10.30.2010
Howdy
9.10.2010
Q. Should we allow Muslims to build a mosque near Ground Zero?

I'm back in the classroom this semester, after taking this past year off (which is its own long story, not relevant today). So, as part of the introduction to the course, I asked the students to write their names, their hometowns, and their majors on an index card, along with any question they might want me to answer. One of the students posed the question in the title, but I didn't get around to answering it during class.
A. Yes. I think there are two main reasons for this. The first is that religious freedom is basic to this country. While only two of the original colonies had religious tolerance as part of their founding principles, even those colonies with an established religion set that aside with the founding of the republic. I'm most familiar with Virginia's history here, but I think it's particularly relevant: Patrick Henry, an Episcopalian, wanted to have Christianity as the established religion in the state of Virginia; the people who opposed the establishment of a non-denominational "Christianity" were not atheists or members of some non-Christian religion, but Baptists and Presbyterians (and members of other, smaller denominations). They were committed Christians, but they worried that the dominant denomination - the Episcopalians - would control the narrative of what it means to be truly "Christian." Thus, they thought it best to leave it as a private matter, rather than a public one.
My second reason is related to the first: who gets to control the narrative of Islam? That is, just as the Baptists and Presbyterians had different ideas about what it means to be Christian than the Episcopalians (and each other), so there is diversity within the Muslim world.
Following 9/11, people criticized the leaders of the Muslim community in the US for not condemning the attacks. The sad thing about that is that those leaders did condemn the attacks, but no one was listening. The vast majority of Muslims in the US and around the world condemn terrorism, but the radical anti-Western minority seems to control the narrative of what Islam is in this country. I believe having a community center, on par with a YMCA, near Ground Zero, would help correct that.
8.21.2010
Ignorance of History

7.27.2010
Pre-rant musings
I've relocated several hundred miles north, and I'm not really settled.
7.13.2010
Final in the Alphabet series: Fin.

6.28.2010
Y indeed: the penultimate post (in this series)

When I'm painting houses I think a lot. That's not really a hazard of the profession, but it is a hazard for the philosopher stuck painting houses. Lately I've been thinking about the problem with hard-line economic positions.
6.24.2010
Twenty fourth in a series, soon to be complete

6.05.2010
Twenty third in a series

Twenty first in a series
5.09.2010
Unscheduled interuption
In addition to the various other things I've been trying out lately - when I find the time between work and applying for jobs in Central New York - I've also been working on collages.
5.07.2010
Twentieth

Hm, this started out as an exercise to get me to draw/paint every day... and that seems to be failing.
The reasons for it failing are good, though: I'm back to painting (houses) more or less full time, is more lucrative than my art (for the time being, at least) - and I've gotten a firm job offer up in Rochester (which is not Syracuse, but is a lot closer than Roanoke). Which is to say, I've been busy doing things that are productive, although not as restorative as doodling.
4.24.2010
Hey Nineteen
3.18.2010
10010 or, Inappropriate reading materials?

3.16.2010
XVII

Update: B'Yo! pointed out that "Q" could also be for Quaker, or for quacker (quack quack quack).
3.10.2010
3.06.2010
Sorry for the delay: 15
3.04.2010
3.02.2010
3.01.2010
Twelfth in a series
2.27.2010
2.26.2010
2.25.2010
2.24.2010
Series to resume shortly
2.23.2010
2.22.2010
2.20.2010
2.19.2010
2.18.2010
2.17.2010
2.16.2010
2.05.2010
Fish & Owl

1.30.2010
Hey Look! I have a shop!
1.28.2010
Shop Name Contest!
I still have to put The Hand away when I go to bed, though.
1.26.2010
If Mechthild is my Monday name...

At some point, I'm going to put some of my paintings for sale on Etsy.com - some of the work there is pretty good. I'll keep you posted, but in the meantime if you see anything on here you like, let me know - it could be yours!