is how at a disadvantage those who support choice are, because we are really the ones who are pro-life, and so do not automatically turn to protecting ourselves with guns and such. Those providing health care, those working to give support to people in pain, are the ones who are nurturing life, and such people find it hard to think in terms of violence, even in self-defense. The philosopher Hegel wrote of the idea of "the inverted world"--where what seems to be the case is really the opposite of the reality. The ones who seem to themselves to be on the side of life are really agents of its opposite. I sometimes think of a sort of Twilight Zone episode where those attacking the clinics find themselves after death realizing the truth: that people like Tiller were in reality the Christ figures, and these so called followers of Jesus were in facts the ones crucifying him.

as a previous poster noted: and for a 7 or 8 year old it was just fine. Just like Star Trek worked fine for a twelve year old, and so forth. Do you people just strangle those memories inside of you, or never kick back and try to be a kid again? I am referring of course to the originals: the mistake of this movie would seem to be to try somehow to pitch it at adults and not play it straight like the original did: straight at the kids.

have the patience to do this? It would drive me mad to

deal with people who seemingly with full awareness simply

lie and refuse to acknowledge the facts. Do you think of yourself

as simply bearing witness of a sort to the facts (because who

knows who might be listening and given pause?)--or how do you think of it? How do you motivate yourself to do this (to try to have a discussion with someone who refuses to participate in a rational discussion?). You have my sympathies.

Elie Wiesel tells a story that I always think of when I read things like this (thinking also of Joan Walsh, having just seen her encounter on TV about Tiller):

A story: a just man decided he must save humanity. So he chose a city, the most sinful of all cities. Let’s say it is Sodom. So he studied. He learned all the art of moving people, changing minds, changing hearts. He came to a man and woman and said, "Don’t forget that murder is not good, it is wrong." In the beginning, people gathered around him. It was so strange, somewhat like a circus. They gathered and they listened. He went on and on and on. Days passed. Weeks passed. They stopped listening. After many years, a child stopped him and said, "What are you doing? Don’t you see nobody is listening? Then why do you continue shouting and shouting? Why?" And the man answered the child, "I’ll tell you why. In the beginning, I was convinced that if I were to shout loud enough, they would change. Now I know they won’t change. But if I shout even louder, it’s because I don’t want them to change me."

Sometimes I think events get so huge all we have is our integrity and the desire not to be ashamed of ourselves: the essential harmony of who we are.

And is it not frightening to think of all those so called leaders in the senate and so forth, who will not speak up to people like these two when people are dying? The worst punishment I can think of would be to be them. And what a good thing to be someone who can speak up and shout it out like you do.

you are my designated agent in questioning all these people and holding them to some standards of logic and argument: I appreciate it. And when I get some extra money come August from teaching an extra class I will be sure to contribute to your fund mentioned last week. Is there some permanent link we can use to contribute so that I can go back to it later, or how are you working that?). Anyway, I appreciate your rigor and commitment.

I particularly loved the early movie roles (Baby Doll, Birdman, Waterfornt), and then of course the tv role.

One of the greats.

people have so little self-esteem they must mock and belittle even the dead to puff themselves up. Any chance to turn a phrase and make themselves seem witty or superior to themselves.

RIP MJ.

fascinates me, somewhat in the manner Cocktailhag mentioned above. It is like a strange slice of the zeitgeist, and I love rolling through it, picking out the sublime and the ridiculous, all that grist for the intellectual mill. The freaks, the politicians, the fools, the academics, the celebrity nudie shots, the strange missives from the celebs, and an occasional little bit of writing from someone unexpected like a playwright or somesuch that touches my heart. Right up my omnivourous alley (but I am something of a speed reader though). Indeed: YMMV.

I want to wish you well on your path. The Buddha once said something to the effect that wherever anything was taught that made you a better, more compassionate human being, that it would be in line with what he taught. If your path makes you grow in compassion, I wish you well as you follow it.

I bow to you, a Buddha to be.