Assumptions, Making Sense, and Politics

Before getting into what I think of the mess in Libya and elsewhere, I'd like to make a few points clear:

• I think life is precious
  • Sacred, actually (February 23, 2011)
• I think war is not nice
  • Things get broken
  • People get killed

That list 'obviously' makes me one of those bleeding-heart liberals who make red-white-and-blue-blooded Americans sick: because I think that the death penalty is not necessary in the United States. (October 2, 2008)

It also 'obviously' makes me one of those hate-filled, heartless conservatives who make caring, sensitive citizens of the world sick: because I think that sometimes people have to be prevented from killing other people.

Which is why I think interfering in the internal affairs of Libya is probably the right thing to do. Even though the current president of the United States isn't the candidate I voted for.

My views, I think, make sense: and I'll get back to that.

This isn't a 'Political' Post

I don't do "political" posts. Not in the sense of claiming that whatever some particular person or party does is the most intelligent, sublime, ineffably insightful expression of wisdom that the world has ever seen: and that everyone who disagrees is stupid, a traitor, or a stupid traitor.¹

First, I don't think any one politico or party is always right: or wrong. I have yet to meet someone who never made a mistake. And that's not what papal infallibility means. Which is another topic. (Catechism, 891)

Second, I don't see a point in trying to paint the world in a simplified pallet of "good guys" and "bad guys." And that's a somewhat mixed metaphor - more topics.

Finally, I tend to see quite a bit of 'political' writing as being heavy on emotion, with a sprinkling of facts, and a meager seasoning of reason.

I have nothing against emotions: but I don't trust them for decision-making. The mind can do odd things when emotions take control. (Another War-on-Terror Blog (December 23, 2008)) And that's yet another topic.

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This post is one of a series being written today:

• "Citizenship, being Catholic, and the Rules of Polite Society"
  (March 22, 2011, 2:22 p.m. Central, 19:25 UTC)
• "My Take on Libya, War, and Getting a Grip; Mostly Links"
  (March 22, 2011 5:49 p.m. Central, 22:49 UTC)
• "Pacifism?"
  (March 22, 2011 6:02 p.m. Central, 23:02 UTC)
• "'Jesus was a Pacifist/American/Vagrant'?!"
  (March 22, 2011 6:36 p.m. Central, 23:36 UTC)
• " 'Just War:' Unpleasant, but Not a Contradiction in Terms "
  (March 22, 2011 6:49 p.m. Central, 23:49 UTC)