My Dad's "lesson" that took longest to learn is that "perfection is enemy of the good," and that almost always an "accessible half loaf" is immeasurably better than an "inaccessible whole loaf."
New York Times David Leonhardt - And Other Libs - Change Policy Stance On Global Warming
I will also mention my Dad's teaching that if we, as a people, want to have an "open society," then the legal system's burden of proof must be so demanding that LOTS of guilty people will "walk."
Once a legal system establishes a loosey-goosey burden of proof, then prissy, pissy, finger-pointing, dry-as-bones, judgmental moralists abscond with The System and pretty soon you've got a "fascist" state.
Couldn't happen here?
Duh.
I will also mention my Dad's teaching that if we, as a people, want to have an "open society," then the legal system's burden of proof must be so demanding that LOTS of guilty people will "walk."
Once a legal system posits a loosey-goosey burden of proof, then prissy, pissy, finger-pointing, dry-as-bones, judgmental moralists abscond with The System and pretty soon you've got a "fascist" state.
Couldn't happen here?
Duh.
Until just now, I did not realize Voltaire said such a thing!
Religion And Perfectionism
"My Gripe With Christianity"
James' Epistle: "Judgment Without Mercy Will Be Shown To Anyone Who Has Not Shown Mercy"
The Christian Doctrine Of Damnation... And The Destruction Of Christ-Spirit
The Christian Doctrine Of Damnation... And The Destruction Of Christ-Spirit
Compendium Of Best Pax Posts On Organized Religion And The Everyday Validation Of Violence
Bill McKibben "The Christian Paradox: How A Faithful Nation Gets Jesus Wrong"
People Want To Be Lied To: The Convergent Horror Of Faithful Falsehood And Aggressive Ignorance
Frank Zappa Prophesied A Fascist Theocracy. Barry Goldwater Agrees
Here is how I introduced this post on my Facebook page:
To this day, my Dad remains a source of wonder to me and my four siblings - Janet, Kevin, Gerald, Bill.
He was generous, brave, cheerful, insightful, present and ever helpful to his family and his communities -- at work, at church, in the neighborhood and in the world.
With other lay Catholic activists he fought to end the racist banking practice called "redlining" by buying homes for Afro-American families in redlined white neighborhoods.
"My Dad's Attack On The Discriminatory Backing Practice Called Redlining"
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/…/my-dads-attack-on-dis…
The day Dad died, the mailman delivered letters from the bishops of Northern Alaska and Zululand, asking him to make yet another donation.
It was literally true that his kindness and generosity covered the world from A to Z.
Except for the New York Yankees, Dad was always on the side of the underdog.
William Wellington Archibald, a hardscrabble farm boy from the immigrant Irish community in Rush, New York, was also smart enough to realize that paradox and irony are regularly intertwined with essential truths.
Dad knew - in his marrow - that everything hinges on the breadth, depth and social diffusion of education.
He also understood the difference between education and instruction.
"Education And Instruction: Near Antipodes Cut Out For Cross-Fertilization"
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/…/education-and-instruc…
He was generous, brave, cheerful, insightful, present and ever helpful to his family and his communities -- at work, at church, in the neighborhood and in the world.
With other lay Catholic activists he fought to end the racist banking practice called "redlining" by buying homes for Afro-American families in redlined white neighborhoods.
"My Dad's Attack On The Discriminatory Backing Practice Called Redlining"
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/…/my-dads-attack-on-dis…
The day Dad died, the mailman delivered letters from the bishops of Northern Alaska and Zululand, asking him to make yet another donation.
It was literally true that his kindness and generosity covered the world from A to Z.
Except for the New York Yankees, Dad was always on the side of the underdog.
William Wellington Archibald, a hardscrabble farm boy from the immigrant Irish community in Rush, New York, was also smart enough to realize that paradox and irony are regularly intertwined with essential truths.
Dad knew - in his marrow - that everything hinges on the breadth, depth and social diffusion of education.
He also understood the difference between education and instruction.
"Education And Instruction: Near Antipodes Cut Out For Cross-Fertilization"
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/…/education-and-instruc…
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