Norman_Clyde

Gandhi was well aware of this difference (between the brits and the germans). An American publication called Jewish Frontier pointed out that "A Jewish Gandhi in Germany, should one arise, could function for about five minutes and would be promptly taken to the guillotine." Gandhi responded "...that does not disprove my case or shake my belief in the necessity of non-violence. I can conceive the necessity of the immolation of hundreds, if not thousands, to appease the hunger of dictators... Sufferers need not see the results during their lifetime... The method of violence gives no greater guarantee than that of non-violence."

If such a measure were enacted, retailers would include the tax in listed prices, the way they do in the UK. This would lessen the psychological impact on consumers and dampen the effect to some extent. People would continue to seek creative ways to avoid paying, from increased black market/bartering activity to increased cross-border activity to no doubt other clever strategies. But since these strategies are tied up with consumption, which almost always has a paper trail, maybe illegal evasion would be harder.

"...the German persecution of the Jews seems to have no parallel in history. The tyrants of old never went so mad as Hitler seems to have done. If there ever could be a justifiable war in the name of and for humanity, war against Germany to prevent the wanton persecution of a whole race would be completely justified. But I do not believe in any war... "Can the Jews resist this organized and shameless persecution? ...if I were a Jew and were born in Germany and earned my livelihood there, I would claim Germany as my home even as the tallest gentile German might, and challenge him to shoot me or cast me into the dungeon... And for doing this I should not wait for the fellow Jews to join me in civil resistance, but would have confidence that in the end the rest were bound to follow my example. If one Jew or any Jews were to accept the prescription here offered, he or they cannot be worse off than now... The calculated violence of Hitler may even result in a general massacre of the Jews by way of his first answer to the declaration of such hostilities. But if the Jewish mind could be prepared for voluntary sacrifice, even the massacre I have imagined could be turned into a day of thanksgiving that Jehovah had wrought deliverance of the race even at the hands of a tyrant. For the God-fearing, death has no terror... "I am convinced that if someone with courage and vision can arise among [the Jews] to lead them in non-violent action, the winter of their despair can in the twinkling of an eye be turned into the summer of hope. And what has today become a degrading manhunt can be turned into a calm and determined stand offered by unarmed men and women possessing the strength of suffering given to them by Jehovah...The German Jews will score a lasting victory over the German gentiles in the sense that they will have converted the latter to an appreciation of human dignity." Gandhi, quoted in "The Life of Mahatma Gandhi" by Louis Fischer. These words were first published in Gandhi's newsletter titled Harijan , Nov. 11, 1938. Many of Gandhi's words were first published in various issues of the newsletter.

Klenke, have you heard of CarTalk Plaza's Jamaican head of record keeping, Euripides Upmon? How about their clothing retailer, Euripides Eubiades? Or their tailor, Euripides Imendedes? Don't forget their Russian limo driver, Pikup Andropov.

Scratch Little T. White River is closed and the Cowlitz is a no go. Turtle snowfield? Something closer to Seattle? Not much time left to decide...

That other photo is of the famed Thimble, first sent by John Gill-- the historic most difficult bouldering ascent at the time. Used to have a parking lot post right in the fall line.

Alex, I'm looking for something fun in the hills tomorrow. "Fun" in my book is often what others call suffering. But maybe a good combination of both. I was thinking of a slog up to Muir, though that doesn't sound ideal given the conditions. I'd like to get a solid plan made. What were you thinking of? Barry

In my previous post I was not meaning to suggest that an eruption was imminent, but was implying skepticism about the earthquake occurring so high into the mountain. This was because the only sources of seismic activity I knew of were movement along a fault, which should not occur high up in a volcano, and magmatic intrusion, which could happen in Mt. Rainier but would be expected to start deep. But now I understand!

I would be very surprised if the epicenter were above Cascade crest level. That would suggest magmatic intrusion at that same elevation, which would suggest imminent eruption (at least, based on extrapolation from the recent Mt St Helens info in the paper). I wonder if it were really about a mile beneath the average surface level around the mountain, which would put it at about sea level. Interesting development either way.

Rainier weather is predicted to be surprisingly warm, not much different from Seattle, at least at Paradise: 40 degrees or so. The rangers yesterday said that conditions were somewhat spring-like. I was wondering about Little T, but White River is closed and the lower Cowlitz way too broken up to make this practical. I'm up for something tomorrow, would be willing to travel to Rainier, but also something closer.

How about Little T?

I used the word extremely , meaning that I don't believe the country has dropped its ice axe and is now accelerating down the slippery slope. The US constitution has functioned very well as a political ice axe in the past 220-something years. I am very proud of the American constitution and the way it has held up abuses of power: this seems to be what the Constitution does best. And we are mighty lucky to have it, because-- here is my main point-- Americans are no more immune to the temptations of fascism than the citizens of Germany were in the 1930's. Saber-rattling, militaristic nationalism is dangerous, no matter who is doing the rattling. I see very little psychological difference between those who felt a swelling national pride when Bush "kicked ass" in Iraq, and those who felt a swelling national pride when Hitler sent troops across the Rhine into demilitarized territory to restore German honor. I am deeply thankful that the constitution prevents Bush from a third term. I believe that he and a lot of other leaders like him-- and not just Republicans-- are so power hungry that only the bedrock solidity of the constitution, and the rule of law, in this country keeps them under control. I also believe that the Founding Fathers would be appalled to see how the powers of the executive have increased over the years. This country was not supposed to go to war without a declaration signed by congress. The military says we haven't been to "war" since WWII, but that every military action from Korea onward has been a "conflict". I could go on about how much Jefferson cared about religious freedom and separation of church and state, but we can save that for later.

Quote: Salvadore Maddi, Ph.D., of the University of California-Davis warns, high-risk takers may "have a hard time deriving meaning and purpose from everyday life." The article offers more or less fair treatment of this subject, with the exception of the usual ridiculous assumption that "everyday life" in 2004 is actually a normal human environment. Right. Just like our cave person ancestors spent 45 minutes in traffic each morning, commuting to the water hole. Do psychologists, or anyone else for that matter, really believe that we were made to live as most of us do now? In my opinion, the more amazing fact is that so many human beings can successfully cope with modern existence at all. It is equally surprising that most modern Americans can nourish themselves largely on a diet of cheap substitutes for real life. Television comes to mind. I read an article once which made guesses on how human beings lived in prehistoric times by comparing their bony injuries to those of athletes in various dangerous sports. They found the closest correlation between ancient humans and...rodeo riders. This article immediately prompted a mental image of Neanderthals ropin' and ridin' a big mammoth, complete with rodeo clowns. Now that must have been living!

Hey CBS, thanks. Those of you who follow my posts have no doubt gotten sick of me comparing Bush to Hitler. I should clarify: Bush is a long way from being Hitler. However, the USA is not such an extremely long way from being a fascist state. Recall that Hitler was in fact elected by popular vote (though more than two parties were running, so he got a Clintonian plurality rather than a Bushonian majority). If any of you, left or right wing, want to learn more about this and care to take the time to read a heavy book, check out William Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich , or if you have less time, watch The World at War on DVD, especially the special feature on Germany before war was declared. Then make up your own mind, while you still can.

I'm free on the 11th for a ski, or a walk as the case may be.

Jason Klenke: I'm not dissing anybody for their faith in God. I'm dissing them for behaving like sheep. I believe that most reasonably intelligent people, if they were willing to fight against their own fear with faith AND reason, would not be willing to ignore Bush's lies. Ignore is the operative term here, as in Ignorance, which I would define as the intentional putting away of reason-- usually as a simpler way of dealing with emotional discomfort. Here is the apparent progression of logic, cited by those who voted for Bush because of his Moral Values, that I have seen repeated in the media. It may or may not be accurate (although I've heard it from more than a few people firsthand as well): 1. I am a devout Christian who believes in God. 2. Bush prays in public and on television. My pastor, and all my friends at church, tell me how they are sure Bush has God's blessing. Kerry doesn't pray in public, plus he supports abortion rights. My pastor and my friends remind me how this indicates that Kerry is ungodly. 3. This is how I know God wants me to vote for Bush. Following the above is usually a citation of how admirably principled Bush has been, because he talks a lot about freedom in his speeches and never admits to being wrong. Some have said things like "I don't like the war in Iraq, but Bush just seems like a principled man." I'm paraphrasing here, but I promise I've seen this general argument in print. I have heard people whom I know to be reasonably intelligent, repeating the above mantra plus or minus small variations. I confess, I have a big problem with this kind of thinking. I see a huge mass of people, claiming to have a hotline to God, but who are afraid to even consider an opposing view on a moral issue as monumental as war; who follow all the other sheep, say they have "moral values" but don't even care to examine their own hearts. How many of them have suppressed their own personal doubts about Bush, but voted with the flock, because they never question religious authority? How many of them have seriously considered the relative abomination of homosexual intercourse versus carpet bombing? How many, after being exhorted in church to vote Republican, were brave enough to challenge the pastor after the sermon-- or better yet, during the sermon? (What would Jesus do?) Yes, I call this ignorance. I could say it in a kinder, gentler way, that some people are currently not able to fully employ their powers of reason, because they're too afraid-- but it's the same thing. And I'm disgusted.

Dave, posts like yours keep me going. Well said. Anyone remember Robert Byrd's speech in the Senate before the Iraq vote? He should have been the Democratic nominee. Too bad he's 80 something years old.

Your dad is right. I really don't get it. As Klenke said, I'm pathetic, really. I have racked my poor brain for two days now, hoping to understand how 51 per cent of the electorate considers pre-emptive invasion to be moral. Please, any Republican on this page, explain it to me. I consider pre-emptive invasion of another nation to be a tremendous wrong. I'm going to compare Bush to Hitler now, so please bear with me. Look back to WWII, recalling that as the Third Reich marched into Poland, Hitler claimed that Poland had attacked first. Hitler invaded a sovereign nation on false pretenses. Bush invaded a sovereign nation on false pretenses. Both leaders had political support from within; both leaders were vilified by most of the free world. Both claimed moral righteousness, defending their nation's freedom, that no other nation had any standing to criticize their actions. The invasion of Iraq was an extraordinary action, which required extraordinary evidence of threat for any moral justification. The evidence has not been extraordinary, nor even ordinary. It has been nonexistent. "Saddam is a bad man" doesn't even cut it. One more thing. I realize many of you feel homosexuality is an abomination. Though I disagree, I'm not here to argue that particular issue. However, I have not seen any claims that gay marriage is leading to the fiery deaths of thousands of innocents. I do believe that those supporting the Iraq invasion acknowledge the aforementioned fiery deaths. What I want to know, then, is why the moral values electorate sees gay marriage as a greater evil than unjust war. That pretty much sums it up from my viewpoint. I'm ready to be swayed in your direction. I'm willing to change my mind. Please explain.

Scott, you and the American people have spoken. Let the world take note: America supports the invasion of another nation on false pretenses, because Americans need their president to have leeway to kick some ass for a while. (Whose ass is not really the issue. Any non-Christian ass will do.) My most urgent wish for this election was that America would rehabilitate its international reputation by throwing Bush out. Apparently, the high percentage of civilized nations that remain appalled at the USA's actions in Iraq have not placed blame on the American people thus far, because they believed Bush not to have the support of a majority of Americans. No more. The international good will we engendered in WWII is gone, gone, gone... along with the federal surplus; along with our constitutional right to be protected from search and seizure without warrant; along with our right to habeas corpus and a trial. The worst president in a hundred years has the unequivocal support of a majority of Americans. All you Bush voters, remember this day four years from now, when you look back at how much horribly worse off the country and the world will be. Look back again twenty years from now, by which time it will have become politicallly impossible to ignore the massive bills coming due (for the next generation). Pope and Iain, I appreciate your optimism. I'm wondering how to keep the moral dialogue going for the next four years. Though this morning I feel tempted to flee to Canada, I prefer to stay here and stand up for the America I still believe in.

At this time, the turbine intakes are 100 feet below the lake surface. If the lake drops another 80 feet, power generation will not just diminish, it will STOP. Speaking of dams and the West, one of the best books I've read on this subject is A River Lost by Blaine Harden, about the Columbia/Snake system.

D & M Espresso in E-burg. Not a place for a full meal, but the Clawson (americano with caramel syrup) is THE best. I tend to pass thru in the morning, and have found the Breakfast Calzone to be reasonably good. Can't speak for afternoon or evening fare. E-burg now has several D & M locations. The closest to I-90 is the original, which is in an old service station about a mile up Canyon Road. Don't forget the new Taco Del Mar just off the Canyon Road exit.

I am on a bothersome weekend work schedule and can't join in the fun on the 23rd. Anyone inclined to take a weekday run, send me a pm. I'm free tomorrow, plus several days next week.Cougar or Swauk, maybe?

I know. I tried to pull a photo of Andre the Giant off the web but it was blocked. Try This

As Fezzik once said to Vizzini: "Inconceivable? You keep saying that word. I am not sure it means what you think it means."

One day outing. Hike the Enchantments, ski to Muir, name it. Weather looks good.