The Allegory of the cave by Plato

We are but shadows and dust floating in interconnectivity, divided by individual conciousness, and confused by the social order.
 
[Socrates:]  And now, I said, let me show in a figure how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened: –Behold! human beings living in a underground den, which has a mouth open towards the light and reaching [...]

Political Virtue

This argument comes from the conflicting claims to authority in the city.
 
The politician’s job is to create the regime that will best promote the good life within the city.
 
In order to do this he must give the authority of the city to the ruler or rulers that would best promote virtue within the citizens.
 
However all [...]

Proof of God’s existence

I’m not personally convinced but it is an interesting argument.
Courtesy of St. Thomas Aquinas:
I answer that it can be proved in five ways that God exists.
The first and plainest is the method that proceeds from the point of view of motion. It is certain and in accord with experience, that things on earth undergo change. [...]

“The Fog of War” five lessons from Robert Macnamra

Five Lessons
note: These comments are for WWII inclusive

 
 
 
“Belief and seeing are both often wrong.”
            Agree. They are always wrong; the real difference comes from perspective.
 
“Proportionality should be a guideline in war”
            Disagree. In order to win, it may be necessary to destroy the enemy’s moral and this may not be possible to do with a [...]

Death Speaks

There was a merchant in Bagdad who sent his servant to market to buy provisions and in a little while the servant came back, white and trembling, and said, Master, just now when I was in the market-place I was jostled by a woman in the crowd and when I turned I saw it was [...]

funny quote from I don”t know where

Any man, in the right situation, is capable of murder. But not any man is capable of being a good camper. So, murder and camping are not as similar as you might think.

Effects of colonialism upon Native Americans–1997

Effects of colonialism upon Native Americans
 
The question of intrusiveness by European powers upon newly “discovered” Native Americans is not a question of which colonial style did or didn’t damage the lands they stumbled upon, but who comparatively was the most harmful.  Focusing on Spain, England, and France will show how deep the impacts of colonialism [...]

Conflict in Ireland–1995

                                      Conflict and Cultures    
 
 
The conflict in Ireland, while having many similarities with the current conflict in the Middle East, has a much better chance of coming to a peaceful solution.  The first and most prominent reason for this is the fact that the cultures in conflict in Ireland are very similar while the Israelis [...]

Freedom in Faith–1996

                                      Freedom in Faith
 
The version of freedom given by the Bhagavad Gita is based on the idea that true freedom can only come with hard work, sacrifice and prayer.  Learning to be disciplined is one of the most important steps in freeing oneself from the bonds of attachment.  To be disciplined, one must choose understanding [...]

Something to keep in mind.

I don’t advocate the dissolving of our government.  The government should, however, remember that the people have the option.
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal [...]