israeloutlook.com

Jimmy Carter was one of, if not THE, most intelligent presidents that the United States has ever had. And, he was one of the most moral. He is a genuinely good guy. I would love to have him as a father-in-law, or a neighbor, or a coworker. If he wasn’t such an idiot, I would love this guy.

Really.

In his article in the Jerusalem Post, titled Father of the Iranian Revolution, Michael Evans talks about the origins of the Islamic terrorist quagmire that we are in, and writes:  

Jimmy Carter was one of, if not THE, most intelligent presidents that the United States has ever had. And, he was one of the most moral. He is a genuinely good guy. I would love to have him as a father-in-law, or a neighbor, or a coworker. If he wasn’t such an idiot, I would love this guy.

Really.

In his article in the Jerusalem Post, titled Father of the Iranian Revolution, Michael Evans talks about the origins of the Islamic terrorist quagmire that we are in, and writes:  

Read Full Post »

When talking about the ‘doom’ of the Palestinians, it is ironic to note that, on average, they are one of the most sophisticated Arabs in the Middle East. They have a high level of education. Their standard of living has been generally high. The infrastructure of the territories is comparatively more advanced.

The only Arabs better off than the Palestinians would be some of the Arabs in the Persian Gulf – and Israeli Arabs.

By contrast, Jordanian Arabs are poor cousins, and the Jordanians are much better off than the Syrians and even the Egyptians.

When talking about the ‘doom’ of the Palestinians, it is ironic to note that, on average, they are one of the most sophisticated Arabs in the Middle East. They have a high level of education. Their standard of living has been generally high. The infrastructure of the territories is comparatively more advanced.

The only Arabs better off than the Palestinians would be some of the Arabs in the Persian Gulf – and Israeli Arabs.

By contrast, Jordanian Arabs are poor cousins, and the Jordanians are much better off than the Syrians and even the Egyptians.

Read Full Post »

So, here’s the problem.

The Iraqis don’t understand the needs of civilization. For that matter, neither do the Palestinians.

Or, no. They understand the needs of a more traditional, rural and nomadic form of civilization, but they don’t really understand the needs of a civilization with closely interconnected dependencies.

Two hundred years ago, Palestinian (i.e., Syrian) and Iraqi civilization worked. The cities and towns and villages were small. The growth rates were large, and the rate of disease and famine even larger.

Disease and starvation kept Arab populations small, and a small population doesn’t require a sophisticated approach to civilization.

So, here’s the problem.

The Iraqis don’t understand the needs of civilization. For that matter, neither do the Palestinians.

Or, no. They understand the needs of a more traditional, rural and nomadic form of civilization, but they don’t really understand the needs of a civilization with closely interconnected dependencies.

Two hundred years ago, Palestinian (i.e., Syrian) and Iraqi civilization worked. The cities and towns and villages were small. The growth rates were large, and the rate of disease and famine even larger.

Disease and starvation kept Arab populations small, and a small population doesn’t require a sophisticated approach to civilization.

Read Full Post »

Roger Zelazny once said (via a character in one of his books) that civilization means ‘the art of living in cities’.

It doesn’t quite mean that. The last part of the word, ‘-ization’, literally means ’action, process, or result of doing or making’*.  And civil essentially means ‘of or proper to a citizen’ (derived from the Latin word civilis). And citizen would be ‘a person who dwells in a city’.

So, I guess that the proper etymological definition for civilization is ‘the process or result of making what is proper for a person who dwells in a city’.

Roger Zelazny once said (via a character in one of his books) that civilization means ‘the art of living in cities’.

It doesn’t quite mean that. The last part of the word, ‘-ization’, literally means ’action, process, or result of doing or making’*.  And civil essentially means ‘of or proper to a citizen’ (derived from the Latin word civilis). And citizen would be ‘a person who dwells in a city’.

So, I guess that the proper etymological definition for civilization is ‘the process or result of making what is proper for a person who dwells in a city’.

Read Full Post »

It used to be acceptable to shoot looters.

In fact, when declaring a state of emergency, it was understood (even required) that you will be shooting looters.

The problem is that shooting looters is horrifying to people. The idea of shooting someone because they broke into a store and are carrying away a TV is just… well, it’s too much.

However, the rule of law is a funny thing. It only works if people believe that it works. And, when it breaks down, getting it to work again is very, very difficult.

It used to be acceptable to shoot looters.

In fact, when declaring a state of emergency, it was understood (even required) that you will be shooting looters.

The problem is that shooting looters is horrifying to people. The idea of shooting someone because they broke into a store and are carrying away a TV is just… well, it’s too much.

However, the rule of law is a funny thing. It only works if people believe that it works. And, when it breaks down, getting it to work again is very, very difficult.

Read Full Post »