On moral ambiguity and patriotism

This weekend an American patriot died, the man, Chris Kyle, was perhaps the most dangerous man in the world, a USMC Seal, he served with distinction and honor. I was deeply saddened when I heard the news that he was shot and killed, and while the details are still coming I was even more disturbed by the reaction of many which boiled down to “those who live by the sword die by the sword”, some seem to think that somehow he deserved to be killed in the same violent fashion that he caused so many others to experience.

 He never sought to glorify his work but he understood its place. He understood the worlds of Thomas Jefferson who said: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants” and those of Col. Jeesup in “A Few Good Men” who said ”we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You?...I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives…”

Today I mourn the loss of a true patriot and a man who put himself in harm’s way so that I may live in freedom. Baruch dayan ha’emet

It was my duty to shoot the enemy, and I don’t regret it. My regrets are for the people I couldn’t save: Marines, soldiers, buddies. I’m not naïve, and I don’t romanticize war. The worst moments of my life have come as a SEAL. But I can stand before God with a clear conscience about doing my job. – Chris Kyle

General Wisdom

“…according to the measure of what a person lacks in general wisdom, he will lack a hundredfold when it comes to Torah wisdom, because the Torah and general wisdom are closely linked together.” Rabbi Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman Kremer (The Vilna Gaon) as quoted by Rav Baruch of Shklov is his book “A Hebrew Translation of Euclid”

In Peaces

One who takes leave from his friend should not say “go in peace” (lech BE-shalom), but “Go to peace” (lech LE-shalom). Jethro told Moses, “Go to peace” – Moses went and succeeded in his mission. David told his son Absalom, “Go in peace” – Absalom went and was hanged. When taking leave of the deceased, however, one should say “Go in peace” The Talmud, Berachot 64a

Why do we use one for the dead and one of the living? For those still living we say” go to peace” the implication being that it will not be easy, that while alive we must always be wary and actively seek peace with the understanding that the way may not always be clear and we will often fail. While in death the physical hardships of life are over and while the soul can continue to grow, its path is not encumbered by material hardships, therefore “go in peace” your physical labor is done, now go peacefully on your way.

One's Purpose

"To fulfill ones purpose is not to be a slave…" - Jim Butcher, Cold Days

Steeped in History

“All Jews who are at all conscious of their identity as Jews, are steeped in history.” Isaiah Berlin

An Argument for Faith

Whatever begins to exist has a cause. The universe began to exist. Therefore, the universe has a cause. - Kalam cosmological argument for God

Disparaging Faith

In trying to disparage 'faith', [Richard] Dawkins and his allies constantly confuse 'evidence' with 'proof'; those of us who believe in God do so without proof but not without evidence. As the Oxford theologian (and biophysicist) Alister McGrath has observed: "Our beliefs may be shown to be justifiable, without thereby demonstrating that they are proven." - Mehdi Hasan