"WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is drawing a parallel between the Iraq war and the U.S. Civil War. Both had their critics but both were justified, she says.
In both cases, it was the right decision to fight and see the wars through, Rice said in an interview with Essence magazine.
Asked whether she still thought the decision to go to war in Iraq in 2003 was right, considering the cost in lives and treasure, Rice said, "Absolutely."
Rice, an African-American from Alabama, then offered a parallel between critics of the administration's Iraq policies and "people who thought it was a mistake to fight the Civil War to its end and to insist that the emancipation of slaves would hold."
"I'm sure that there were people who said, `Why don't we get out of this now, take a peace with the South, but leave the South with slaves,"' Rice said."

( http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0609060238sep06,1,4210361.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed )

Dr. Rice-

There are a few differences between the US Civil War and the War In Iraq.

-The US Civil War was fought for one, very clearly defined, reason-to end the rebellion and bring the Union together. Lincoln said this repeatedly throughout the entire war.

-When a general was behaving incompetently during the US Civil War, he was replaced.

-The citizenry were asked to sacrifice both blood and treasure to their government so that the war could be won.

-Abraham Lincoln was pained by the loss of life during his war.

"If you're flammable and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit."
-Mitch Hedberg

Been in a semi serious sort of funk lately.

Had to make some serious decisions at work, which I hate. Being in a friendly, congenial workplace environment is very pleasant, and it sometimes blurs the concept that it is a WORKPLACE, and the generation of profit is, and can be, the only priority for work. Henry was right-you don't have friends at work, you have coworkers. You socialize with friends, you work with coworkers.

Been listening to Rollins' spoken word stuff, and standup, and music, and reading fiction. Read another book by Paul Auster, which was, of course, awesome. Oracle Night this time, which I think I tried to read once before, and couldn't get into. I remember the very beginning of it, but nothing else.

Now reading: Timbuktu, by Paul Auster. Not as good as the last two I read, but not bad.

Now listening: Jesus Christ Superstar, London cast recording. I also own the movie soundtrack, the 20th anniversary revival soundtrack, and the indie rock version with the Indigo Girls in the lead roles. Needless to say, I'm a fan.

Feel fragile, sensitive. Like my carapace has worn down.

Had an epiphany-every where you go, that is someone's workplace. Try to treat them as you would like to be treated at work. I have taken far too much abuse at my work to feel otherwise.

JCS, even though it is literally as old as I am, exposes the central question for Modern Christians-the word is to drive the moneychangers from the temple, to put the welfare of others above one's own. To do to the least of God's creatures what you would do to God. So, therefore, logically, we all (we Christians) consume the bare minimum, and give the rest to charity. Right?

Please note I'm typing this on an ancient laptop, albeit one that would probably fetch 100-200 bucks at a minimum. There are $40 of CDS to my left, and a $12 paperback to my right. So I'm not saying I'm any better.

But still...we don't do it, do we?

"Take this cup away from me, for I don't want to taste its poison..."