Daniel Patrick Moynihan, RIP

The former US senator from New York died today. Here is the (in)famous report, now typically referred to as "The Moynihan Report", by which he first gained notoriety: The Negro Family: The Case For National Action.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Wed. 03/26/03 09:12:16 PM
Categorized as Political.

Robert Frost

For the poet's birthday (1874), allow me to direct you to his poems here, here, and here at The View from the Core.

(Thanks to G. Thomas for the reminder.)

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Wed. 03/26/03 02:43:17 PM
Categorized as Literary.

Protest Warrior Signs

Here at Protest Warrior are the famous signs from San Francisco marches.

Choosing a favorite is difficult. I do like this one very much. But this one really has a certain... aesthetic... appeal. ;)

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Wed. 03/26/03 02:32:45 PM
Categorized as Social/Cultural.

"Shocked! War's Reality Surprises the Media"

The Blogosphere's own Preston & Regan have a good column in today's NRO:

.... The Iraqi people have lived under Saddam's heavy, bloody hand for more than 24 years. When young Elizabeth Smart emerged from her captivity after nine months — nine months in which she never attempted an escape — many in the media and the public wondered if she'd been brainwashed, or had developed "Stockholm Syndrome" — sympathy with her captors. The case of Patty Hearst and the Symbionese Liberation Army helped inform that line of argument. Yet to date no one has linked such brainwashing to the brutal captivity of Iraq under Saddam. Could it be that we're encountering a nation of brainwashed people, and a Republican Guard full of Patty Hearsts? One suspects that decades of living under portraits comparing Saddam to Nebuchadnezzar, and to Saladin, and the ever-present fear of Saddam's secret police, rape rooms, and torture cells might have cowed Iraq's populace into at least ambivalence as our troops race toward Baghdad. Hopefully time can heal these psychological wounds. For now, most Iraqis simply can't believe Saddam's days in power now number fewer than 30, and they still believe we may lose heart and retreat to leave the Butcher of Baghdad in power. Proving those notions wrong will do much to shore up their support of our war....

(Thanks, Bryan.)

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Wed. 03/26/03 01:59:22 PM
Categorized as War.

Has the Pope Condemned the War Against Saddam?

A fine blog by Carl Olson at Envoy Encore today:

.... There are some who insist that the Holy Father has condemned the war with Iraq and, consequently, the actions of the United States and the decisions of its leaders. I do not think this claim holds up to scrutiny; in fact, I think it is quite misleading....

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Wed. 03/26/03 12:49:07 PM
Categorized as Religious.

"War on Pessimism"

Neil Cavuto pounded his fellow journalists in yesterday's Common Sense:

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. No sooner had we encountered some tough fighting in Iraq, than our generals encountered tough questions at briefings.

Is this another Vietnam? Did we get too cocky? Are we in too deep? And here's the one that killed me, were the French right?

I don't know about you, but I don't remember one of our guys saying it would be a cakewalk taking out their guys.

They didn't call it a "video game war." Journalists did. They didn't say Baghdad would be gone in days. Journalists did. They didn't underestimate the power of stubborn Republican Guard troops. Journalists did. And they didn't set themselves up to fail. Journalists did.

Let's be clear: war is hell. We owe it to our men and women to appreciate the difference between a high tech war that looks good on TV screens and a very real war that's often too horrible to put on any screen.

We know the difference. And I can tell you our soldiers know the difference....

It seems to me that some (many? most?) journalists are perilously close to judging the success and/or failure of warfare based upon whether events meet their expectations — which have been derived, in most cases, from little experience and no expertise.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Wed. 03/26/03 08:50:19 AM
Categorized as Media.

"When Teaching the Ethics of War Is Not Academic"

A valuable essay by Shannon French at The Chronicle Review:

.... Some people might fear that encouraging young warriors to study the warrior traditions of the past will lead them to become Rambo-like or to embrace outrageous bigotries and out-of-date ideals. Granted, some of the qualities that ancient warriors or warrior archetypes possess do not play well in the 21st century. The key is to select for preservation only what is consistent with the values cherished by contemporary warrior cultures. For example, modern American warriors should resurrect only those traditions that cohere with the letter and spirit of the Constitution they have sworn to uphold and defend. They can emulate the humility, integrity, commitment to "might for right," courtesy, and courage of a Round Table knight without taking on board his acceptance of an undemocratic, stratified society (in which most of the population is disenfranchised and women and serfs are treated as property) or his determination to "pursue infidels."

Although warrior traditions may seem outmoded, the genuine emotional connection of today's warriors to an intentionally idealized warrior tradition and their sense that they must not betray that legacy is more important than ever. That connection and devotion may help them summon the will to show restraint in situations that will sorely tempt them to throw self-control out the window, for the world is no longer arranged in such a way that conflicts are likely to arise among great powers that are evenly matched.

The privileged warriors of today increasingly will find themselves pitted against adversaries who fight without any rules or restraints because they see no other way to advance their objectives. These desperate adversaries are likely to employ methods that are rightfully viewed as horrific and appalling by the rest of the civilized world, such as terror attacks on civilian populations and the use of chemical and biological weapons. Since these adversaries already are willing to die, they will not be deterred by any threat of punishment for continuing to disregard the laws of war....

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Wed. 03/26/03 08:08:01 AM
Categorized as Social/Cultural.

"The Little People: On Oscar Night, Hollywood Thanks Everyone But the Toops."

Some scathing observations by Michael Medved at OpinionJournal today:

The most prominent personalities in the antiwar movement resist all efforts to classify their angry activism as anti-American. But Sunday night's Oscar extravaganza obliterated such defensive distinctions. For 3 1/2 hours, the entertainment elite indulged in the usual orgy of self-congratulation with only hostile or dismissive reference to epic Iraqi battles involving thousands of U.S. troops. They offered no hint of gratitude, affection, loyalty or connection to the superpower that sustains them.

The ceremony featured little patriotic imagery and among presenters and award winners, not one chose to wear the American flag lapel pins now ubiquitous elsewhere in American life. Instead, dozens of the biggest stars sported silver "Dove of Peace" pins to signal their opposition to the war.

Meanwhile, Bill Conti and the Oscar Orchestra avoided any remotely nationalistic music during the evening. Perhaps the experience of the Miramax Oscar Eve bash persuaded the responsible parties to shun such tunes. At that glittering occasion, entertainer Michael Feinstein tried to lead the assembled stars and swells in "God Bless America," only to find many members of the crowd ostentatiously refusing to participate....

Yet, they wonder why we think they are unpatriotic and anti-American, rather than anti-war.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Wed. 03/26/03 07:33:13 AM
Categorized as Social/Cultural.