Eggs Benedict

Pope Benedict XVI, two Cardinals from his Counsil and Prime Minister Berlusconi were walking alongside the road while chatting about Italian-Vatican relations when a thought occurred to the Prime Minister. He thought to himself, ‘Nearly all Italians are cradle-Catholics, as am I, but why do I believe in God? I've never really thought about it.’

So, with this in mind, Berlusconi asked the opinion of the Pope. He said, “Papa Benedetto, perché Lei credisce a Dio?” The Pope responded, “Well my brother, many people look to a man by the name of St. Anselm of Canterbury for a reasoned explanation of their faith. His ontological argument for the existence of God goes like this”:

1) God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived
2) Existence in reality is better than ideal existence
3) Even the fool has an idea of God
Concl.) God exists

Cardinal #1: But look, the problem with Anselm is that you can replace ‘God’ with any other word to prove that it exists. With this reasoning, you can prove for example that a leprechaun exists or that an invisible sky-doughnut exists. Whatever you wish to prove, you have it.

Cardinal #2: Well, technically, the greatest problem with Anselm is that he begs the question in defining God on the path to proving his existence. This is a cardinal fallacy in logical discussion, and therefore renders the argument fallacious with bad logical quality.

Pope Benedict: To synthesize a bit of what has been said, one can say above all that the argument, if it is to be examined as a logical induction, only works for the greatest being. That is to say, it works only if we presuppose that God is indeed that than which nothing greater can be conceived. And while Anselm’s logic appears at first to be circular, one must remember that these words were written in a spiritual meditation before the enlightenment, not a modern-day philosophical treatise. So to judge his logic by our standards seems quite disingenuous. But if we are to bring forth his thoughts into the contemporary world, there must be a harmony of faith and reason involved in our reflection…

And the discussion went on like this for some time, first over some coffee, then they chatted over pizza, and later they proceeded over a bottle of wine deep into the evening hours. All day long as Berlusconi was present to this clash of great theological minds, he nodded his head on occasion to affirm and respect the thoughts of the three other men.

When the night was coming to an end, Berlusconi stood up and thanked the men for their time and insight. As they shook hands, they all posed for a photo opportunity that was displayed in the next day’s newspaper. Above this picture, the headline read: “Berlusconi, Benedict Encounter: ‘God is a celestial doughnut.’ ”

I learned my lesson*

The other day I learned my lesson, or at least I was taught a lesson. Whether I learned anything remains to be seen. But, in any event, I was walking home from school and noticed that a car was making a u-turn in the middle of a two-lane road with traffic going each way. While it may seem very strange to some that this happened, those of you who have visited foreign countries know that many times traffic laws are treated as more of a good goal to shoot for rather than a necessity as it is in the states.

So anyways, as said motorist spun around in the midst of fairly heavy traffic, his tiny Italian car ran up on the curb with a crunch. "ooo" I said to myself silently with a how-could-someone-be-so-stupid look on my face. Next, the driver got out of his car, and I passed him staring at the mark that the curb made on the front bumper. I then thought to myself, "Man, what an idiot" while looking backwards at the spectacle of backed up traffic and subtle hand gestures. Just then, in that moment, I tripped and fell on a loose, unearthed cobble stone in front of all of those people. I guess that's what I get for looking back, a scuffed leather shoe and a bruised sense of pride.

Per quelli che sono interessati

Ever wondered what an Italian political advertisement is like?

Forza Italia

Italian House Guest

Here we have our ever-so-insightful President who welcomes Prime Minister Berlusconi of Italy to Camp David.

Italian House Guest

+-[Questions and Curiosity]

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Steve Spielburg's new film, Munich. It sparked many a sentiment in me, not just about the past but also regarding events that have taken place in the last few months. The issue of the films effectiveness in delivering a specific message aside, I must share some reflections on a particular scene that grabbed at me.

Here we find Papa (an underground 'anti-terrorist' informant) speaking about the art of cooking with the film's protagonist Avner (assassine of Palestinian terrorist big-wigs). Papa chats whimsically with Avner saying that Avner's hands are much too large to be a great chef. The conversation quickly become a double-antandra when Papa whims, "Oh, we are tragic men. Butcher's hands, gentle souls."

You know it made me think what an ironic statement that is. This is not to say that people having been involved in events that took place 30+ years ago are the same as certain religiously driven militants today. Hear me out, a film is not actual events and has an agenda. Besides, films kind of say more than they have to. But, the motif is clear: Through and through in this blood bath of a film, it seems that everyone involved in a movement that wished to restore some sort of balance or equalibrium using radical means, i.e. violence, in the end everyone on all sides had blood on their hands and destruction in their hearts. Such is the fruits of hatred and ignorance.

Do not get me wrong, I am not saying that all violence is evil. In fact, passivism is a completely selfish stance to take. But, I cannot help but be curious when I come home, read the news, turn on the t.v. and I see foreign embassies, vulnerable guests in another land, smashed to rubble, flags aflame, and riots in the streets. And all of this is over what? What are those people fighting for? What are we fighting for? It is not clear to me that those at battle even know anymore.

If the answer is cartoons, that is, if Muslims the world over are taking to the streets with displays of violence, of all things over something as absurd as an animated figure, then do we have a serious problem on our hands? What happens in the case that the reaction to the cartoons is actually a telling reflection of a universally violent Islam? On the other side of the coin, are we guilty? Are we, those who create and/or propagate seemingly irreverent material whether for pleasure, thought-provocation or both, the purpatraitors? Is irreverance always a bad thing, or can it be life-giving? I leave it open.

These are not just issues for Americans to think about. We are dealing with global dynamics that are not simple or straightforward. Here are some sites that may help us search at least in terms of basic information and education:

Khaleej Times

A 'Moderate' Voice

Radical New Views of Islam and the Origins of the Koran

Cartoon Protests

Medieval Imagery of Muhammad

Irreverant Cartoons Done By Muslims Themselves:

Arab-European Cartoon

Arab-European Cartoon 2

Arab-European Dutoux Reference

Cartoons from the East

Historic Wisdom on Pride and Condemning Others:

Erasmus's 'Laus Stultitiae'

Fireball-Blast from the Past

This is what happens when teenagers are free to let loose in the environs of a choral arrangement. Oh ya, and mushrooms help too.

Acapella nintendo extravaganza.

Kudos to Ness

Lazy Sunday

Good God, all these finals. So much stress.
What's that little Nicky? Here's a remedy for you.
Chris Parnell and Andy Sandburg from NL seen on S.
Well, they made a video that you should probably view.

Ya, that was magical huh?

Lazy Sunday

Finals are here so I'm going to do a week of silly videos. There will be one posted everyday. Cheers.