November 10, 2006
FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Iraq: On Monday, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he opposed the death penalty for former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein but that his trial had reminded the world of the deposed leader's brutality. Even if Hussein loses his appeal and dies on the gallows, it probably will have little effect on the future of Iraq, experts say. What do you think...should Saddam Hussein's death penalty be carried out, and if so, what kind of impact do you think it will have in the U.S. action in Iraq?
Q2 - College: If you went to college, did you learn more from the social or academic aspects of the experience? If you didn't go to college, do you wish you had?
Q3 - Life and Religion: A friend's teenage son recently said that one of the problems he has with fundamental religion is that it teaches that we are all bad and that we are only going to be rewarded if we make all the right choices and do all the right things. He then said, "Life isn't the test; it's a time for learning." Your thoughts?
Q4 - Whodunit: If you could solve any unsolved crime in history (or prove with certainty that a particular crime was incorrectly solved, and resolve it), which one would you choose?
Posted by Mikal at November 10, 2006 12:16 AM
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My answers are posted. Have a great weekend.
Q1 - Iraq: I have no sympathy for Sadaam, and he had no sympathy for his people. A sudden death seems too humane a punishment. I doubt that Saddam Hussein's death will have any effect on what happens in Iraq or on the course that the US takes in Iraq.
Q2 - College: I learned more from the academics, but the social aspects provided the most pivotal moments. They affected my future direction much more... I met my wife-to-be in college, for instance.
Q3 - Life and Religion: I don't understand what your friend's teenage son means by "fundamental religion." My gut feeling is that the teenage son needs to learn more about different religions before judging all of them. From my studies of Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism, I don't see any of these religions as saying that we're bad and only to be rewarded in the afterlife. I also think that life is both a test and a learning experience. The most testing times are the biggest opportunities for growth. Of course, I never understood teenagers, even when I was one.
Q4 - Whodunit: JonBenet Ramsey.
Q1 - Saddam can't die too soon.
Q2 - Easy, Academic. And all the social stuff you learned was mostly bad.
Q3 - Ask the teenager the same question again in 5 years
Q4 - O.J. Simpson, :-)
1. Should the penalty be carried out? Tough one. Lots of things to consider. But in short, yes. What impact will it have? There will undoubtedly be a burst of energy from terrorists in Iraq, but it will return to normal (what is normal for Iraq these days) shortly.
2. I dropped out short of getting my associates. I wish I hadn't. But I think I learned a lot from both end, but I wasn't very social in college, so I'd have to pick the latter.
3. He must be misinterpretting the bulk of religions. I hear stuff like this all the time about my own faith. It's clear they haven't studied it at all. However, he is correct that life is a time of learning, but incorrect in saying it's not a test. We are tempted and faced with life changing decisions every day. Everyone of them is a test of what we have learned in the past. What we experience as a result of our decision is a learning experience that we can use to make a better decision (or not) for the next test.
4. Hmm... that's tough. Hopefully just any case wherein the accused was wrongfully incarcerated and I would have the ability to set them free.
Q1 - Iraq: In my opinion if Saddam is swinging from the gallows then, Mr. Bush needs to be right next to himÖand there is no need for Tony Blair to try and attempt to wash his hands of the blood of innocent Iraqi's, Last time I checkedÖand of course I could be off a few thousand or soÖbecause as General Tommy Franks told us early on...ìWe donít do body countsî at minimum we have killed 46,915 OR a Max of 52,021 innocent Iraqi'sÖthis isn't terrorist's or suspected terrorist's these where innocent civiliansÖso I say string them all up. ( And Mikal in regards to your story about the bus driver, I hate patriotism. . . I can't stand it man...makes me sick. It's a round world last time I checked. )
Q2 - College: College was a waste of time, you learn more from life and it's free.
Q3 - Life and Religion: A better man then me, once said...Just be true to yourself if it lands you in hell, well, at least now you know...I tend to live with that mentality
Q4 - Whodunit: JFK
1. I oppose the death penalty in general. It is a statement more about who I am and what I believe about humanity - not about the vile crime or criminal.
2. It is hard to separate the social from the academic part of my collegiate experience. Because you're forcing me to choose one, I will say I learned more from the social aspect. It is where I became an adult, a man, and fully aware of how the world really works.
3. I believe in goodness and reject the Christian & other notions of original sin & the fallability of man (humankind!). I live my life as though this is my last day, because I simply do not know what, if anything, is ahead (though it's probably nothing).
4. JFK
1) I don't support the death penalty in any instance. I understand the passion why people would want someone executed. But as the Federalists preached: reason, not passion. Law is supposed to rise up above passion and support reason. Oh and his execution has the potential to inflame yet more muslims and incite yet more violence.
2) I think I learned equally in college... the social aspect is extremely important and endures still today for me.
3) Fundamental religion sets up a double bind. You are flawed so you can't make the right choices, you don't make the right choices you are bad. You can't win with that mentality. It creates self-hatred and self-righteousness and little else.
4) As cliched as it sounds, I want to solve the John Kennedy assassination definitively. I also would like to see the Tupac, Run DMC and Biggie Smalls murders solved definitely.
1. That's a toughie. I beleive that he is worthy of the death penalty, but in doing so, we risk creating a martyr. Maybe a Napoleonesque exile would be best if we could find an appropriate St Helena.
2. I'd say social. Unless you're in a technical or specialized field such as engineering or medicine, college is an expensive way to announce to prospective employers that you:
A) Care enough to take yourself off the job marked for an extra 4-5 years and are
B) Trainable, which is really what most prospective employers want out of entry-level drones.
3. I agree with him to a point. Christianity these days seems to be based much more on the Old Testament follow my word to the letter, vengeful G-d model than on the the kinder, gentler New Testament. As he says, life IS a time for learning, but the test is a ongoing practical exam to see if we're applying what we learn.
4. Jack the Ripper
1. I think the death penalty is too easy, he should suffer like all those people he tourtured. Maybe a long, slow death for him. Then again, the world would be better off without him. I think there would be some initial craziness at the time of his execution, but after a while, they'd find someone else to revolt about.
2. I really enjoyed the social aspect of college. I met a lot of people from many different countries and it was great. I did learn a thing or two academically, as well.
3. I don't like any type of fundamentalism. It is too black and white and no room for debate because they will twist whatever you say to fit their agenda.
4. Hmm...Nicole Browm Simpson. I think OJ got off scott-free on that one.
1 - Carry it out, he deserves it after everything he's done. However, know that it will cause a great backlash. Maybe keep him on "death row" as they do here for many years, long enough for us to get out!
2 - Social. I didn't end up in the field I studied, which so many of us don't. I learned a lot academically, but I think I was more shaped by social events in my college career. (or items in my personal life, rather than academically)
3 - I disagree with that. However, not to change the subject, but his quote, along with question # 2, reminded me of another quote. At a retreat before my freshman year began, the head of the honors program said something to the effect of College was about living, not merely learning to live. Sorry! It's late. LOL
4 - OJ...JFK......Jon Benet is probably the most mysterious.
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