is harder to recover what was good in the past than to deride what was bad.”
You can read this article at: http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2007/002/20.44.html
He claims that we are impatient with sacred art in a different way—impatient with its very right to exist. We are afraid of being caught endorsing propaganda that we shy away from art that expresses our own vision of the world, no matter how good it might be. Art, however, has always been a powerful way of communicating the faith. William Holman Hunt was inspired by the atonement of Christ and personal conversion, so much so, that all of his paintings are the result of these sacred realities. Many of his paintings were also sermons, complete with accompany biblical texts.
Larson quotes Ruskin: “We have been so long accustomed to see pictures painted without any purpose or intention whatsoever, that the unexpected existence of meaning in a work of art may very naturally at first appear to us as an unkind demand on the spectator's understanding.”
He quotes Beatrix Potter commenting on Hunt’s paintings: “My father objects to it that he can't understand it, but I had rather a picture I can't understand than one with nothing to be understood.”
He concludes : “Despite all the faux bravery of our endlessly proliferating "post"- movements, it strikes me that it would take far greater courage in our day for a few hearty souls of real intellectual mettle to pursue some daring "pre"- experiment. The Pre-Raphaelites knew that it is harder to recover what was good in the past than to deride what was bad.”
You can read this article at: http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2007/002/20.44.html
The Cheerful Solipsist
If you are interest in Walt Disney and/or the empire he built, then this is an excellent article for you to read. Bill McKibben reviews Neal Gabler’s book, “Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination” in his article “The Cheerful Solipsist” in Books & Culture, March/April 2007, pages 38-39.
“Even more than Coke and McDonalds—and perhaps even more than the church—Disney was the great brand artist of his era, carving out a niche in most American brains and hearts. As the consumer society grew more secular, he supplied an easy and alternate creed, complete with icons, pilgrimage sites, and spiritual comforts. In the hymnal of the American religion, most of the happy, whistling tunes were his. He bears pondering.”
He died, in Gabler's words, “quite possibly the most famous man in America" but also "among the loneliest.” With neither the consolations of religion or close friendship, he bowed out ten days past his 65th birthday, so terrified of death that he hadn't even left instructions for his burial.
You can read this article at: http://www.ctlibrary.com/43006
“Even more than Coke and McDonalds—and perhaps even more than the church—Disney was the great brand artist of his era, carving out a niche in most American brains and hearts. As the consumer society grew more secular, he supplied an easy and alternate creed, complete with icons, pilgrimage sites, and spiritual comforts. In the hymnal of the American religion, most of the happy, whistling tunes were his. He bears pondering.”
He died, in Gabler's words, “quite possibly the most famous man in America" but also "among the loneliest.” With neither the consolations of religion or close friendship, he bowed out ten days past his 65th birthday, so terrified of death that he hadn't even left instructions for his burial.
You can read this article at: http://www.ctlibrary.com/43006
6.5 Billion and Counting
J. Matthew Sleeth reviews Allan Carlson’s book, Fractured Generations: Crafting a Family Policy for Twenty-first Century America in his article, “6.5 Billion and Counting” in Books & Culture, March/April 2007, pages 36- 37. He is well aware of the toxic environment cause by too much: too much soot in the air and too many chemicals in the environment, and perhaps, too many people on the planet. Allan Carlson’s book is devoted to family policy issues and gives public policy suggestions in each chapter.
Most of those crying out the loudest, are claiming the major crisis being faced by the world today is overpopulation. Carlson, however, states that the major problem is depopulation, not overpopulation, and he fears that dwindling populations in developed countries will eventually cripple their economies. Sleeth, however, disagrees, saying that immigration from overpopulated countries to developed nations will most likely alleviate any economic problems caused by depopulation.
The major reason for the dramatic increase in population growth is due to the advances in medicine and the prolongation of life. Sleeth has an excellent illustration of the population growth of the world throughout history:
One way of visualizing the rate of population growth is to take all of mankind's history and place it on a 12-month "Big Calendar of History." January 1 stands for the year 8000 BC. Each "day" represents twenty-seven years. December 31 on the Big Calendar of History represents ad 2000. Some important "days" are circled. In July, people start writing, building libraries, and using iron tools. In September, Christ lives, dies, and is resurrected. December 24 is a big day. By now 98 percent of all human history has passed. On this day, the Census Bureau throws a party. Mankind has reached the one billion mark. On the 29th of December, we reach two billion. We add another billion on the 30th, and during the 31st we add a billion in the morning, another billion in the afternoon, and another billion before midnight.
According to Carlson, the main reason for smaller families in Western countries is the rejection of Christian values. He claims that religion is the number one factor in determining birth rates. “Declining birth rates are, in large part, the result of people turning away from Christian virtues like sacrifice, long-term commitment, altruism, and responsibility.” It is difficult to take this kind of reasoning seriously.
Carlson fears that underpopulation is real and that overpopulation is a lie invented by social engineers to advance their agenda. However, overpopulation and underpopulation are occurring at the same time. Underpopulation is a problem for specific countries while overpopulation is a global issue. There is no global shortage of people. There is a global shortage of the things necessary for each and every person on earth to live a full, meaningful life. There might be enough economic resources to support a growing population, but there aren’t enough environmental resources to support a population growing at its present rate.
You can read this article at: http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2007/002/8.36.html
Most of those crying out the loudest, are claiming the major crisis being faced by the world today is overpopulation. Carlson, however, states that the major problem is depopulation, not overpopulation, and he fears that dwindling populations in developed countries will eventually cripple their economies. Sleeth, however, disagrees, saying that immigration from overpopulated countries to developed nations will most likely alleviate any economic problems caused by depopulation.
The major reason for the dramatic increase in population growth is due to the advances in medicine and the prolongation of life. Sleeth has an excellent illustration of the population growth of the world throughout history:
One way of visualizing the rate of population growth is to take all of mankind's history and place it on a 12-month "Big Calendar of History." January 1 stands for the year 8000 BC. Each "day" represents twenty-seven years. December 31 on the Big Calendar of History represents ad 2000. Some important "days" are circled. In July, people start writing, building libraries, and using iron tools. In September, Christ lives, dies, and is resurrected. December 24 is a big day. By now 98 percent of all human history has passed. On this day, the Census Bureau throws a party. Mankind has reached the one billion mark. On the 29th of December, we reach two billion. We add another billion on the 30th, and during the 31st we add a billion in the morning, another billion in the afternoon, and another billion before midnight.
According to Carlson, the main reason for smaller families in Western countries is the rejection of Christian values. He claims that religion is the number one factor in determining birth rates. “Declining birth rates are, in large part, the result of people turning away from Christian virtues like sacrifice, long-term commitment, altruism, and responsibility.” It is difficult to take this kind of reasoning seriously.
Carlson fears that underpopulation is real and that overpopulation is a lie invented by social engineers to advance their agenda. However, overpopulation and underpopulation are occurring at the same time. Underpopulation is a problem for specific countries while overpopulation is a global issue. There is no global shortage of people. There is a global shortage of the things necessary for each and every person on earth to live a full, meaningful life. There might be enough economic resources to support a growing population, but there aren’t enough environmental resources to support a population growing at its present rate.
You can read this article at: http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2007/002/8.36.html
Feeling Green
Andy Crouch reviews the book, A Greener Faith: Religious Environmentalism and Our Planet’s Future, by Roger S. Gottlieb, in his article, “Feeling Green” in Books & Culture, March/April 2007, pages 32-35. The role religious faith plays in the environmental movement is difficult to determine since there are so many different groups that are playing a role: Catholic, Evangelical, Buddhist, Jewish, Unitarian, Episcopalian, Wiccan, Sufi, Calvinist, Hindu, and more. Even among Evangelicals there is a lot of disagreement, as seen in the conflict between the Evangelical Climate Initiative and the Interfaith Stewardship Alliance, as well as the pressure put on Ted Haggard when he was president of the National Association of Evangelicals.
There are sever reasons for this conflict within Evangelicalism over the environment: First, many evangelicals fear that “creation care” is a wedge issue designed to split the evangelical voters from their allegiance to the Republican party or a left-wing attempt to undermine free-enterprise and economic growth. Second, many fear that environmentalism is a thinly disguised pantheism that sees the earth as “God’s body” and human beings as parasitic parts of the evolutionary web of life.
There is always the danger of creating a policy that sounds good theoretically but is difficult to implement practically. Crouch quotes Gottlieb:
“Yet, many would argue, the very idea of cooperation with rather than domination over nature, though (perhaps) appealing in the abstract, is impossible in practice. Don't humans need to eat, build houses, and watch TV? Don't deep ecologists and ecofeminists use antibiotics to treat their kids' ear infections? And don't we all use computers and drive our cars? Isn't all of this talk of cooperating with nature simply an armchair philosophy that evaporates once we leave our armchairs and start to deal with real life?”
“These questions are not easily answered.”
While most of these questions are red herrings, designed to weaken the force of his opponents’ argument, it is difficult to see how the need for humans to eat can be explained as cooperating with nature. While the Christian tradition asks us to love our enemies, which is difficult, it is not logically impossible, and in fact, it has been done many times throughout history. But to not eat would be logically impossible for anyone to do.
According to Christian and Jewish tradition, man has been given dominion over creation, not to abuse it but to guard, protect and utilize it wisely as a stewardship. Man is the only species with the ability to do this and the only one that can feel guilt when it fails. Man has been created in the image of God and ordained by God as the steward of creation. Much of the foolishness propagated by some environmentalists is a rejection of this belief. By seeing animals and inanimate objects as merely “different” from human beings has resulted in most Christians being unable to work directly with most environmentalist groups.
Environmentalists like to evoke Native American religion as pure and eco-friendly while the historical truth is that it wasn’t as friendly to the environment as they think. Some even quote Chief Seattle as the ideal of an indigenous religious leader, failing to realize that often the words they quote were never spoken by him at all. In fact, much of what is quoted is from a time after he had already converted to Christianity. Evangelicalism has been very friendly to indigenous people and has interacted with them for centuries, as was the case with David Brainerd.
Some environmentalists have tried to put all religions, including Christianity, into one bag, thinking that doctrinal differences and historical perspectives are immaterial. This attitude makes it very difficult for most Evangelicals to cooperate with these groups. Christianity is not concerned merely with internal spiritual experiences but is committed to the historical veracity of the gospel events, which is why we celebrate Easter, Christmas and Communion. Christianity hinges on the truth of historical events and the claims of the particularity and exclusivity of Jesus. The Exodus, the Incarnation, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection are foundational to our faith, not mere individual experiences. Therefore, it is impossible to build a Christian environmental position that disregards these historical truths.
There is an environmentalism that is rooted in historical faith. Jesus modeled both feasting and fasting, abundance and simplicity. Christianity can, and must, speak to the present environmental situation, but it must do so in a way that honors and upholds its view of truth and reality.
You can read this article at: http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2007/002/7.32.html
There are sever reasons for this conflict within Evangelicalism over the environment: First, many evangelicals fear that “creation care” is a wedge issue designed to split the evangelical voters from their allegiance to the Republican party or a left-wing attempt to undermine free-enterprise and economic growth. Second, many fear that environmentalism is a thinly disguised pantheism that sees the earth as “God’s body” and human beings as parasitic parts of the evolutionary web of life.
There is always the danger of creating a policy that sounds good theoretically but is difficult to implement practically. Crouch quotes Gottlieb:
“Yet, many would argue, the very idea of cooperation with rather than domination over nature, though (perhaps) appealing in the abstract, is impossible in practice. Don't humans need to eat, build houses, and watch TV? Don't deep ecologists and ecofeminists use antibiotics to treat their kids' ear infections? And don't we all use computers and drive our cars? Isn't all of this talk of cooperating with nature simply an armchair philosophy that evaporates once we leave our armchairs and start to deal with real life?”
“These questions are not easily answered.”
While most of these questions are red herrings, designed to weaken the force of his opponents’ argument, it is difficult to see how the need for humans to eat can be explained as cooperating with nature. While the Christian tradition asks us to love our enemies, which is difficult, it is not logically impossible, and in fact, it has been done many times throughout history. But to not eat would be logically impossible for anyone to do.
According to Christian and Jewish tradition, man has been given dominion over creation, not to abuse it but to guard, protect and utilize it wisely as a stewardship. Man is the only species with the ability to do this and the only one that can feel guilt when it fails. Man has been created in the image of God and ordained by God as the steward of creation. Much of the foolishness propagated by some environmentalists is a rejection of this belief. By seeing animals and inanimate objects as merely “different” from human beings has resulted in most Christians being unable to work directly with most environmentalist groups.
Environmentalists like to evoke Native American religion as pure and eco-friendly while the historical truth is that it wasn’t as friendly to the environment as they think. Some even quote Chief Seattle as the ideal of an indigenous religious leader, failing to realize that often the words they quote were never spoken by him at all. In fact, much of what is quoted is from a time after he had already converted to Christianity. Evangelicalism has been very friendly to indigenous people and has interacted with them for centuries, as was the case with David Brainerd.
Some environmentalists have tried to put all religions, including Christianity, into one bag, thinking that doctrinal differences and historical perspectives are immaterial. This attitude makes it very difficult for most Evangelicals to cooperate with these groups. Christianity is not concerned merely with internal spiritual experiences but is committed to the historical veracity of the gospel events, which is why we celebrate Easter, Christmas and Communion. Christianity hinges on the truth of historical events and the claims of the particularity and exclusivity of Jesus. The Exodus, the Incarnation, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection are foundational to our faith, not mere individual experiences. Therefore, it is impossible to build a Christian environmental position that disregards these historical truths.
There is an environmentalism that is rooted in historical faith. Jesus modeled both feasting and fasting, abundance and simplicity. Christianity can, and must, speak to the present environmental situation, but it must do so in a way that honors and upholds its view of truth and reality.
You can read this article at: http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2007/002/7.32.html
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Closers
The Closers is Michael Connelly’s eleventh Harry Bosch novel. This is the fourth Harry Bosch novel I have read and I would place it a close second to his first novel, The Black Echo. Detective Harry Bosch of the Los Angeles Police Department retired from the Homicide department three years earlier only to be called out of retirement by his old partner to join the Open/Unsolved Unit investigating unsolved murders from the past thirty or so years in Los Angeles.
On his first day back on the job he and his partner are given a seventeen-year-old murder of a high school girl with mixed blood. New DNA evidence found on the murder weapon links the gun that killed the girl to a small-time criminal. Harry soon discovers that the case had been mishandled, evidence and records lost, and a looming suspicion that the case was shelved for internal political reasons.
Connelly does an excellent job in making every page feel real, each nuance ringing true and life-like. I especially appreciated the insights into the procedures and methods of solving such an old murder case. In a murder case, time is your greatest enemy. The longer the crime goes unsolved, the more likely the murder will never be caught. The near impossibility of solving the case adds enough suspense while the process Harry has to go through to investigate the case opens a window on police procedures that are fascinating and enlightening. Following one of the best detectives through this process is an exercise in logic and deduction as well as inspiration and creativity. I also appreciated Harry’s philosophy of police work: “Get off your butt and knock on doors.”
Connelly also gives more insight into Bosch’s psyche and motivations. He also illuminates the psychological drives of the other characters as well. This is another well-written novel that not only entertains but also instructs.
On his first day back on the job he and his partner are given a seventeen-year-old murder of a high school girl with mixed blood. New DNA evidence found on the murder weapon links the gun that killed the girl to a small-time criminal. Harry soon discovers that the case had been mishandled, evidence and records lost, and a looming suspicion that the case was shelved for internal political reasons.
Connelly does an excellent job in making every page feel real, each nuance ringing true and life-like. I especially appreciated the insights into the procedures and methods of solving such an old murder case. In a murder case, time is your greatest enemy. The longer the crime goes unsolved, the more likely the murder will never be caught. The near impossibility of solving the case adds enough suspense while the process Harry has to go through to investigate the case opens a window on police procedures that are fascinating and enlightening. Following one of the best detectives through this process is an exercise in logic and deduction as well as inspiration and creativity. I also appreciated Harry’s philosophy of police work: “Get off your butt and knock on doors.”
Connelly also gives more insight into Bosch’s psyche and motivations. He also illuminates the psychological drives of the other characters as well. This is another well-written novel that not only entertains but also instructs.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Count of Monte Cristo
Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Count of Monte Cristo, is perhaps, next to the Three Musketeers, his best and most popular writing. In his typical style, the novel, set in the historical framework of post-revolutionary France in the years 1815 to 1835, is full of adventure, romance and intrigue, making it perfect for a modern movie adaptation. Unfortunately, the book is very complex, with so many characters and intertwining relationships that are impossible to portray in a movie. Therefore, the movie conflates and eliminates characters and simplifies the relationships. In an effort to appeal to a modern audience, the movie ends happily with the hero winning the woman he loves.
Edmond Dantes, a 19-year-old sailor, is promoted to captain by the ship’s owner, who is also the father of Mercedes, his fiancée. This promotion draws the anger and hatred of the ship’s first mate, Danglar, who feels he is the one who should take the dead captain’s place. Dantes’ closest friend, Fernand Mondego, also loves Mercedes but fails to win her heart away from Dantes.
Danglar and Mondego, however, plot against Dantes, using the fact that Dantes had met with the exiled Napolean while the ship had been anchored off the island of Elba. They inform the chief magistrate, Villefort, who condemns Dantes to life in prison in the Chateu d’If, and tells his fiancée that he has been executed. Upon hearing of Dantes’ death, Mercedes agrees to marry Mondego and Danglar schemes to take over the ship and the company from Mercede’s father.
While in prison, Dantes plots his revenge. An old priest teaches him while they dig a tunnel to escape. Before dying in prison, the priest gives Dantes’ a map of a hidden treasure on the island of Monte Cristo. Dantes escapes by exchanging places with the dead priest, is thrown into the sea, and then swims back to the mainland. With the help of a pirate, Jacopo, Dantes finds the treasure and returns to France as the Count of Monte Cristo to exact his revenge on Danglar, Mondego, and Villefort.
While carrying out his plans, Mercedes recognizes Dantes and tries to talk him out of his revenge. He refuses, and after destroying Danglar and Villefort, he faces Mondego. In the struggle, Mercedes is injured and Mondego is killed. In the end, Dantes repents of his revenge and promises to use his fortune to help others and do good. Mercedes, her son Albert, who is actually Dantes’ child, and Jacopo, live happily ever after.
The message the movie gives is that revenge, while not the best option, is justified as long as you don’t go to extremes. In the 1975 movie version, starring Richard Chamberlain, Dantes’ revenge causes the death of his son and the loss of his true love, as Mercedes leaves him in the end because he has been transformed into a different man by his hate. The message of this movie is that revenge will destroy you and those you love. This is much closer to Alexandre Duma’s intentions in the original novel, where the relationships are so intertwined, that as he seeks revenge on his enemies, Dantes’ inadvertently harms his friends and those he loves. Revenge is never sweet and ends up hurting everyone involved. That is why God says, “It is mine to avenge, I will repay.”
Edmond Dantes, a 19-year-old sailor, is promoted to captain by the ship’s owner, who is also the father of Mercedes, his fiancée. This promotion draws the anger and hatred of the ship’s first mate, Danglar, who feels he is the one who should take the dead captain’s place. Dantes’ closest friend, Fernand Mondego, also loves Mercedes but fails to win her heart away from Dantes.
Danglar and Mondego, however, plot against Dantes, using the fact that Dantes had met with the exiled Napolean while the ship had been anchored off the island of Elba. They inform the chief magistrate, Villefort, who condemns Dantes to life in prison in the Chateu d’If, and tells his fiancée that he has been executed. Upon hearing of Dantes’ death, Mercedes agrees to marry Mondego and Danglar schemes to take over the ship and the company from Mercede’s father.
While in prison, Dantes plots his revenge. An old priest teaches him while they dig a tunnel to escape. Before dying in prison, the priest gives Dantes’ a map of a hidden treasure on the island of Monte Cristo. Dantes escapes by exchanging places with the dead priest, is thrown into the sea, and then swims back to the mainland. With the help of a pirate, Jacopo, Dantes finds the treasure and returns to France as the Count of Monte Cristo to exact his revenge on Danglar, Mondego, and Villefort.
While carrying out his plans, Mercedes recognizes Dantes and tries to talk him out of his revenge. He refuses, and after destroying Danglar and Villefort, he faces Mondego. In the struggle, Mercedes is injured and Mondego is killed. In the end, Dantes repents of his revenge and promises to use his fortune to help others and do good. Mercedes, her son Albert, who is actually Dantes’ child, and Jacopo, live happily ever after.
The message the movie gives is that revenge, while not the best option, is justified as long as you don’t go to extremes. In the 1975 movie version, starring Richard Chamberlain, Dantes’ revenge causes the death of his son and the loss of his true love, as Mercedes leaves him in the end because he has been transformed into a different man by his hate. The message of this movie is that revenge will destroy you and those you love. This is much closer to Alexandre Duma’s intentions in the original novel, where the relationships are so intertwined, that as he seeks revenge on his enemies, Dantes’ inadvertently harms his friends and those he loves. Revenge is never sweet and ends up hurting everyone involved. That is why God says, “It is mine to avenge, I will repay.”
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Get Your Bearings
All travelers, somewhere along the way, find it necessary to check their course, to see how they are doing. We wait until we are sick, or shocked into stillness, before we do the commonplace thing of getting our bearings. And yet, we wonder why we are depressed, why we are unhappy, why we lose our friends, why we are ill-tempered. This condition we pass on to our children, our husbands, our wives, our associates, our friends. Cultivate the mood to linger. ... Who knows? God may whisper to you in the quietness what [God] has been trying to say to you, oh, for so long a time.
- Howard Thurman
- Howard Thurman
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
The Gift of Choice
“There are so many gifts
Still unopened from your birthday
There are so many hand-crafted presents
That have been sent to you by God.
The Beloved does not mind repeating,
‘Everything I have is yours.’
There are so many gifts, my dear,
Still unopened from your birthday.” (Hafiz)
The power to discover your voice is found in the potential that was given you at birth. You have many birth-gifts: talents, capacities, privileges, intelligences, opportunities. These require your choice and effort and offer you unlimited growth and potential.
“All children are born geniuses; 9,999 out of every 10,000 are swiftly, inadvertently degenuisized by grownups” Buckminster Fuller.
There are three important gifts: freedom and the power to choose, natural laws and principles, and our four intelligences.
Our First Birth-Gift: The Freedom to Choose
One of the most powerful and liberating truths is: we are free to choose.
“The history of free man is never written by chance but by choice—their choice.” Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Fundamentally we are the product of choice, not nature or nurture. Nature and nurture influence us powerfully, but they do not determine our destiny.
“Your power to choose the direction of your life allows you to reinvent yourself, to change your future, and to powerfully influence the rest of creation.”
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In those choices lie our growth and our happiness.”
The size of that gap may be influenced by your upbringing and nature, but it is there. The more you exercise your freedom to choose, the larger the gap becomes.
“The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because we fail to notice that we fail not notice, there is little we can do to change; until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds.” R.D. Laing
We are response-able, therefore we are responsible. There is no excuse.
There are many things over which we have no control. However, when we control those things over which we do have control, we can minimize or eliminate the effects of the negative forces in our lives beyond our control.
You can become a “transition person” who stops bad traits, characteristics and habits from being passed on to the next generation. You can also be a “transition person” in your organization, minimizing or even reversing negative influences from your boss or coworkers by the choices you make.
“One ship drives east and another drives west
With the self same winds that blow.
‘Tis the set of the sails,
And not the gales,
That tells us the way to go.
Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate;
As we voyage along through life,
‘Tis the set of a soul
That decides its goal,
And not the calm, or the strife.” Ella Wheeler Wilcox
From: The 8th Habit, by Stephen Covey, pages 41-46.
Still unopened from your birthday
There are so many hand-crafted presents
That have been sent to you by God.
The Beloved does not mind repeating,
‘Everything I have is yours.’
There are so many gifts, my dear,
Still unopened from your birthday.” (Hafiz)
The power to discover your voice is found in the potential that was given you at birth. You have many birth-gifts: talents, capacities, privileges, intelligences, opportunities. These require your choice and effort and offer you unlimited growth and potential.
“All children are born geniuses; 9,999 out of every 10,000 are swiftly, inadvertently degenuisized by grownups” Buckminster Fuller.
There are three important gifts: freedom and the power to choose, natural laws and principles, and our four intelligences.
Our First Birth-Gift: The Freedom to Choose
One of the most powerful and liberating truths is: we are free to choose.
“The history of free man is never written by chance but by choice—their choice.” Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Fundamentally we are the product of choice, not nature or nurture. Nature and nurture influence us powerfully, but they do not determine our destiny.
“Your power to choose the direction of your life allows you to reinvent yourself, to change your future, and to powerfully influence the rest of creation.”
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In those choices lie our growth and our happiness.”
The size of that gap may be influenced by your upbringing and nature, but it is there. The more you exercise your freedom to choose, the larger the gap becomes.
“The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because we fail to notice that we fail not notice, there is little we can do to change; until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds.” R.D. Laing
We are response-able, therefore we are responsible. There is no excuse.
There are many things over which we have no control. However, when we control those things over which we do have control, we can minimize or eliminate the effects of the negative forces in our lives beyond our control.
You can become a “transition person” who stops bad traits, characteristics and habits from being passed on to the next generation. You can also be a “transition person” in your organization, minimizing or even reversing negative influences from your boss or coworkers by the choices you make.
“One ship drives east and another drives west
With the self same winds that blow.
‘Tis the set of the sails,
And not the gales,
That tells us the way to go.
Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate;
As we voyage along through life,
‘Tis the set of a soul
That decides its goal,
And not the calm, or the strife.” Ella Wheeler Wilcox
From: The 8th Habit, by Stephen Covey, pages 41-46.
Fire Facts
Garth Heckman is a pyromaniac like me, and in his book, Burn This Book, he gives some interesting fire facts:
What is fire made of? Fire is heat and light resulting from the rapid combination of oxygen, or in some cases gaseous chlorine, with other materials. The light is in the form of flame, which consists of volatile gases moving upward; the flame is the region in which a combustion reaction occurs. The gases in the flame move upward because hey are hotter—and therefore lighter—than the surrounding air. The conditions necessary for the existence of fire are the presence of a combustible substance, a temperature high enough to cause combustion, and the presence of enough oxygen or chlorine to enable rabid combustion to continue.
The temperature of a blue flame can reach 2,950° to 3,050°C. This can be achieved when acetylene is ignited in pure oxygen. A blue flame is typically the innermost part of a flame—even on an ordinary candle—and thus the area with the highest temperature.
The sun has many nuclear explosions. The fire and heat they create are what keep our earth warm and allows us to grow crops and stay out of the dark.
Why do kids play with matches? They know that in that little flame is an incredible power. There is something in us that seeks power because God created us for it—the right kind. The more God burns out of you, the more of his power you have.
When camping, fire can be used as a signal, to cook food, and to purify water. People don’t feel so lonely with a fire. It makes the night less frightening. And while there are relatively few animals dangerous to people in many North American campground areas, forests, and deserts, fire will almost always keep those that are out there at bay.
When a fire is under way, the upset electrons of agitated atoms release little pockets of energy, called photons, which then create light. The more you allow the Holy Spirit to burn out of you, the brighter your light will be for God.
How do you make fire? Fire has been produced by three principal methods: friction, percussion, and concentrating energy from the sun. In the first method, friction raises the temperature of a combustible material (kindling) to ignition temperature. The percussion method produces a spark to set kindling aflame. Fire also can be produced by using a lens or curved reflector to concentrate the rays of the sun on the combustible material, greatly raising the temperature of the kindling.
Fire is energy! If you apply enough fire to any object, it will change. The object’s color will change, as will its shape and molecular structure. Given enough exposure to the Refiner’s fire, you will change too. Don’t give up!
Was the 1910 fire in the western U.S. the largest forest fire in our country’s history? No one can say with certainty that the blaze of Aug. 20-21, 1910, was the largest forest fire ever. But here are some accepted facts: it burned three million acres of forest in western Montana and northern Idaho and was believed to have been started by lightning. Total lives lost: eighty-six. It was fanned by tornadic winds that whipped into full force what had been, by different estimates, form 1,700 to 3,000 separate fires just a day earlier, on Aug. 19. If size alone is the measure, it could be called the largest forest fire in U.S. history.
Many years ago, rangers though all forest fires should be put out right away. Now they understand that many forests depend on fires to stay healthy. Forest fires can be like good gardeners. They get rid of some of the dead branches, old pine needles, and leaves on the ground. The ashes from the fire also add minerals to the soil, helping plants grow.
Have you ever spent time at a bonfire? Before you know it, everything on you smells like smoke! The fire probably never touched you, but the smoke somehow penetrated every fiber of your clothing. Next thing you know, people are asking, “What smells like smoke?” You have to explain you were at a bonfire. In the same way our lives should have a distinct aroma to people—just as that smoky smell remains with someone after they leave a fire. People should be intrigued by the aroma produced when God burns things out of our lives.
“The state has the power to protect its citizenry from actual harm, and thus has the power to outlaw one yelling ‘fire!’ in a crowded theatre.” Colorado public defender Eric Vanatta, quoting from See, Schenk v. Unites States, 249 U.S. 47 (1919). If someone took a look at your spiritual life, could they yell “fire!”? Or is it all just smoke and mirrors?
At any given time around the world, there can be nearly 1,800 thunderstorms, scientists estimate. The storms can produce more than ten flashes of lightning a second, with each flash even hotter than the sun. The damage is undeniably spectacular. A typical thunderstorm is fifteen miles in diameter and last an average of thirty minutes. Every year, more people die from lightning strikes than tornadoes.
Did you know that grain can explode and burst into flames? This is more common than we think, with an average of more than a dozen incidents every year in the U.S. alone. Grain is a raw carbohydrate, and in dust form can be extremely flammable. All it needs is a spark or an open flame to burst into an inferno.
In 2004, there were 3,900 civilians who lost their lives in a fire. More Americans lost their lives in fires than all other natural disasters combined. While 1.6 million fires were reported, many others went unreported, causing additional injuries and property loss. (U.S. Fire Administration)
An explosion is really just a fire that, technically, burns very fast.
In 2005, 106 firefighters lost their lives while battling fires; four other died that year from injuries suffered before 2005. At four fires, more than one firefighter suffered injuries leading to his or her death. In addition, forty-eight firefighters died from heart attacks while on duty. Twenty-six firefighters died in on-duty vehicle crashes. (U.S. Fire Administration)
In 2002, cooking-related fires caused an estimated 185,600 structure fires, eighty civilian deaths, 3,875 injuries, and $481 million in property damage. “Each year cooking fires in structures generally result in the highest number of injuries. Simply being more attentive to the use of cooking materials and equipment would greatly reduce these types of fires and injuries.” (U.S. Fire Administration)
The number of fires increases during and around four holiday periods: Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the winter holiday period that includes Christmas and New Year. More fires are reported on the Fourth of July than any other day of the year. Brush and outside fires increase substantially due to family outings and the misuse of fireworks. (U.S. Fire Administration)
In 2004, 320 people were killed by an estimated 36,500 intentionally set structure fires in the United States. Property damage from such fires was $714 million. Among all fires, direct property loss was an estimated $9.8 billion. (U.S. Fire Administration)
The piston in a car provides power because of how it works. There is immense pressure in the piston, along with a mixture of gas and air. When the spark plug fires, POW! IT sparks and drives the piston back. If you find yourself in a place of immense pressure, do not waste the opportunity. Ask God, through the Holy Spirit, to send his spark, and watch how fast the fire comes. And with it is incredible power.
A fire cannot get very big, very hot, or go very far without oxygen. God is the air we breathe. We must seek Him continually to keep the fire burning!
Different ways to start a campfire: 1. Use pine cones covered in wax. 2. Pack charcoal in paper egg cartons and tie shut. When ready to use, just light the carton. 3. Put a piece of charcoal in each section of a paper egg carton. Cover with melted wax. Tear apart and use as needed. 4. You can even use sawdust, dryer lint, or pistachio shells instead of the charcoal. 5. Take 100 percent cotton balls and thoroughly rub petroleum jelly into them. Keep in a sealed plastic baggie until ready for use. 6. cut newspaper into strips, 3 to 4 inches wide. Roll them up and tie with string. Cover with melted wax.
Children under the age of five are twice as likely to die in a fire than everybody else. In fact, toddlers ages three and four actually cause a large number of home fires by playing with lighters and matches. Senior citizens are the other age demographic most at risk from residential fires. Every year college students experience a growing number of fire-related emergencies. There are several causes for the blazes, but the most come from a general lack of knowledge about fire safety and prevention. (U.S. Fire Administration)
The oldest known continually burning fire is an underground coal fire in New South Wales, Australia. The fire apparently started sometime in the last two thousand to six thousand years when lightning struck a large coal seam at a point where it reached the surface of the earth. Today the fire is more than 500 feet underground and still slowly eating away at the coal.
When you hear of a raging forest fire, you rarely hear the experts talk of battling to put it out. Typically, you hear them say they’re trying to “contain” the fire. They know that if they can do so, eventually it will go out on its own. You must not let your friends or other outside forces contain your fire for God. That’s all it takes to burn out!
Taken from: Burn This Book by Garth Heckman.
What is fire made of? Fire is heat and light resulting from the rapid combination of oxygen, or in some cases gaseous chlorine, with other materials. The light is in the form of flame, which consists of volatile gases moving upward; the flame is the region in which a combustion reaction occurs. The gases in the flame move upward because hey are hotter—and therefore lighter—than the surrounding air. The conditions necessary for the existence of fire are the presence of a combustible substance, a temperature high enough to cause combustion, and the presence of enough oxygen or chlorine to enable rabid combustion to continue.
The temperature of a blue flame can reach 2,950° to 3,050°C. This can be achieved when acetylene is ignited in pure oxygen. A blue flame is typically the innermost part of a flame—even on an ordinary candle—and thus the area with the highest temperature.
The sun has many nuclear explosions. The fire and heat they create are what keep our earth warm and allows us to grow crops and stay out of the dark.
Why do kids play with matches? They know that in that little flame is an incredible power. There is something in us that seeks power because God created us for it—the right kind. The more God burns out of you, the more of his power you have.
When camping, fire can be used as a signal, to cook food, and to purify water. People don’t feel so lonely with a fire. It makes the night less frightening. And while there are relatively few animals dangerous to people in many North American campground areas, forests, and deserts, fire will almost always keep those that are out there at bay.
When a fire is under way, the upset electrons of agitated atoms release little pockets of energy, called photons, which then create light. The more you allow the Holy Spirit to burn out of you, the brighter your light will be for God.
How do you make fire? Fire has been produced by three principal methods: friction, percussion, and concentrating energy from the sun. In the first method, friction raises the temperature of a combustible material (kindling) to ignition temperature. The percussion method produces a spark to set kindling aflame. Fire also can be produced by using a lens or curved reflector to concentrate the rays of the sun on the combustible material, greatly raising the temperature of the kindling.
Fire is energy! If you apply enough fire to any object, it will change. The object’s color will change, as will its shape and molecular structure. Given enough exposure to the Refiner’s fire, you will change too. Don’t give up!
Was the 1910 fire in the western U.S. the largest forest fire in our country’s history? No one can say with certainty that the blaze of Aug. 20-21, 1910, was the largest forest fire ever. But here are some accepted facts: it burned three million acres of forest in western Montana and northern Idaho and was believed to have been started by lightning. Total lives lost: eighty-six. It was fanned by tornadic winds that whipped into full force what had been, by different estimates, form 1,700 to 3,000 separate fires just a day earlier, on Aug. 19. If size alone is the measure, it could be called the largest forest fire in U.S. history.
Many years ago, rangers though all forest fires should be put out right away. Now they understand that many forests depend on fires to stay healthy. Forest fires can be like good gardeners. They get rid of some of the dead branches, old pine needles, and leaves on the ground. The ashes from the fire also add minerals to the soil, helping plants grow.
Have you ever spent time at a bonfire? Before you know it, everything on you smells like smoke! The fire probably never touched you, but the smoke somehow penetrated every fiber of your clothing. Next thing you know, people are asking, “What smells like smoke?” You have to explain you were at a bonfire. In the same way our lives should have a distinct aroma to people—just as that smoky smell remains with someone after they leave a fire. People should be intrigued by the aroma produced when God burns things out of our lives.
“The state has the power to protect its citizenry from actual harm, and thus has the power to outlaw one yelling ‘fire!’ in a crowded theatre.” Colorado public defender Eric Vanatta, quoting from See, Schenk v. Unites States, 249 U.S. 47 (1919). If someone took a look at your spiritual life, could they yell “fire!”? Or is it all just smoke and mirrors?
At any given time around the world, there can be nearly 1,800 thunderstorms, scientists estimate. The storms can produce more than ten flashes of lightning a second, with each flash even hotter than the sun. The damage is undeniably spectacular. A typical thunderstorm is fifteen miles in diameter and last an average of thirty minutes. Every year, more people die from lightning strikes than tornadoes.
Did you know that grain can explode and burst into flames? This is more common than we think, with an average of more than a dozen incidents every year in the U.S. alone. Grain is a raw carbohydrate, and in dust form can be extremely flammable. All it needs is a spark or an open flame to burst into an inferno.
In 2004, there were 3,900 civilians who lost their lives in a fire. More Americans lost their lives in fires than all other natural disasters combined. While 1.6 million fires were reported, many others went unreported, causing additional injuries and property loss. (U.S. Fire Administration)
An explosion is really just a fire that, technically, burns very fast.
In 2005, 106 firefighters lost their lives while battling fires; four other died that year from injuries suffered before 2005. At four fires, more than one firefighter suffered injuries leading to his or her death. In addition, forty-eight firefighters died from heart attacks while on duty. Twenty-six firefighters died in on-duty vehicle crashes. (U.S. Fire Administration)
In 2002, cooking-related fires caused an estimated 185,600 structure fires, eighty civilian deaths, 3,875 injuries, and $481 million in property damage. “Each year cooking fires in structures generally result in the highest number of injuries. Simply being more attentive to the use of cooking materials and equipment would greatly reduce these types of fires and injuries.” (U.S. Fire Administration)
The number of fires increases during and around four holiday periods: Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the winter holiday period that includes Christmas and New Year. More fires are reported on the Fourth of July than any other day of the year. Brush and outside fires increase substantially due to family outings and the misuse of fireworks. (U.S. Fire Administration)
In 2004, 320 people were killed by an estimated 36,500 intentionally set structure fires in the United States. Property damage from such fires was $714 million. Among all fires, direct property loss was an estimated $9.8 billion. (U.S. Fire Administration)
The piston in a car provides power because of how it works. There is immense pressure in the piston, along with a mixture of gas and air. When the spark plug fires, POW! IT sparks and drives the piston back. If you find yourself in a place of immense pressure, do not waste the opportunity. Ask God, through the Holy Spirit, to send his spark, and watch how fast the fire comes. And with it is incredible power.
A fire cannot get very big, very hot, or go very far without oxygen. God is the air we breathe. We must seek Him continually to keep the fire burning!
Different ways to start a campfire: 1. Use pine cones covered in wax. 2. Pack charcoal in paper egg cartons and tie shut. When ready to use, just light the carton. 3. Put a piece of charcoal in each section of a paper egg carton. Cover with melted wax. Tear apart and use as needed. 4. You can even use sawdust, dryer lint, or pistachio shells instead of the charcoal. 5. Take 100 percent cotton balls and thoroughly rub petroleum jelly into them. Keep in a sealed plastic baggie until ready for use. 6. cut newspaper into strips, 3 to 4 inches wide. Roll them up and tie with string. Cover with melted wax.
Children under the age of five are twice as likely to die in a fire than everybody else. In fact, toddlers ages three and four actually cause a large number of home fires by playing with lighters and matches. Senior citizens are the other age demographic most at risk from residential fires. Every year college students experience a growing number of fire-related emergencies. There are several causes for the blazes, but the most come from a general lack of knowledge about fire safety and prevention. (U.S. Fire Administration)
The oldest known continually burning fire is an underground coal fire in New South Wales, Australia. The fire apparently started sometime in the last two thousand to six thousand years when lightning struck a large coal seam at a point where it reached the surface of the earth. Today the fire is more than 500 feet underground and still slowly eating away at the coal.
When you hear of a raging forest fire, you rarely hear the experts talk of battling to put it out. Typically, you hear them say they’re trying to “contain” the fire. They know that if they can do so, eventually it will go out on its own. You must not let your friends or other outside forces contain your fire for God. That’s all it takes to burn out!
Taken from: Burn This Book by Garth Heckman.
Bacchantes
In his last days, Euripides wrote the tragedy Bacchantes, which was performed after his death in 405 B.C.. While living with King Archelaus of Macedon, Euripides became disillusioned with the corruption in Athens and the excesses of the fanatical Dionysian festivals.
The story takes place outside the palace of Thebes near the shrine of Semele, who gave birth to Dionysus after copulating with Zeus. Semele’s sisters have been driven mad by Dionysus because they claim that he is merely a mortal and not the son of Zeus. The women are all reveling in a drunken stupor caused by Dionysus. Among the women is Agave, the king’s mother, daughter of Cadmus, the prior king, and sister of Semele.
Pentheus, king of Thebes, is outraged at this display of excess and tries to stop the madness by arresting the women. The women miraculously escape from prison and Pentheus then has Dionysus arrested since he is causing the problem. Dionysus escapes and then leads Pentheus to the women, who are engaging in a wild sexual orgy in a secret spot in the forest. When Pentheus finds the women, Dionysus calls to them and tells them to attack Pentheus who is spying on them. The women attack him and tear him limb from limb, scattering the parts of his body all around.
Agave returns to the palace proudly holding the head of Pentheus, her son, thinking it is the head of a lion. When her father Cadmus sees what has happened, he has all the parts of Pentheus gathered and brought back to Thebes. He then convinces Agave that the head belongs to her son and not a lion. When she finally realizes what she has done, she is struck with horror and regret. The play ends with her being exiled from Thebes for her vicious crime. Dionysus has gotten his revenge on the two most outspoken critics of his deity.
The story takes place outside the palace of Thebes near the shrine of Semele, who gave birth to Dionysus after copulating with Zeus. Semele’s sisters have been driven mad by Dionysus because they claim that he is merely a mortal and not the son of Zeus. The women are all reveling in a drunken stupor caused by Dionysus. Among the women is Agave, the king’s mother, daughter of Cadmus, the prior king, and sister of Semele.
Pentheus, king of Thebes, is outraged at this display of excess and tries to stop the madness by arresting the women. The women miraculously escape from prison and Pentheus then has Dionysus arrested since he is causing the problem. Dionysus escapes and then leads Pentheus to the women, who are engaging in a wild sexual orgy in a secret spot in the forest. When Pentheus finds the women, Dionysus calls to them and tells them to attack Pentheus who is spying on them. The women attack him and tear him limb from limb, scattering the parts of his body all around.
Agave returns to the palace proudly holding the head of Pentheus, her son, thinking it is the head of a lion. When her father Cadmus sees what has happened, he has all the parts of Pentheus gathered and brought back to Thebes. He then convinces Agave that the head belongs to her son and not a lion. When she finally realizes what she has done, she is struck with horror and regret. The play ends with her being exiled from Thebes for her vicious crime. Dionysus has gotten his revenge on the two most outspoken critics of his deity.
Mysteries of the Middle Ages
Thomas Cahill, in his recent book, Mysteries of the Middle Ages: The Rise of Feminism, Science, and Art from the Cults of Catholic Europe, gives a brief introduction to important people and events that shaped the modern world in the areas of Women’s rights, science and technology, and music and the arts. While many historians focus on the negative aspects of the Middle Ages, especially of the corruption of the Popes and the resistance of the Catholic Church to science and progress, Cahill looks at the positive side of the Middle Ages, pointing out many of the brilliant men and women who helped bring change and reforms that laid the foundation for modern society.
Cahill begins the book by laying the historical foundation for the Middle Ages. He explains how ancient Greece and Rome flourished, providing a rich cultural heritage that was nearly forgotten by the fall of Rome to the barbarians. Even though it wouldn’t be until the Renaissance that this cultural heritage was rediscovered, the near millennium between these events wasn’t as “dark” as many have been led to believe. During this time, men and women of great intellect and character continued to make discoveries and add to the cultural development of Europe.
Hildegard of Bingen became a nun at age 8 and lived most of her early life in seclusion in a monastery. However, she read widely and educated herself far beyond any woman of her time, as well as most men. She was outspoken and daring, stepping consistently outside the norms of society and paving the way for the liberation of women in Europe. She also created a new genre of music that was more complex and free than anything the church had ever seen. Even though she lived from 1098 to 1179, she had an influence on the church and society that lasted for centuries.
Peter Abelard was another brilliant man who pressed the envelope by his enquiries and radical theology. While he was constantly harassed for his cutting edge ideas, he never stopped thinking and teaching what he believed was a better understanding of the world and the Bible. Unfortunately, he fell in love with Heloise and married her secretly after getting her pregnant. However, the secret got out and heloise’s father castrated Abelard and he had to live out his days separated from the woman he loved.
Thomas Aquinas was a solid, steady thinker who reshaped Catholic theology by using Aristotle’s ideas as a foundation instead of Plato’s. The newly rediscovered philosopher captivated Aquinas’ imagination and he wrote volumes integrated what he was learning from Aristotle with Christian doctrine. His writings have influenced Catholic doctrine more than any other theologian even to this day.
Dante transformed the world of literature with his Divine Comedy, written between 1308 and 1321. Dante was enamored with the Roman poet Virgil whose Latin style influenced Dante’s Italian style. Dante was also inspired by the love of his life, Beatrice, with whom he never actually had close intimate contact. These two loves shaped all that Dante wrote, the most famous being the Divine Comedy, which describes his journey through Hell, Purgatory, and finally Paradise, in which he places many historical and contemporary figures in one of the three realms. His works have influenced popular Catholic thought for centuries.
Finally, Giotto was a brilliant and prolific artist in Florence, Italy from1267 to 1337. His works are considered the beginning of the Italian Renaissance. His paintings, sculpture and architecture ignited a new artistic movement that lasted centuries.
Cahill begins the book by laying the historical foundation for the Middle Ages. He explains how ancient Greece and Rome flourished, providing a rich cultural heritage that was nearly forgotten by the fall of Rome to the barbarians. Even though it wouldn’t be until the Renaissance that this cultural heritage was rediscovered, the near millennium between these events wasn’t as “dark” as many have been led to believe. During this time, men and women of great intellect and character continued to make discoveries and add to the cultural development of Europe.
Hildegard of Bingen became a nun at age 8 and lived most of her early life in seclusion in a monastery. However, she read widely and educated herself far beyond any woman of her time, as well as most men. She was outspoken and daring, stepping consistently outside the norms of society and paving the way for the liberation of women in Europe. She also created a new genre of music that was more complex and free than anything the church had ever seen. Even though she lived from 1098 to 1179, she had an influence on the church and society that lasted for centuries.
Peter Abelard was another brilliant man who pressed the envelope by his enquiries and radical theology. While he was constantly harassed for his cutting edge ideas, he never stopped thinking and teaching what he believed was a better understanding of the world and the Bible. Unfortunately, he fell in love with Heloise and married her secretly after getting her pregnant. However, the secret got out and heloise’s father castrated Abelard and he had to live out his days separated from the woman he loved.
Thomas Aquinas was a solid, steady thinker who reshaped Catholic theology by using Aristotle’s ideas as a foundation instead of Plato’s. The newly rediscovered philosopher captivated Aquinas’ imagination and he wrote volumes integrated what he was learning from Aristotle with Christian doctrine. His writings have influenced Catholic doctrine more than any other theologian even to this day.
Dante transformed the world of literature with his Divine Comedy, written between 1308 and 1321. Dante was enamored with the Roman poet Virgil whose Latin style influenced Dante’s Italian style. Dante was also inspired by the love of his life, Beatrice, with whom he never actually had close intimate contact. These two loves shaped all that Dante wrote, the most famous being the Divine Comedy, which describes his journey through Hell, Purgatory, and finally Paradise, in which he places many historical and contemporary figures in one of the three realms. His works have influenced popular Catholic thought for centuries.
Finally, Giotto was a brilliant and prolific artist in Florence, Italy from1267 to 1337. His works are considered the beginning of the Italian Renaissance. His paintings, sculpture and architecture ignited a new artistic movement that lasted centuries.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Othello
William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, first performed around 1604, illustrates the destructive power of jealousy. Othello, a Moorish general living in Venice, marries Desdemona, the beautiful daughter of a Venetian Senator amidst much controversy over her love for Othello. Othello and Desdemona prove that their love is genuine and they begin a happy life together.
Iago, Othello’s ensign, hates the Moor and designs a cruel plan to destroy him and his happiness. Iago begins by raising doubts in Othello’s mind about Desdemona’s faithfulness. Iago manipulates Cassio, Othello’s lieutenant, making it appear that he is having an affair with Desdemona. Iago arranges to have a conversation with Cassio while Othello is eavesdropping, eliciting from him the details of the affair Cassio is having with Biancha. However, the conversation is skewed so that Othello thinks Cassio is boasting of having an affair with Desdemona.
As Othello’s jealousy reaches its peak, Iago has his wife, Emilia, Desdemona’s maid, steal the handkerchief Othello gave Desdemona. Iago plants the “evidence” on Cassio and Othello is fully convinced when it is found on him.
That night Iago arranges to have Cassio murdered by Rodrigo, a former lover of Desdemona and Othello conspires to murder Desdemona for her infidelity. Unfortunately, Rodrigo only wounds Cassio and is killed in return. Othello, however, succeeds in suffocating Desdemona, only to be discovered by Emilia. When Cassio is brought before Othello and Emilia, the truth about Iago’s plot comes out. Iago, in a rage, kills his wife, Emilia, and flees. Othello realizing he has been deceived into murdering his wife, wails with regret, and commits suicide before he can be arrested.
Shakespeare vividly portrays the evil of the green monster, jealousy. Jealousy is a deadly disease that will destroy you and all that you love. The Bible frequently warns against jealousy because of its destructive power and its ability to twist and mangle the soul.
Iago, Othello’s ensign, hates the Moor and designs a cruel plan to destroy him and his happiness. Iago begins by raising doubts in Othello’s mind about Desdemona’s faithfulness. Iago manipulates Cassio, Othello’s lieutenant, making it appear that he is having an affair with Desdemona. Iago arranges to have a conversation with Cassio while Othello is eavesdropping, eliciting from him the details of the affair Cassio is having with Biancha. However, the conversation is skewed so that Othello thinks Cassio is boasting of having an affair with Desdemona.
As Othello’s jealousy reaches its peak, Iago has his wife, Emilia, Desdemona’s maid, steal the handkerchief Othello gave Desdemona. Iago plants the “evidence” on Cassio and Othello is fully convinced when it is found on him.
That night Iago arranges to have Cassio murdered by Rodrigo, a former lover of Desdemona and Othello conspires to murder Desdemona for her infidelity. Unfortunately, Rodrigo only wounds Cassio and is killed in return. Othello, however, succeeds in suffocating Desdemona, only to be discovered by Emilia. When Cassio is brought before Othello and Emilia, the truth about Iago’s plot comes out. Iago, in a rage, kills his wife, Emilia, and flees. Othello realizing he has been deceived into murdering his wife, wails with regret, and commits suicide before he can be arrested.
Shakespeare vividly portrays the evil of the green monster, jealousy. Jealousy is a deadly disease that will destroy you and all that you love. The Bible frequently warns against jealousy because of its destructive power and its ability to twist and mangle the soul.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity
John Stossel, news correspondent and co-anchor for ABC’s 20/20, in his book, Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity: Get Out the Shovel--Why Everything You Know is Wrong, takes a shovel to uncover the truth behind what many assume to be conventional wisdom.
Myth: Global warming is an imminent danger
Truth: The earth is just emerging from a mini ice age and is naturally warming. The change in average global temperature is less than one degree over the last 150 years. There is no correlation between man-made green house gases and increase in average global temperature. The Kyoto agreement, if followed by every nation, would cost trillions of dollars and reduce the average global temperature by only a fraction of a degree. Melting polar ice will not raise ocean levels just as ice melting in a glass doesn’t raise the water level.
Myth: Women earn less than men in the same jobs
Truth: Men are more likely to work in high-risk, high-discomfort jobs, which pay more, than women, who traditionally choose low-risk, high-comfort jobs, which pay less. When salaries are compared for the exact same jobs, women earn the same as men. If women earned less then men, then a company that hired only women would be able to outperform all other companies. Since that isn’t happening, it is evident that there isn’t a significant difference in pay, otherwise companies would only hire women.
Myth: Schools are unsafe
Truth: Twice as many students are injured or killed outside of school than inside school. Schools are the safest place for children to be. All the national media attention given to dramatic school shootings gives the impression that schools are unsafe, when in actuality they are very safe.
Myth: Outsourcing is bad
Truth: Outsourcing is good because it enables companies to invest the significant savings into expanding their businesses, resulting in the hiring of more local workers who have skills that can’t be replaced by overseas workers. Outsourcing allows companies to be globally competitive and produce goods more inexpensively, saving consumers money.
Myth: Video games teach kids to kill
Truth: There is no correlation between video game use and violence.
Myth: Pesticides are harmful
Truth: Most pesticides are very safe and can be ingested without any harmful effects. Most carcinogen studies are too sensitive and have labeled many products as unsafe which are harmless to the environment and humans.
Myth: Homeopathic medicine works
Truth: Homeopathic medicines are so diluted that many solutions have miniscule amounts of medicine, or none at all.
Myth: School choice is bad for education
Truth: Competition breeds excellence while the present lack of competition breeds mediocrity. By allowing parents and students to choose which school to attend it would force schools to improve, and continue to improve, in order to attract and keep students.
Myth: Lawyers protect the little guy
Truth: Lawyers only care about making money for themselves. High profile cases where plaintiffs are awarded large settlements actually enrich the lawyers, who get 30% to 50%, or more, of the settlement. Often class action lawsuits are frivolous and use pressure tactics to get corporations to settle out of court to avoid costly legal fees and prolonged negative publicity. While a few people make off with a large sum of money, the companies pass their losses on to the consumer, so the little guys end up paying for the lawsuit in the long run, enriching the lawyers and a few little guys.
Myth: Medical malpractice lawsuits make medical care safer
Truth: Many malpractice suites are frivolous and cost doctors millions of dollars in malpractice insurance, lost hours for practicing medicine, and fear, leading to the ordering of costly tests and procedures that aren’t needed simply to avoid a lawsuit. This costs the doctor’s money, which is then passed on to the consumer in higher medical costs and insurance premiums. As a result, the quality of health care diminishes while the cost increases.
Myth: Bottled water is better than tap water
Truth: There is very little difference in taste between tap water and bottled water. Many blind taste tests have shown that most people choose tap water over bottled water. And bottled water isn’t any cleaner than most tap water either. When tested for bacteria, bottled water actually had higher counts than tap water. It isn’t a coincidence that one of the largest bottled water companies is named “Evian”, which is “naïve” spelled backwards.
Myth: The price of gasoline is skyrocketing.
Truth: Gasoline is relatively cheap considering how difficult it is to produce and distribute, and when inflation is considered, gasoline is actually cheaper today than it was twenty, and even fifty, years ago. Even if gasoline cost $3 a gallon, it is still cheaper than bottled water, which runs close to $6 a gallon when bought in bottles, at the same gas station.
Myth: Global warming is an imminent danger
Truth: The earth is just emerging from a mini ice age and is naturally warming. The change in average global temperature is less than one degree over the last 150 years. There is no correlation between man-made green house gases and increase in average global temperature. The Kyoto agreement, if followed by every nation, would cost trillions of dollars and reduce the average global temperature by only a fraction of a degree. Melting polar ice will not raise ocean levels just as ice melting in a glass doesn’t raise the water level.
Myth: Women earn less than men in the same jobs
Truth: Men are more likely to work in high-risk, high-discomfort jobs, which pay more, than women, who traditionally choose low-risk, high-comfort jobs, which pay less. When salaries are compared for the exact same jobs, women earn the same as men. If women earned less then men, then a company that hired only women would be able to outperform all other companies. Since that isn’t happening, it is evident that there isn’t a significant difference in pay, otherwise companies would only hire women.
Myth: Schools are unsafe
Truth: Twice as many students are injured or killed outside of school than inside school. Schools are the safest place for children to be. All the national media attention given to dramatic school shootings gives the impression that schools are unsafe, when in actuality they are very safe.
Myth: Outsourcing is bad
Truth: Outsourcing is good because it enables companies to invest the significant savings into expanding their businesses, resulting in the hiring of more local workers who have skills that can’t be replaced by overseas workers. Outsourcing allows companies to be globally competitive and produce goods more inexpensively, saving consumers money.
Myth: Video games teach kids to kill
Truth: There is no correlation between video game use and violence.
Myth: Pesticides are harmful
Truth: Most pesticides are very safe and can be ingested without any harmful effects. Most carcinogen studies are too sensitive and have labeled many products as unsafe which are harmless to the environment and humans.
Myth: Homeopathic medicine works
Truth: Homeopathic medicines are so diluted that many solutions have miniscule amounts of medicine, or none at all.
Myth: School choice is bad for education
Truth: Competition breeds excellence while the present lack of competition breeds mediocrity. By allowing parents and students to choose which school to attend it would force schools to improve, and continue to improve, in order to attract and keep students.
Myth: Lawyers protect the little guy
Truth: Lawyers only care about making money for themselves. High profile cases where plaintiffs are awarded large settlements actually enrich the lawyers, who get 30% to 50%, or more, of the settlement. Often class action lawsuits are frivolous and use pressure tactics to get corporations to settle out of court to avoid costly legal fees and prolonged negative publicity. While a few people make off with a large sum of money, the companies pass their losses on to the consumer, so the little guys end up paying for the lawsuit in the long run, enriching the lawyers and a few little guys.
Myth: Medical malpractice lawsuits make medical care safer
Truth: Many malpractice suites are frivolous and cost doctors millions of dollars in malpractice insurance, lost hours for practicing medicine, and fear, leading to the ordering of costly tests and procedures that aren’t needed simply to avoid a lawsuit. This costs the doctor’s money, which is then passed on to the consumer in higher medical costs and insurance premiums. As a result, the quality of health care diminishes while the cost increases.
Myth: Bottled water is better than tap water
Truth: There is very little difference in taste between tap water and bottled water. Many blind taste tests have shown that most people choose tap water over bottled water. And bottled water isn’t any cleaner than most tap water either. When tested for bacteria, bottled water actually had higher counts than tap water. It isn’t a coincidence that one of the largest bottled water companies is named “Evian”, which is “naïve” spelled backwards.
Myth: The price of gasoline is skyrocketing.
Truth: Gasoline is relatively cheap considering how difficult it is to produce and distribute, and when inflation is considered, gasoline is actually cheaper today than it was twenty, and even fifty, years ago. Even if gasoline cost $3 a gallon, it is still cheaper than bottled water, which runs close to $6 a gallon when bought in bottles, at the same gas station.
The Planets
Dava Sobel, former science editor for the New York Times, in her book, The Planets, gives a well presented description of the nine planets in our solar system. She does an excellent job of weaving the history of discovery with the presently known facts of each planet. She uses mythology, astrology, popular culture, science fiction, art and music as well to paint a many-faceted portrait of our celestial neighborhood.
Her book is detailed enough to give relevant information for most lay people, yet her style is accessible to most lay readers. I enjoyed her writing since it isn’t merely a bland recitation of dry facts but a living story of man’s desire to know and understand the heavens.
Her book is detailed enough to give relevant information for most lay people, yet her style is accessible to most lay readers. I enjoyed her writing since it isn’t merely a bland recitation of dry facts but a living story of man’s desire to know and understand the heavens.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
The Color of Law
The Color of Law, Mark Gimenez’s first novel, follows in the style of John Grisham. Gimenez has the same grasp of the law and the moral dilemmas faced by lawyers. Gimenez is grittier than Grisham and tends to be a little preachy, yet he has a readable style that balances vivid detail with action and suspense.
Scott Fenny is a wealthy lawyer in the biggest law firm in Dallas. Scott has succeeded by being creative with the law, doing whatever he has to in order to win. He is living the perfect life, living in a $3 million mansion, drives a $200,000 Ferrari, wears thousand dollar suits, dines at the most exclusive dinner clubs, and is envied by many. But Scott is selfish, self-centered, arrogant, uncaring and shallow, just like all the other successful people around him, but he doesn’t know it.
Then into his perfect life falls a bomb. The federal judge appoints him as a public defender for a heroin-addicted prostitute charged in the murder of senator McCall’s son. Senator McCall is one of the most powerful men in Texas and is running for president, and he pressures Scott’s boss to keep his son’s wild and violent past out of the trial. Scott chafes at being told to lose the case and refuses to withhold the evidence.
Within days his perfect life has been completely unraveled. He loses his Ferrari, his mansion, his exclusive club memberships, and his wife, who walks out on him. Finally, he loses his main client and then his job. Completely devastated, Scott is forced to search his soul to find out what is most important. He chooses to defend the prostitute to the best of his ability; to discover the truth and not simply win. As a result, his life is completely changed and Scott becomes a caring, compassionate, man who thinks of other’s needs and not just his own.
Several quotes from the story are profound:
First, Scott’s boss tells him, “The color of the law is not black and white; it’s not about race. The color of law is green; money is what the law is all about. The law is for making and protecting rich men’s money.”
Second, Scott’s boss recounts what his first boss told him about success as a lawyer, in order to convince Scott to lose the case and move on. He said, “Early in your career you must decide whether you want to do ‘good’ or do ‘well.’ If you do ‘good’ you will never do ‘well’; you’ll never be successful. How does a lawyer become successful? By doing his job. Which is making rich people richer. And we get paid very well for doing our job. You have to ask yourself, ‘Do you want to make money or do you want to make the world a better place? Do you want to drive a Cadillac or a Chevrolet? Do you want to send your kids to private schools or public schools? Do you want to be a rich lawyer or a poor lawyer?’ If you want to do good, go work for the legal aid and help the little people battle their landlords, the utility companies and the police, and feel good about it. But don’t have regrets twenty years later when your classmates are driving new cars and taking vacations in Europe. And you will have to tell your kids that they can’t go to an Ivy League school because you did ‘good’.”
Gimenez is very cynical about lawyers and clearly shows the moral dilemma a lawyer must face. A lawyer, according to Gimenez, is merely someone who gets paid to lie. And the better you are at lying the more successful you will be as a lawyer. A lawyer will never be successful if he is concerned about truth and justice. While this may be hyperbole, anyone who desires to become a lawyer should wrestle with this dilemma before he even considers going to law school. For the rest of us, it is important to remember that a lawyer doesn’t have your best interest in mind; all he cares about is the bottom line.
Third, when Scott’s main client drops him, Scott asks him why he isn’t being loyal to him as a friend, since he took him on as a client eleven years ago when he was just a struggling land developer. The client retorts, “I am only loyal to my friends. All you wanted was my money, so that is all I ever gave you. You over billed me and took as much money from me as you could, and I didn’t complain; that was my payment to you in full. You are not my friend because you didn’t want to be my friend. And because you are not my friend, you don’t deserve my loyalty.”
Gimenez portrays the loneliness of a life lived only for success, money, status and all the things that go with it. There is no love, no intimacy, no transparency, no friendship between anyone, not even his wife. The only person Scott even gets close to is his nine-year old daughter. Everyone else is using him and being used by him, making love and true friendship impossible. Everyone needs to consider the cost of such a life and determine if it is truly “success.”
Scott Fenny is a wealthy lawyer in the biggest law firm in Dallas. Scott has succeeded by being creative with the law, doing whatever he has to in order to win. He is living the perfect life, living in a $3 million mansion, drives a $200,000 Ferrari, wears thousand dollar suits, dines at the most exclusive dinner clubs, and is envied by many. But Scott is selfish, self-centered, arrogant, uncaring and shallow, just like all the other successful people around him, but he doesn’t know it.
Then into his perfect life falls a bomb. The federal judge appoints him as a public defender for a heroin-addicted prostitute charged in the murder of senator McCall’s son. Senator McCall is one of the most powerful men in Texas and is running for president, and he pressures Scott’s boss to keep his son’s wild and violent past out of the trial. Scott chafes at being told to lose the case and refuses to withhold the evidence.
Within days his perfect life has been completely unraveled. He loses his Ferrari, his mansion, his exclusive club memberships, and his wife, who walks out on him. Finally, he loses his main client and then his job. Completely devastated, Scott is forced to search his soul to find out what is most important. He chooses to defend the prostitute to the best of his ability; to discover the truth and not simply win. As a result, his life is completely changed and Scott becomes a caring, compassionate, man who thinks of other’s needs and not just his own.
Several quotes from the story are profound:
First, Scott’s boss tells him, “The color of the law is not black and white; it’s not about race. The color of law is green; money is what the law is all about. The law is for making and protecting rich men’s money.”
Second, Scott’s boss recounts what his first boss told him about success as a lawyer, in order to convince Scott to lose the case and move on. He said, “Early in your career you must decide whether you want to do ‘good’ or do ‘well.’ If you do ‘good’ you will never do ‘well’; you’ll never be successful. How does a lawyer become successful? By doing his job. Which is making rich people richer. And we get paid very well for doing our job. You have to ask yourself, ‘Do you want to make money or do you want to make the world a better place? Do you want to drive a Cadillac or a Chevrolet? Do you want to send your kids to private schools or public schools? Do you want to be a rich lawyer or a poor lawyer?’ If you want to do good, go work for the legal aid and help the little people battle their landlords, the utility companies and the police, and feel good about it. But don’t have regrets twenty years later when your classmates are driving new cars and taking vacations in Europe. And you will have to tell your kids that they can’t go to an Ivy League school because you did ‘good’.”
Gimenez is very cynical about lawyers and clearly shows the moral dilemma a lawyer must face. A lawyer, according to Gimenez, is merely someone who gets paid to lie. And the better you are at lying the more successful you will be as a lawyer. A lawyer will never be successful if he is concerned about truth and justice. While this may be hyperbole, anyone who desires to become a lawyer should wrestle with this dilemma before he even considers going to law school. For the rest of us, it is important to remember that a lawyer doesn’t have your best interest in mind; all he cares about is the bottom line.
Third, when Scott’s main client drops him, Scott asks him why he isn’t being loyal to him as a friend, since he took him on as a client eleven years ago when he was just a struggling land developer. The client retorts, “I am only loyal to my friends. All you wanted was my money, so that is all I ever gave you. You over billed me and took as much money from me as you could, and I didn’t complain; that was my payment to you in full. You are not my friend because you didn’t want to be my friend. And because you are not my friend, you don’t deserve my loyalty.”
Gimenez portrays the loneliness of a life lived only for success, money, status and all the things that go with it. There is no love, no intimacy, no transparency, no friendship between anyone, not even his wife. The only person Scott even gets close to is his nine-year old daughter. Everyone else is using him and being used by him, making love and true friendship impossible. Everyone needs to consider the cost of such a life and determine if it is truly “success.”
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