A couple of quick points, related to one another I think.

My own thoughts about racism are that there is a difference between prejudice and racism. Prejudice is descriptive of individual perspectives, beliefs and opinions. Racism is institutionalized prejudice. Racism is, I think, prejudice with power. This may or may not be entirely faithful to the “dictionary definition,” but it’s the way I have thought for a long time.

As to compassion (or lack thereof), I think it’s a similar case. Compassion is indeed a virtue to be manifest in the life and actions of the individual person. But the person who is truly compassionate will not stand by and allow its government (or anyone for that matter) to act in ways that are not compassionate. How can one be passively compassionate? A passive compassion is little more than pity. A true compassion demands action, otherwise it’s nothing more than sentimental apathy. Thus, when a government (an expression of the electorate) institutionalizes a lack of compassion, it is the duty of the truly compassionate to hold that government accountable and to take action to reform it. Perhaps there is no such thing as a compassionate government. But if the government is an expression of the will of the people, and if a democratic government is an expression of a compassionate electorate, then that government must – ipso facto – be a government that exhibits the virtue of compassion. If it does not, then either there compassion is lacking in the electorate or democracy is a farce. I for one believe that democracy is alive and well, for good or for ill.

Ray,

We do agree that government is not about compassion. We just disagree whether it should be or not. I tend to believe that our better selves are personally and individually compassionate. But this does not mean that our collective selves (governments, business, churches) get off scott-free from responsibility. Ron Paul probably has just as much compassion as you or I. I never doubted it. What’s telling for me is the palpable hate in the crowd response in to Blitzer’s question.

Mark,

I think you’re on to something with the distinction between prejudice and racism. It makes sense to think of compassion as personal. But as Lakoff talks about (and other brain scientists) we seem to be hard wired for empathy. So when we find ourselves acting without compassion, we are actually (physically apparently) blocking our better selves. FWIW

Loren Eisley, The Immense Journey:

I had sat down to rest with my back against a stump. Through accident I was concealed from the glade, although I could see into it perfectly. The sun was warm there, and the murmurs of forest life blurred softly away into my sleep. When I awoke, dimly aware of some cornmotion and outcry in the clearing, the light was slanting down through the pines in such a way that the glade was like some vast cathedral.

I could see the dust motes of wood pollen in the long shaft of light, and there on the extended branch sat an enormous raven with a red and squirming nestling in his beak. The sound that awoke me was the outraged cries of the nestlings parents, who flew helplessly in circles about the clearing. The sleek black monster was indifferent to them. He gulped, whetted his beak on the dead branch a moment and sat still. Up to that point the little tragedy had followed the usual pattern.

But suddenly, out of all that area of woodland, a soft sound of complaint began to rise. Into the glade fluttered small birds of half a dozen varieties drawn by the anguished outcries of the tiny parents.

No one dared to attack the raven. But they cried there in some instinctive common misery, the bereaved and the unbereaved. The glade filled with their soft rustling and their cries. They fluttered as though to point their wings at the murderer. There was a dim intangible ethic he had violated, that they knew. He was a bird of death.

And he, the murderer, the black bird at the heart of life, sat on there, glistening in the common light, formidable, unmoving, unperturbed, untouchable.

The sighing died. It was then I saw the judgment. It was the judgment of life against death. I will never see it again so forcefully presented. I will never hear it again in notes so tragically prolonged. For in the midst of protest, they forgot the violence. There, in that clearing, the crystal note of a song sparrow lifted hesitantly in the hush. And finally, after painful fluttering, another took the song, and then another, the song passing from one bird to another, doubtfully at first, as though some evil thing were being slowly forgotten. Till suddenly they took heart and sang, from many throats joyously together as birds are known to sing. They sang because life is sweet and sunlight beautiful. They sang under the brooding shadow of the raven. In simple truth they had forgotten the raven, for they were the singers of life, and not of death.

Very nice!

White Feather lives on.

Congratulations on your pay increase. You certainly earned it. I really would like to hear your church organ. Do you ever record these events?

Unfortunately, there is no recording going on at church. Just like my gigs, I find that recording is usually one too many thing to think about. I have thought about making videos of these two pieces. If I do, I’ll mention it here and on Facebook for sure.

Nice blog. Please give reference though when using pictures from other sites, such as mine 😉 Greets from the webmaster of irithlanger.com

My grandma Marr had xanthoma on both eyes. Her cause was high cholesterol. She has had them for as long back as I can remember. When I was younger I used to call them her “noodles”.
David

I remember Loretta very well and remember her xanthoma. Didn’t remember you called them her “noodles.” Heh.

Howdy! I hope you do not mind but I decided to post your blog: http://jupiterjenkins.com/blog2/?p=1474 to my internet directory website. I used, “jupiterjenkins.com » Blog Archive
» so low & ensemble festival” as your blog title. I hope this is ok with you. However, if you’d like me to change the title or remove it completely, contact me at Oritz378@gmail.com. Many thanks.

The rover pics remind me of the Burren in Ireland… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Burren

i started that blog. check it out if you wish:
http://citytransportationtransposed.blogspot.com/
david

“I disagree with the notion that Quaddafi murder was “fitting”” I agree with that view-peace Jonny

I have not been commenting, but it seems to me that media spin and lack of critical thinking fits most of these reactions.

I read your post every day. It allows me to think of other things. I especially, enjoy the comments on music, poetry, and books that you are reading.

Thanks for reading! Hope you are well!

Check ur email for cool Nicholas Poem.

I use to be 5ft. & 10 inches-now I am 5ft & 8 inches-I have a doctor’s appointment the end of the month-my doctor never tells me to lose weight even though I think I could if forced to-I suppose doctors are all different-I do not have high pressure like you-does high blood pressure run in your family?

Not really. My problem is that all my numbers are just on the border line of acceptable. Except my weight which is where I’m going to concentrate my efforts in the next few weeks.