dum appropinquamus triduo
Triduum is the Latin term for the period from Good Friday until Easter. Since I am a poseur who can't decide which specific theology to affirm, I will give you some links.
The preces Latinae website has a great list of resources for Holy Week prayers.
For the Stations of the Cross in Latin go here...
This is the "Ultimate Stabat Mater Website"...
Of course, you all probably sang this little ditty written by Theodolphus Aurelianorum (Theodulph of Orleans) in 821. This song was written at a moment when "Roman" Christianity was at its wane. Both the Byzantines and the Arabs were much more powerful in the Mediterranean world. However, this song sums up a brief moment in which the Jews saw Jesus both as a savior temporal and spiritual. You all know the tune (although I can't make the modern tune fit the ancient version).
tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor:
Cui puerile decus prompsit
Hosanna pium.
Having said this, I must admit that although the story about war plans in Iran is deeply troubling to me, I am deeply ambivalent about this. In 2003, when I felt like going after Saddam was the totally wrong move, one of my arguments was that when it comes time to take on countries like Iran who actually have programs to build weapons of mass destruction we will have lost the goodwill of the world. Of course, now it is time to stand up to the George W. of the Middle East, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, however, we have nothing to gain.
This a mission that will involve the first confrontation between the most relatively well-equipped air and naval defense that we have faced since Vietnam. We will probably watch American fighter pilots being shot down and Navy vessels being critically damaged. A successful strike on Iranian nuclear capabilities will most likely require the first use of our nuclear arsenal since Hiroshima, and will probably result in at least thousands if not tens of thousands of civilian casualties. This doesn't even take into account the tremendous "collateral damage" which will be incurred in the initial dismantling of Iranian air and naval defense, even if no American boots ever step on Iranian soil.
After all this widespread and almost incalculable destruction, the $#!+ we'll be wiping off our public image, already tarnished by the disastrously catastrophic invasion of Iraq, may do irreparable harm to our image in the Middle East. Any indigenous pro-Western democracy advocates in Iran will be laughed out of all credibilty. This will especially be problematic if we launch any airstrikes from bases in Iraq, bolstering the perception that we invaded Iraq to make it into a second Guantanamo.
Finally, after all of this is said and done, the general perception is that we will only set back Iranian nuclear ambitions by five years, merely scheduling another confrontation until Jeb Bush runs for president.
Now is good time to spray for whirled peas. Orate, fratres!
Southernism of the Day
I can't remember the one that Bob shared last night, but this one managed to adhere to my memory.
"It's hotter'n here than two muskrats making love in a dirty gym sock."
posted by lucretius at 3:20 PM
1 helpful remarks:
I know there's been a lot of Saber rattling, but I can't picture a war against Iran. The war in Iraq is so unpopular right now, the administration would never sell it. not to mention, like you said, it would completely scud our image world wide.
What I think is more likely is that they'll do limited airstrikes, or some other military action that's not a war.
1:30 AM
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