I read with interest the article by William McGurn that appeared in the WSJ on 19 May 2009 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124269063343832561.html.
Mr McGurn is right on target when he says " When Notre Dame doesn't dress for the game, the field is left to those like Randall Terry who create a spectacle and declare their contempt for civil and respectful witness". The question becomes how do we as thoughtful Catholics suit up?
I am convinced that the Priests for Life crowd or even my brother knights in the Knights of Columbus have grasped that you not only have to give a prohibition to abortion but to give pregnant women better options and that frankly, will take money. I would love to get Fr. Frank Pavone and Randall Terry in one room and say "OK.....let's say abortion gets prohibited like you want...then what? What are people in the pro life movement willing to give up so that women won't abort their babies. I want to know in dollars and cents how much they are willing to pay in terms of taxes for public services, health care, education and reliable day care to ensure that those babies who are not aborted will grow to their full potential.
I hear scant little from the pro life quarter on these issues. They are quite ready to say no to abortions but what are they going to do about it when abortion is no longer legal.
These sentiments are not only applicable to the pro life crowd but to institutions like Notre Dame. They are absolutely tone deaf on this issue. They talk a good game about honoring church teaching but what do the DO about it. Are they really willing to have an open dialog about abortion or devote resources to this cause?
Sometimes, it seems that the Catholic centers of higher education want it both ways. They want to seem as progressive and acceptable to the great population but still want a veneer of Catholicity.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Photos That Could Cost Lives? Maybe We Should Look At The Policies Instead
I just finished reading the article written by David Rebhein that appeared in the May 8 2009 Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124174121748398901.html.
While I believe that the American Legion does great work, I feel that the views expressed by Mr Rebhein are not in line what I believe a free society should be about.
Mr. Rebhein thinks that releasing more photos of detainee abuse will only inflame America's enemies, but I am convinced that in the long run, openness is better for this country. I am convinced that people like Mr. Rebhein and other on the political right would rather have the pictures suppresses so that they can continue to perpetuate the myth that Abu Ghraib was just "an aberration" or the work of a "few bad apples".
Until the full evidence is shown to the American people, we will never be freed of the ghosts of Abu Ghraib. In addition, we have got to get real about making the people whose policy decisions that lead to detainee abuse accountable in some way. It could very well be that this government does not have the stomach or political capital to bring these people to the bar of justice there is always the court of public opinion.
How many generals were allowed to retire quietly and pick up their nice pension and go on the right wing rubber chicken dinner circuit? How many DOJ attorneys who signed off on torture were allowed to go into places like the Heritage Foundation some other sympathetic think tank?
I am all in favor of making life for these politicians and generals at least somewhat uncomfortable and make them think about what they have done.
I would like to draw a parallel with the recent flap over the flight of Air Force One over the Statute of Liberty that was kept under wraps. If the folks had been open about the flight, there would not have been any panic and people would not have thought about the expense of the flight. Now, the administration has had to deal with people's anger (however muted and short term) and the hew and cry over the expense.
I keep thinking that our government does not trust us. It seems that Mr. Rehbein does not either. He would rather keep the photos under wraps on the chance it will inflame our enemies.
Maybe Mr. Rehbein needs to think about the larger policies of the present and past administrations that put troops at risk and not just photos of detainee abuse.
While I believe that the American Legion does great work, I feel that the views expressed by Mr Rebhein are not in line what I believe a free society should be about.
Mr. Rebhein thinks that releasing more photos of detainee abuse will only inflame America's enemies, but I am convinced that in the long run, openness is better for this country. I am convinced that people like Mr. Rebhein and other on the political right would rather have the pictures suppresses so that they can continue to perpetuate the myth that Abu Ghraib was just "an aberration" or the work of a "few bad apples".
Until the full evidence is shown to the American people, we will never be freed of the ghosts of Abu Ghraib. In addition, we have got to get real about making the people whose policy decisions that lead to detainee abuse accountable in some way. It could very well be that this government does not have the stomach or political capital to bring these people to the bar of justice there is always the court of public opinion.
How many generals were allowed to retire quietly and pick up their nice pension and go on the right wing rubber chicken dinner circuit? How many DOJ attorneys who signed off on torture were allowed to go into places like the Heritage Foundation some other sympathetic think tank?
I am all in favor of making life for these politicians and generals at least somewhat uncomfortable and make them think about what they have done.
I would like to draw a parallel with the recent flap over the flight of Air Force One over the Statute of Liberty that was kept under wraps. If the folks had been open about the flight, there would not have been any panic and people would not have thought about the expense of the flight. Now, the administration has had to deal with people's anger (however muted and short term) and the hew and cry over the expense.
I keep thinking that our government does not trust us. It seems that Mr. Rehbein does not either. He would rather keep the photos under wraps on the chance it will inflame our enemies.
Maybe Mr. Rehbein needs to think about the larger policies of the present and past administrations that put troops at risk and not just photos of detainee abuse.
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