body scanner radiation

Here's my main concern about the proposed use of body scanners in all U.S. airports.

I'm inclined not to object to the privacy concerns, though I don't dismiss those out of hand.

And let's temporarily ignore where the money would come from to install, operate and monitor these scanners (either taxpayers or airlines).

No, the first question that should be asked is this: When did x-ray scanners become so harmless that repeated use on people without lead shields is not a problem?

I don't doubt that these full-body scanners are relatively harmless in comparison with the sort of scanners used by surgeons and dentists. But have airlines and our politicians considered how frequently many people fly? Doesn't a small exposure to radiation, harmless in itself, become worthy of concern when it is repeatedly dozens of times?

Or have they considered babies and young children? What about the elderly with weak immune systems?

It is possible that these fears are unwarranted. I don't claim much knowledge of recent developments in x-ray scanning technologies. But are these not common concerns that should be addressed by Congress and the airlines which have already implemented body scanners? If our politicians genuinely care about the issue and are not merely pretending concern, I expect questions like these to be addressed in the near future.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

It's important when considering the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy to recognize that efficiency cannot be the crux of a sound argument, even if efficiency means saving lives. In other words, if allowing gays to announce their homosexuality to fellow soldiers threatens unit cohesion and morale, thereby increasing the likelihood of soldier deaths and defeat, that is not in itself a strong argument in favor of retaining the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. I say this because that is the argument I usually see Republicans making.

If saving lives was all that mattered, why would we recoil in horror when learning about how Vlad "the Impaler" of Wallachia (Bram Stoker's inspiration for Count Dracula) impaled the heads and corpses of his enemies? Those scare tactics saved the lives of his soldiers and even played a role in protecting Europe from Ottoman invasion. So what if tens of thousands of bodies were staked like ornaments and left out for the crows? It saved lives.

No, most of us reject the use of such a strategy because we recognize that our lives are about more than survival. Life is an intrinsic good, but merely breathing in and out is not fully living. We are willing to sacrifice our lives for some things because we know there are things more important than these bodies.

If one is to honestly defend the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, more must be considered than just whether or not the policy protects lives.

Haiti: thoughts on disaster

Life is rarely as bad as it is for the people of Haiti right now. At any given moment, many people throughout the world struggle against famine, lack of shelter, destruction, crime, war, disease, and other disasters. But for all of it to arise suddenly in one place is uncommon and horrifying beyond imagination. I'm saddened to think that their troubles have only begun. Panic and despair have not yet reached their peak in Haiti, I'm afraid.

What can we do?

We can donate. I suggest that you avoid donating directly to government, if only because it is heavily bureaucratic and bureaucracy inevitably leads to waste. Be wary of scam artists -- evil does not disappear in times of sorrow. I'm sure there are many charities that are collecting goods (food, clothes, etc) as well as money, so don't just think of giving in dollars. And, if you can, find charities that do not merely want to give, but can give. With so much Haitian infrastructure inoperable (roads, airports, government, etc), not every group that wants to give has been successful in getting their aid to the people. Look for charities, such as Catholic Relief Services, that have already demonstrated that they can reach the Haitian people and explain specifically how they are helping.

We can pray. Prayer is powerful -- more effective than I think most people realize. Holy living is powerful. When you were a child and a brother, sister, or friend had a birthday or other celebration, was the joy and love given only to that person? No, you shared in his or her reward. And when you acted selfishly and were punished, was it only you who suffered? Human beings live as one family with God. When you speak to God and live with a charitable heart, God bestows blessings not only on you but on others. God loves every person in Haiti and is helping them all as we speak, but He wants your love to give to them as well.

We can learn. For many, it can be difficult to imagine disasters such as these ever striking where we live. But there is no place on Earth safe from catastrophe. Don't just sympathize with the Haitians; learn from their examples, both the good and the bad. By now, you might have read about people in Haiti simply standing around and waiting on rescue. In a situation like this, if you are certain that help is coming or you truly have no other option, then it might be best to wait. But, generally, the key to survival during any crisis is to make no assumptions and to be always active toward sustaining and preparing yourself. Remember that, and remember that to love one's self and to love others are always inseparable. If you wish to survive, look after those around you and, I promise you, good will come of it.

we own Haiti now

Unfortunately, this guy is exactly right:

"The sad truth is that no one is in charge of Haiti today. This vacuum, coupled with the robust response from the Obama administration, has inevitably created a situation where the U.S. will be the de facto decision-maker in Haiti."

We now own Haiti just like we owned Iraq after we toppled Saddam Hussein. America isn't just in Haiti for a few months. We'll be there for years.

We were already supporting Haiti with hundreds of millions in charity. Now our support will be in the billions. Obama will likely go much farther than merely getting the Haitians back on their feet. We'll be paying for brand new infrastructure... and we'll be paying with debt.

Also at issue is who Obama puts in power once that infrastructure is in place, and what form the government will take. Will the new government be friendly to the democratic U.S.? Or will it be more like Cuba or Venezuela (more progressive and Marxist)? In any case, that decision isn't likely to bite us for decades. The huge financial investment we're about to make in Haiti, on the other hand, will have imminent consequences.

Please don't mistake this as an argument against helping Haiti. The Haitians desperately need aid, and I'm happy that Obama offered our government's help immediately.

I'm just pointing out that this creates an additional large and long-term strain on our economy. It will also serve as a powerful political distraction... and possibly justification for the creation of another slush fund (ala TARP). Economically and politically, it's almost like another war.

Be charitable, but be wary of America's budget constraints and of political opportunism.

Christian hospitals, schools and abortion

Keep an eye on this situation in Columbia. How it unfolds in that country might offer some insight into how Catholic hospitals and schools in the U.S. will respond to similar laws.

Here in America, we have already seen Catholic adoption agencies forced to disband, rather than to participate in evil as mandated by Massachesetts law. It's only a matter of time before such laws touch Christian hospitals.

Closing a hospital is not like closing an adoption agency. Lives are directly on the line. Thousands of non-Christians rely on Christian hospitals. It would be a more difficult decision for the Christian operators to end their services under such circumstances. And, if a decision was made to close a large hospital, I expect most governments might go so far as to claim ownership of the facilities and threaten employees with legal consequences to make them remain at work.

And then there's the schools.

It's a complicated issue with consequences difficult to foresee. So, as I've said, keep an eye on Columbia.

the Word

A lot is lost in translation from ancient Greek to English when we read that Christ is "the Word made flesh". The word used was logos. It means much more than simply "word". It is a pivotal concept in Greek philosophy.

Logos means something like "beautiful design" or "wondrous order". It testifies to the inseparable relationship between beauty and order, happiness and virtue, peace and arrangement.

Imagine a beautiful piece of furniture. Its dimensions may be described in mathematical relationships. A throne appears and feels differently than a sofa, regardless of ornamentation, because it is high rather than wide. It is pleasing because of how the wood and/or other parts are shaped and arranged. But, in designing the chair, the carpenter does not think only in terms measurements and materials. The science of his method and the beauty of his goal are inseparable. If he considers either without the other, his work will fail.

Or consider an athlete. To play well requires careful motion, reaction, and strategy. But to focus only on the mechanics of the game would be to miss the point. These things create the enjoyment, the thrill and sense of flow, but the sport is not merely a series of actions and plans. It is the feeling -- the fun or exhilaration, the thrill of victory -- that results from those actions and plans as well.

In other words, beauty and order are two aspects of the same thing. Beauty is the impression and purpose of order. Order is the shape of beauty.

That's why artists learn and practice their craft before making masterpieces. It's why cooks learn about proportions and ingredients. It's why architects study materials and engineers study math (the language of measurable relationships). All beauty is logical, even if it is not the logic we recognize or focus on. All logic is beautiful, even though we often fail to appreciate it.

So when Christians say that Jesus is "the Word made flesh", what we are really saying is that He is Logos made flesh... that Christ is Beauty and Order itself.

forbidden fruit

Many people mistake the concept of original sin as implying that human beings are essentially wicked... that we are ugly beings that must be made beautiful. Well, that's not what it means. Human beings are essentially beautiful creatures, and sin is not the essence of who/what we are.

The real meaning of original sin is that we are all -- inevitably, inescapably -- flawed. We all, from time to time, choose to do things we know with certainty that we should not do. This behavior shows up in every child and keeps causing trouble all the way to the end. Original sin means simply that we are willful beings -- imperfect willful beings; and that imperfect will and imperfect intellect of yours are bound to lead you astray from time to time.

But where does the "sin" part come in? Sin is a word that refers to willful separation from God. It's a violation of love, which is about togetherness. When you sin, you are choosing to turn your back on God (and on your fellow human beings, though they will not always notice). Original sin is sin because those inevitable missteps separate us from God... from His love, His many gifts, and His guidance.

Some sins are severe, for sure. But don't think of sin only as grave and malicious acts leading to damnation. Sin can also be simple and relatively innocent things, like leaving the dirty dishes for someone else to wash or letting the new kid sit alone in awkward silence. Sin isn't necessarily a dire subject.

For all Christ spoke about sin, He spoke more about love. If you focus on learning to love well, sin will become less of a problem without you having to think about it all the time. Focus on love. God does.