Antioch Road

Ignoring Those Whose Rights You Seek to Abridge

In an essay arguing for Congressional extension of the seventy year copyright period--for "no good case exists for the inequality of real and intellectual property"--in the Summer 2007 issue of the Claremont Review of Books, Mark Helprin makes a profound statement: "You can always make a case for the public interest if you are willing to exclude from common equity those whose rights you seek to abridge." We could apply this true principle to a great many things. Abortion, for one, where our nation has chosen to ignore the child. Taxes, for another, when we ignore the taxpayer. Gossip, for yet another, when we ignore the subject of the gossip. And on and on.

Some People Give Out Too Much Information

And that's all I have to say about that.

Worth Quoting

"We have taken the Christ out of Jesus Christ. Is it any wonder then that we have taken Christ out of Christmas, as well?" -- Patrick Hynes at The American Spectator

Truth

I have been thinking about truth the last couple of days. Bryan Preston, in his review of the new book No More Christian Nice Guy, reminds us that we Christian men too often sacrifice truth for niceness. Power Line notes another example of the mainstream media sacrificing truth for sensationalism.

How often do we sacrifice truth, and for what?

"Who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" -- Gal. 5:7

Related previous post:
On Truth

Where Are Progressives Going?

Douglas Wilson asks an excellent question:

What in blue blazes are you progressives all progressing to? You cannot by your relativism smash all the compasses and maps, and then cheerfully announce to us all that you are the "north-bound" party. What are you talking about?

(Link via Dunker Journal.)

In Defense of 'Ick'

Be sure to check out The Evangelical Outpost's three-part series on "Defending the Wisdom of Repugnance" (i.e., a defense of the 'ick' factor in ethical debate): Part One; Part Two; Part Three. The wisdom of repugnance is not the "final word," but it is not only valid, but a necessary consideration.

On Truth

   "I suppose there are two views about everything," said Mark.
   "Eh? Two views? There are a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there's never more than one."

--Conversation between Mark Studdard and Bill Hingest in C.S. Lewis's That Hideous Strength, the third book in the The Space Trilogy.

Worth Quoting

<b><a href="http://www.federalist.com/pub/02-43_Chronicle.htm">George Will</a></b>: "[Jimmy Carter] is serenely and incorrigibly convinced that even seemingly intractable international conflicts are actually mere misunderstandings that can be cured by exposing the world's most obdurate rulers and regimes to the sweet reasonableness and sheer goodness of himself."