Signs Saudis are edging towards historic Israel peace

I commented on earlier peace treaties between Israel and the United Arab Emerites and Bahrain HERE. I speculated that Oman would be next but that has not happened yet. But we are seeing a historical process play out in the Middle East right now. 

Briefly...

I propose the definition of a new argumentation fallacy to explain something that has become more prevalent in recent years; namely, the attempted dismissal in a discussion of something said by a man to or about a woman without rational justification metely to distract from the issue at hand. 

Or if you prefer Latin: Argumentum ad Homo Explicate!

Briefly...

I propose the definition of a new argumentation fallacy to explain something that has become more prevalent in recent years; namely, the appeal to race in a discussion to distract from the issue at hand. 

Or if you prefer Latin: Argumentum ad Genus!

Fratelli Tutti

I have not read Pope Francis' latest encyclical letter but I intend to before the year is out. While many documents of varying authority come from the Vatican, encyclical letters in general are among the most authoritative. However, that being noted, there is still usually a diversity of statements of varying magisterial weight in an encyclical latter much as with any document issued either by the pope or in his name. 

I went over the subject of the magisterium in detail earlier this year{1} both in scope{2} as well as the matter of proper interpretation thereof{3} so I see no need to reinvent that wheel. However, I do want to point out at least in passing that there will inevitably be no shortage of pundits, agenda provocateurs, and apologists who will treat this text as if each part of it is of equal weight.{4}

Too often documents issued by the Vatican are treated as a pretext by self-proclaimed More Moral Than Thou sorts for beating others over the head with parts that appear to support their preconceived presuppositions while ignoring or downplaying parts that appear to oppose said presuppositions thereof. Then there will be those who claim to be a faithful Catholic who will dismiss this encyclical wholesale lest they have to acknowledge something that is contrary to their particular worldview. Neither approach is correct for a faithful Catholic to take.

Having noted these things briefly, one final point: since most folks do not actually read Vatican documents except to prooftext them, be wary of those who seek to make too much or too little of the contents of the new encyclical letter. The truth on these matters is usually more nuanced than most folks either know or care to admit.

Notes:

{1} On the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, Obedience, and the Requirements of Faithful Catholics (circa February 26, 2020)

{2} See footnote one and also this thread:

On Clarifying and Retracting Some Prior Statements on the Magisterium (circa March 8, 2020)

{3} On Magisterial Interpretation (circa January 4, 2020)

{4} This is of course wrong but since when has that stopped those more interested in conflict than in genuine dialogue.

Briefly...

Since I cannot find a balanced and responsible article on President Donald Trump's catching of Covid 19, I will simply note here that (i) I am praying for him and everyone afflicted by this virus and (ii) I have zero respect for anyone who wishes this sort of thing on anyone else for reasons of political disagreement. Sadly, there are some disgusting people out there who do these things and I want nothing to do with them no matter whom they are.

In perusing an old expository musing for use in a recent posting, I happened to spot this in one of the paragraphs:

Her site is worth reading even if only for the summary of other articles on the matter from Rerum Novarum recommended sources such as Little Green Footballs

Though we have soured some on Michelle Malkin{1} over the years, that is not the purpose of this posting.

For while we pride ourselves in our general and overall consistency over the years, we also try to address issues where our mind has changed and perhaps retractions of prior enunciated points are in order.{2} That is our intention with the present posting where the subject of Little Green Footballs is concerned.

Sometime in 2009, Little Green Footballs (LGF) made a radical swing to the far left. Not long afterwards, this site was suspended indefinitely{3} -a status that remained in effect until April of 2017.{4} As a result, the recommendation of LGF that we expressed in 2005 has not applied for a long time. And as we were reminded of our prior endorsement, we want to at this time formally, unambiguously, and irrevocably retract it.

All things to the contrary notwithstanding.

Notes:

{1} Michelle Malkin was the her referred to in the paragraph above. (I suppose this can be considered an additional minor clarification of sorts while not a full blown retraction.)

{2} To note a few such examples in recent years:

On Clarifying and Retracting Some Prior Statements on the Magisterium (circa March 8, 2020)

Briefly (circa July 19, 2019)

On the Changing of One's Positions (circa January 31, 2018)

{3} Notification of Suspension (circa December 19, 2009)

{4} Notification of An Intended Return to Website Publishing (circa April 4, 2017) 

 

Briefly...

I have been remiss in not welcoming Kevin Tierney back to the wasteland. 

Points to Ponder:

While one should never be rash and should always strive towards both ethics and prudence; at the same time, if someone can never define a hill on which they are willing to die, they do not really understand what it means to live. [Circa 9/23/20]

Alex the Chick on Stare Decisis

Dulce Et Decorum Est:

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of disappointed shells that dropped behind.

GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!-- An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And floundering like a man in fire or lime.--
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,--
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori. [Wilfred Owen]

The News as We Once Knew It Is Dead

Well, it is not as if this sort of thing is new{1} but it really has reached previously unfathomable depths the past few years. I do not see how it can possibly get any worse than it is now but then again, I thought that when writing the post in the footnote below and look where we are now.

Note:

{1} To note one example from our archives in years past:

On the Subject of "Deep Throat", the Correlative Ramifications Thereof, Etc (circa 

June 1, 2005)

Points to Ponder:

Silence is argument carried on by other means. [Ernesto "Che" Guevara]

Supreme Court says Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died of metastatic pancreatic cancer at age 87

The Band’s Robbie Robertson: “If there was anything wrong with ‘The Last Waltz’ it was that the cocaine wasn’t very good”

Responding to critics, Vatican clarifies Pope Francis’ new encyclical is addressed to both men and women

You’ll die at sea.
Your head rocked by the roaring waves,
your body swaying in the water,
like a perforated boat.
In the prime of youth you’ll go,
shy of your 30th birthday.

Departing early is not a bad idea;
but it surely is if you die alone,
with no woman calling you to her embrace:
“Let me hold you to my breast,
I have plenty of room.
Let me wash the dirt of misery off your soul.” [Abdel Wahab Yousif]

Cigars International Opens Second Texas Location

Cigars International has been my main go to source in recent years for premium cigars. 

Cigar Thoughts, Week 1: Russell Wilson cooks the Falcons

Briefly...

Whatever else one thinks about him, President Donald Trump has now had more success by far in Middle East peace than Barack Obama or George W. Bush ever did. Israel has signed peace treaties with the United Arab Emirates (August) and now Bahrain (September). Oman is apparently next up. If that deal is inked say in October, that would be three Middle East peace treaties in three months. It would make not giving him a Nobel Peace Prize look pretty damn foolish since they gave one to Obama just for winning a presidential election and before he basically did to the Middle East what Antifa has been doing to Portland in recent months.

Points to Ponder:

For those who want to talk about prayer in the absence of doing something themselves, I have these ancient words of wisdom for you: "work as if everything depends on you, and pray as if everything depends on God." Note which of the two is listed first in the sequence. Prayer is fine of course but if you do nothing, you will get nothing: if memory serves that is the pattern of events in the Bible too. [Me (circa September 13, 2009)]