The Second Oldest Question

YouTube Videos Draw Attention to Palin’s Faith - NYTimes.com

YouTube Videos Draw Attention to Palin’s Faith - NYTimes.com.

Brad, I'm really curious what you make of Sarah Palin.

For myself, I suspect she's an ambitious and savvy person but one who is horrifyingly misguided in her views. She's a person who has no business running with McCain for the vice-presidency. I can only shudder when I imagine her stepping in as our Commander and Chief. If anything was going to usher in the Apocalypse, it would be a Palin presidency.

Brad: We have so much in common...

For those of you who frequent this blog, you might think Jeff and I have very little in common. However, this is not true at all. Jeff and I love a lot of the same things--art, theatre, music, minds that challenge, current affairs, good food. We both love our wives and kids, etc.

So, Jeff, I was thinking about us yesterday as I went and saw the The Bourne Ultimatum. In fact, I often try to see things in my life through Jeff Reid's eyes. While the movie was entertaining, Lisa and I were very disturbed by the night's experience as a whole. First of all, the previews gave us three trailers in a row of movies having to do with revenge, terrorism, the Iraq war, etc. Then the movie, while fun and a roller-coaster ride, was a trip down more of the same--violence begets violence, etc. Then as we exited the theater I saw more movie posters and media pieces and the thing they all had in common was guns, revenge, etc. I believe had you been with us, we both would have seen the same things and been disturbed by many of those same things. We would have had a great discussion over a glass of wine afterwards.

Jeff: Marilynne Robinson's caustic review of Dawkins

Link: CommUnity of Minds : Working Together.

This is certainly the most excoriating of the criticisms I've seen thus far of Dawkins' book. While I think she goes in for rhetorical flourish ahead of reason, and doesn't really address the central thematic elements of the book, it is a rather impressive read.

I find it fascinating to watch a writer of Ms. Robinson's skill (and faith) take so much time to try and destroy Dawkins. The lady doth protest too much, I fear.