And while you are at it, will somebody please get that ventriloquist’s dummy out of the White House?

JimFM Says: I have become over-saturated the last few years with personal faith being injected into political discourse. I try not to make judgements with any point of view but it gets hard when people like Pat Robertson constantly attempt to color public discourse with their personal beliefs.

Is it possible to leave aside ‘personal faith’ or ‘beliefs’ in public discourse? How can you discuss anything without faith in what you are saying?

If by ‘personal faith’ you mean one’s ‘religion’, then that’s a separate matter altogether.

I don’t quite understand when you say, and I quote: “I try not to make judgements with any point of view…” But then how do you make a judgement? You have to study various viewpoints before arriving at your own viewpoint.

Well, talking of astrology…it is not a religion. It is to be found in some form or the other in all the religions – Hinduism. Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Even non-believers are known to delve into it. It is a common human heritage right from the early days of humanity.

It is the art of predicting the future and attracts many because certain developments in life (including the behaviour of President Bush and other crisis) defy any ready explanation.

So people, who might have earlier believed that there can only be a rational explanation to life and developments look for alternatives. Astrology is one of them…and a very popular one at that. Some follow it secretly (fearing they may face ridicule) while others do it openly.

As a journalist I had been the usual cynical/critical self for a long time in my life.

However, I cherish liberal values and open discussion and open societies. That’s why I admire the British and the American way of life (in that order). Of course, my first preference is the Indian way of life!!! LoL.

I feel the reason some people manage to remain happy and contended is that they are always ready to learn and experiment in life. I believe a person who feels that he knows everything and there is nothing more to learn in life is a dead person.

When someone suggested I have a look at the Chinese astrology book I agreed. The book by Suzanne White is remarkable. I went through it with patience and open mind. Try it out before passing a judgement. No harm.

If you become her fan don’t blame me!!!

Now, as I turn 60, I use as much my heart as I use my head!!!

I wish you well JimFM.

Perhaps my first few lines were a little too strident. For that please accept my apology. But you appear to be guilty of just that of which you seek to accuse me – “Hey JimFM! Life is too short…Why subscribe to a constipated outlook. Give a try to new things in life…Experiment…” You assume ( with scant evidence) that I have dismissed such things out of hand. This is not true. I have simply reached differing conclusions than you (or maybe not – I notice that you never directly answered my question).

My distress at your post was summed up perfectly by Rudi – “Would it be any less absurd if Pat Robertson claimed that Petraes was sent from God?”
I have become over-saturated the last few years with personal faith being injected into political discourse. I try not to make judgements with any point of view but it gets hard when people like Pat Robertson constantly attempt to color public discourse with their personal beliefs. I am not comparing you with Pat Robertson, but I am trying to ascertain if your (apparent) faith in Eastern Mysticism rivals the faith of Pat Robertson, a man who’s faith must certainly be factored in to how I process the things he says.

[....Pat Robertson claimed that Petraes was sent from God?]

I am absolutely certain that Pat thinks so. I think he contributed the maximum to God’s campaign in 2004.

I have posted a comment elsewhere and I repeat here:

“I have written so many times that if one carefully reads the history of Iraq and Afghanistan, no foreign power has managed to dominate these people.

“They have a strange history…they always seem to be fighting. Be it a foreign invader or within themselves. So if an invader shoves his ruddy nose into their affairs/countries what else do you expect except bloodied nose, face or worse.

“Their fightings do not come to an end until they have a strong/violent/brutal man – such as Saddam Hussein – and then there is a semblance of peace and order.

“But the US administration thought it was clever and meddled in a royal fashion and destablised the area. So pay the price. So if you don’t believe in diplomacy then why not astrology!!!”

“So why blame the army…the civilian leadership has to take the full responsibility. Poor soldiers have to sacrifice their everything carrying out the orders of the political leaders, who seem to have no accountability.

“Please don’t run down the soldiers. They are trained to lay down their lives on the orders from ‘above’ without question. And they are doing so in Afghanistan and Iraq.”

Have a heart!!!

Give a try to new things in life…Experiment…

Don’t be so serious…Enjoy…Have a laugh!!! Then life takes different colours and hues!!!

Life is what you think it is…

I had such a laugh reading your comment. Frankly, I don’t see anything through any filters conservative/liberal/moderate/leftists/astrological or whatever. I just do what my heart tells me to do.

And I always wonder later what the hell I have been doing!!! LoL!

I have enjoyed your previous posts. Even when I have disagreed with you I found your perpective thought-provoking. However, I would say that an astrological profile belongs on a more credulous site.

I know you began your ‘reading’ of the good general with “let’s have some fun” but, I must ask you, how much actual credence do you give to the above?

General David Petraeus has repeatedly said, “A military solution to Iraq is not possible.” Translation: This thing fails unless there is a political deal among the Shi’ites, Sunnis and Kurds. There is no such deal on the horizon, largely because of the President’s aversion to talking to people he doesn’t like.

The exerpt above is from the Joe Klein article, An Administration’s Epic Collapse, in todays TIME Magazine… Mr. Klein once again has a ‘TIME’ly report on the misadventures of the Bush Administration