Sword Saints

Wednesday haiku

We still must endure
selfish, power-mad rulers.
Better than a king?

One year after

This weekend we (quietly) celebrate one year of living in the city. According to conventional wisdom, we did it backwards. We already had a big house in the 'burbs on a half acre lot, and shortly after having our first child we decided to move inside the city limits of Atlanta. That decision was motivated in large part by wanting to help launch City Church–Eastside, but we had been batting around the idea of a more urban environment for certain quality of life considerations.

Take walking, for example. We used to have very little of interest that was (safely, comfortably) walkable, and there were very few sidewalks. Everything was an automobile jaunt, even if it was only a mile or two away. Now we're walking as much as we can: to the library, to the video store, to the pharmacy, to restaurants, to the ice cream shop, to coffee shops, to the grocery store, to parks. In our first year here I lost at least two inches off my waist. I'm sure a good part of that was that I picked up running (never getting past 5 miles before winter set in), but I also walked about two miles a day. It's really good.

And then there's all the city stuff we never really got to do before. Zoo Atlanta. Fernbank. The Georgia Aquarium. Big buildings and city parks. These days we're at the zoo about once a week (thanks to the grandparents for a membership) and try to get to Fernbank at least once a month for the dinosaurs. We went to the aquarium quite a bit in '08, but the cost of parking really adds up, even with a membership. Again, it's really good.

There are some things we miss, to be sure. Friends. Short(er) commutes. Outer county taxes. But there's nothing we regret. We're home now, in more ways than one.

Article of Faith

There's a lively discussion about faith in science fiction and fantasy over at Mere Comments, the Touchstone Magazine blog, a topic near and dear to my heart. It just so happens that Escape Pod recently featured Mike Resnick's short story, "Article of Faith", which has been nominated for a Hugo this year. In this story, a robot reads the Bible, decides that it is true, and wants to join the church. I can't mention much else without spoiling it, so go read it or listen to it. The author has made the full text of the story available at his web site, or you can listen to the audio version at Escape Pod.

Caesar the thief?

From Patrick Henry Reardon's "Gods & Robbers" in the April 2009 issue of Touchstone :

Ownership of property is not a concession of the government. Indeed, government exists for the purpose of protecting the metaphysical, God-given rights of the citizens, and one of those rights is the right to the ownership of property. It is not the business of government to take away the rightful property of its citizens.

Taxation, for the purpose of maintaining the services of government–including the care of the poor–is not a violation of this principle. We render to Caesar what is his; however, we do so precisely because Caesar is our servant, not a thief.

Consequently, robbery by the government–for the purpose of redistribution of wealth, for example–is just another form of theft.

Something to think about this April 15. Have a nice Tax Day.

Tax day haiku

Render to Caesar,
but Caesar no longer serves:
he sets our "fair share".

We're all extremists now

Sweet. According to a recent report from the Department of Homeland Security (PDF here), my rejection of ever-growing federal authority in favor of state and local authority, and my opposition to abortion, qualify me to be a right-wing extremist. Just what I've always wanted!

From the report (page 2):

Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.

Really. And it's funny that the report conveniently hit the wires before tomorrow's Tax Day Tea Party extravaganza. And here I thought dissent was only stifled under the Bush Administration. Silly me.

It is Friday, but Sunday is coming

Good Friday haiku

Earth shakes and sky broods
when the King yields his spirit,
but we look for life.

Sick of war

"I know in my bones I will die here
Far from my father and mother. Still, I won't stop
Until I have made the Trojans sick of war."

(Iliad, Book 19:450-452, Lombardo)

So Achilles. Millennia later, we're still not sick of war. And we will not grow sick of war until evil and injustice are vanquished fully and finally. We will not grow sick of war until righteousness reigns. Lord, have mercy.

Wednesday haiku

Yes, make us aware.
But don't think you can stop there.
You must make us care.