Midwestern Mugwump (mw)2

More Interesting than it appears (maybe)

When I see something entitled "A Progressive Debate" (particularly on church and state) and described as a "Liberal-Liberal" debate - my hopes aren't too high.  Particularly at the Yale Law School, even moreso given that it's sponsored by the American Constitution Society, who does not (IMO) have nearly the same penchant for providing balanced and challenging forums as the Federalists.  BUT, all of that said, the idea of a debate (a term I really have begun to loathe as a description of a panel discussion with opposing sides) that could force Jim Wallis to defend the role of religion in the public sphere against Barry Lynn of Americans United For Separation of Church and State might be interesting. 

Or, it could just turn into a celebration of how much better they are than the 'religious right,' which would be depressing if that's what Wallis gets reduced to.

Indiana Joins America

Congratulations to Rick Garnett and the crew at Notre Dame for joining the rest of America and adopting Daylight Savings Time.  It was occasionally a little confusing when we lived there, but more odd than anything else.  Stranger was the idea that it was 'partisan,' though from my VERY LITTLE READING on the subject, it seemed more like a tool of partisanship than a real issue as it appears that governors have been in favor of it, just largely unwilling to expend the political capital necessary to get it done.  Good effective government, particularly considering how popular the last several governors were. 

Why vote against?  Not at all clear, to me.  Stubbornness seems to be part of it.  Loss of uniqueness?  The whole thing seems like a tempest in a teapot.  If for no other reason, Indiana can now move on and get some publicity about real issues, that is, until daylight savings time next year, when there will most certainly be a whole spate of stories on the matter, probably including live, on-location, national newscasts.  It all kind of reminds me of Wheaton's dancing policy change. 

Query - are there websites dedicated to this issue?  www.notimechange.com or something?  I'm too frightened to investigate.

The Proper Place of a Law School (and a few other things)

Rick Garnett wonders about the place of law schools in 'great Catholic universities' - to which I would answer - the law school in the great Catholic university should be treated much better than it is - but he knew that already.

My actual inclination would actually be similar.  As a practical matter, I think that absolutely law schools should be given a strategic place because of the place of law in American culture. As Rob Vischer points out (in what I would describe as a vile and degrading movie, forgettable is being generous - if only it were) - lawyers are the new high priests (at least of political and many cultural matters).  Culture pays attention to lawyers and to law schools, so they offer a certain strategic usefulness in communicating the central truths of Catholic (and Christian) legal, cultural and political reflection. 

But law schools have problems to - they are intellectually underresourced, sometimes shallow, neglectful of moral and ethical formation (both in faculty and students), typically privilege cleverness over more substantive intellectual attributes, are often arrogant (both in faculty and students) and sometimes disdain interaction  with the rest of their universities. 

All that said, they truly are great and important places, deserving of greater resources and offer the potential to be a true jewel in the crown of a great Catholic university - but they will have to alter their approach substantially to achieve such status.

Updating Cuba to 1950

Southern Appeal points out this unintentionally funny piece about Cuba.  Castro has doubled the minimum wage to all of $10 a month.  AND:

"He [Castro] has promised ration-book handouts of chocolate and better quality coffee...Castro promised the population new and more efficient household appliances, such as electric fans and refrigerators.  He displayed on stage two American-made Frigidaire and Westinghouse fridges from the 1950's that are still in use in Cuba, and homemade ventilators, as examples of appliances that consume too much electricity. We are going to have less power cuts," he promised."

Communism at work. 

One Funny Line

In a predictably ridiculous piece, Maureen Dowd comes up with one funny line (quoted by Stephen Bainbridge) - The Cafeteria is Closed.  Indeed.

That said, I do think that SB (and others) were a little harsh on Sullivan (who himself was more than a little harsh).  Unfortunately, for most Americans - its all about sex.  And that is precisely a central problem in our culture.  Our culture's obsession (and ours as well, lest it seem like I am positing 'culture' as something I don't participate in) distorts our vision of ourselves, our lives and the Church. 

Much of what has been said by the American media about the Pope Benedict XVI has been just terrible - completely lacking in any marginally sophisticated understanding of what the institution of the Church is all about.  Frankly, it's more than a little embarrassing.  And my major beef regarding the coverage - the new Pope (or the old one for that matter) isn't "taking the church in conservative direction."  Our focus on ourselves has completely warped our perspective, as if we are sitting on a slow moving train (I take the L - I have experience with this) pondering the movement of the trees.

For the record - the Church isn't moving, the rest of us are - And I have yet to see a good reason why it should join us.

New Pope

There's a new pope - Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger formerly of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) has been chosen by the conclave.

Let the hand-wringing begin - oh, it already has.  Part of me would have preferred the betting lines to be wrong, but neat packaging is not what this is about. 

Fr. McBrien must be disappointed - that's generally a good thing.  I wonder what Fr. Neuhaus has to say - he's been quiet for few days now.

Those of us - schismatics - are hopeful as the new Pope's prior work in defense of doctrine has been encouraging.  And he even has a fan club (which is currently overwhelmed with visitors).

It's the Money

Evidently, Duke's Coach K is getting flak for his American Express ads with the claim being that it gives Duke an unfair recruiting advantage to have their coach on the air talking about building character (as opposed to the other times he is on TV).  Whatever.

In response, Krzyzewski said "That (the commercial) has nothing about recruiting for basketball players. . . It's done in great taste. If someone thinks that's a recruiting advantage or that's why it's done, I feel bad for them." 

He's right - that ad was all about cashing a nice tasteful check.  And getting positive airtime as a side.  Given Duke's already substantial recruiting advantage, I can't imagine this helping at the margin.

Welcome To Glory

John Paul II has left us.  Bainbridge has a great picture up (notice the cool [only if you're the pope] white hiking shoes). 

It seems fairly certain to say that Christ will welcome him to glory - Well done, thou good and faithful servant - and that will be John Paul II's greatest moment - the one he truly looked forward to. 

Lost, I think, in the analysis of his work and the discussions of who will be next, is the very nature of the role he filled.  It isn't about power or influence or effecting change, it's about service to the bride of Christ and of his many great qualities, that his is greatest.

UPDATE - Ann Althouse ponders - "Hearing the news stories about him today and yesterday, I wondered if it was not the case that he was the greatest human being to have lived during my own lifetime. The world is a poorer place."  Indeed.  This good book is an instructive answer to that question.

Two Good Pieces on Schiavo

Following the death of Terri Schiavo (a subject I have not kept well informed on), I've seen two really interesting pieces.  The first, was this GetReligion post, which included a fair number of information on the Schiavo side of things and some useful perspective about the grief of both sides.  The other good piece was Cathleen Falsani's Friday article, which ruminates on what the tragedy says about our culture and perspective, but also reminds us (as some of the best post-tsunami commentary did as well) that the world is full of suffering, if we are simply willing to open our eyes to it. 

Going back to our 'regularly scheduled programming' would be a woefully un-Christian response to either the tragedy of Terri Schiavo or the inspiration of John Paul II.  Integrating those lessons into our daily lives of parenting, marriage and work is an ongoing challenge.

First Blind MD

CNN has a story on Tim Cordes, a Notre Dame grad and the first blind student to graduate from medical school.  He was an undergrad when I was a graduate student there and though he never took a class I TA'd, people I knew that had him in class were quite impressed, not just with his academic abilities but who he was as a person.  This comes through in the article, which I think is nicely told (not overtold).  I had no idea that so much of medical diagnosis is listening - both to the patient and to the body - even a rash.