Things You Don't Talk About in Polite Company

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My Thoughts on Hegemony --Bradford Plumer and Ezra Klein both ponder the idea of American hegemony and what it is good for.

Both seem uncomfortable with the role of hegemon, although neither finds a good reason to just outright give it up. Klein is resigned to it, though and offers ideas on how the Democrats can capitalize on the American spirit that makes us want to be number one in the world.

I'm not sure that Klein's read of America is accurate, though. The ugly American stereotype is true in some regards. Americans believe in the superiority of their country. Max Weber could probably write something on how the Protestant origins of this country lead to an expectation that military and economic preeminence is the just reward for being the best.

It's a failing of liberals that they often appear to hate America and I think Klein may be globalizing white liberal guilt in a way in trying to motivate himself into being comfortable with American hegemony.






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Taking the Center Position --According to this story: "Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington said yesterday that neither the Vatican nor the majority of U.S. bishops think the Roman Catholic Church should routinely deny Communion to politicians because of their stand on abortion." The story goes on to say that the bishops appear to be endorsing the view that such politicians should not be given honors by Catholic organizations, but should not be ostracized.

I think this is the proper course for the U.S. bishops to take. While they remain opposed to abortion, they are also cognizant of the possibility of being used politically. While there are certainly reactionary bishops and there are some luminary progressives out there, by and large, the clergy are somewhere in the middle, unwilling to be torn by forces at either end.

Keep this in mind the next time some bishop says something stupid: the most outspoken are not necessarily the spokesmen, and many bishops would rather concentrate on their own diocese rather than grandstand on a national stage. (5:29 PM) 0 comments

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St. Romero? --The LA Times reports that the Vatican is opening the beatification process for Oscar Romero, possibly putting him on the road to sainthood.

Romero is a hero to social justice-oriented Catholics. One teacher at my Jesuit high school went so far as to offer a class on Romero and Thomas Merton. (3:22 PM) 0 comments

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On Depression, Politics, and Demonization --This post has one woman's musings on depression. She writes about how the definition of mental illness seems different for women compared to men and is skeptical of "new" mental illnesses that supposedly target a specific demographic.

To relate it to politics, I find it discomforting when my fellow liberals imply or outright state that religious conservatives are crazy, deranged, or otherwise mentally ill. I see some people calling for the demonization of the Christian Right. While I see the propaganda value of doing so, it seems hypocritical coming from people who (rightfully) oppose the demonization of Muslims in the so-called "war on terror."

I wouldn't go so far as to say that calling the Religious Right "crazy" or "deranged" is somehow insensitive to the concerns of the mentally ill, but I think that it does deviate from reality. It allows liberals to create a self-righteous echo chamber when talking amongst themselves because they believe their opponents are inherently incapable of putting together a rational, coherent train of thought. Now, I am all in favor of liberal echo chambers--the Daily Kos diaries and the comments on Atrios and other liberal blogs provide plenty of opportunities--but only for shepherding left-of-center sheep, allowing them to bleat contentedly, not for any real policy-making.

So what am I saying? It's OK to call the Christian Right crazy so long as you don't actually believe it and are capable of living next door to and being friends with such a person. (10:00 PM) 0 comments

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Of Catholics and Feeding Tubes --This Washington Post article outlines the Catholic Church's involvement in the Terri Schiavo saga. (2:48 PM) 0 comments

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A Pet Peeve --I take my coffee with cream and sugar. I hate it when waitresses top off my half-filled cup, messing up my carefully crafted mixture of whole number ratios of cups of coffee, tiny plastic buckets of cream, and packets of sugar. (1:05 AM) 0 comments

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Of Rabbis and Rhinoceri --This New York Times article describes the conflict between Rabbi Nosson Slifkin and the ultra-Orthodox over science.

I know that the ultra-Orthodox have some political influence in Israel. I am curious as to whether that country has debates on issues such as evolution vs. creationism and what they teach in schools there. (1:37 AM) 0 comments

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Well, I Ain't Making Money --Via linkfilter.net, Canadian blogger Jeremy C. Wright's tale of getting a strip and cavity search for claiming to be a professional blogger. (7:34 PM) 0 comments

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And You Wonder Why the Religious Get Turned Off the Left --The tone of this post annoys me as a liberal Catholic. I consider the people who talk in this inflammatory manner to be the people I have to put up with in a left-of-center coalition. They make my heart go out to honest conservatives who must make similar compromises with religious wingnuts on the right. (2:02 PM) 0 comments

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The Litmus Test --Over at The Sideshow, Avedon Carol writes on not linking to "good" conservatives. (4:46 PM) 0 comments

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Where Are the WMDs? --Egypt in the near future? Why am I getting the increasing feeling that Iraq under Saddam Hussein was one of the lesser long-term threats in the region even if we hadn't invaded and occupied the country? (2:57 PM) 0 comments

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Da Vinci Sma Vinci --Although Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone said that The Da Vinci Code should not be read, Monsignor Jose Maria Pinheiro, soon to be bishop of Sao Paolo, has more faith in Catholic readers' ability to be prudent when reading fiction.

I've read it. It was mindless fun. The literary equivalent of the movie Independence Day. The villain was a bit obvious. The art history and theology inaccurate. But it's fiction. As long as people don't actually believe the Mary Magadalene/Holy Grail stuff, I see no harm.

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