On shit

My wife tells me that there are really three main causes for child mortality in third world countries: lack of food, lack of sanitation (death by diarrhea caused by cholera and other diseases caused by fecal matter in water), and mosquitoes. We've got host of organizations looking after the first, and Rick Mercer and Belinda Stronach taking on the last. Who will be the first celebrity to take up the middle (and arguably largest) cause?

This article takes a look at the second. I'd never thought I'd see the day when, in a Christian magazine, the topic of discussion would be shit. Given my heritage, I took no umbrage. What did you think?

Being-in-Communion or Re-learning to Read in the Academy

A graduate friend asked me recently if I wanted an office space at the university library and I politely said no because I prefer my office at home in my wife's and my third floor, St. John's apartment, overlooking the valley in which the university is nestled. The library office space would be windowless, only large enough for a desk and chair, and unventilated. My office at home has a futon, so I can read in my favourite position: lying down. It has art from artists I know on the walls, a nice desk and chair, my computer, and bookshelves my dad built me, all lined with my collection of books. My rejection of the library office space is not to say that that space is not useful or convenient or even extremely practical. I simply prefer "meaningful space," areas I have had a hand in furnishing or populating with books I like or paintings that challenge or inspire me.

This juxtaposition of untilitarian space versus meaningful space is an aesthetic example of the juxtaposition of literary studies versus literature that Bruce Fleming ellaborates on in his article "What Ails Literary Studies: Leaving Literature Behind," published in The Chronicle on December 19, 2008 (http://chronicle.com/free/v55/i17/17b01401.htm).

Fleming writes this: "Literary studies split off from reading in the early-to-mid-20th century as the result of science envy on the part of literature professors. Talking about books somehow didn't seem substantial enough. Instead of reading literature, now we study 'texts.' We've developed a discipline, with its jargon and its methodology, its insiders and its body of knowledge. What we analyze nowadays is seen neither as the mirror of nature nor the lamp of authorial inspiration. It just is — apparently produced in an airless room by machines working through permutations of keys on the computer." (Bruce Fleming)

Fleming describes literary studies as a utilitarian, pseudo-scientific discipline based on textual interconnection and codified supressions: a discipline that has surrounded itself with texts but has forgotten how to read. The type of reading that has been forgotten is what Fleming seems to put across as an authentic human interaction with a text that helps students "come to terms with love, and life, and death, and mistakes, and victories, and pettiness, and nobility of spirit, and the million other things that make us human and fill our lives" (Fleming).

As far as Fleming is concerned "We're not teaching literature, we're teaching the professional study of literature: What we do is its own subject. Nowadays the academic study of literature has almost nothing to do with the living, breathing world outside [and seemingly little to do with the literature it professes to teach]. The further along you go in the degree ladder, and the more rarified a college you attend, the less literary studies relates to the world of the reader. The academic study of literature nowadays isn't, by and large, about how literature can help students[...]. It's, well, academic, about syllabi and hiring decisions, how works relate to each other, and how the author is oppressing whomever through the work." (Fleming)

Though I think that Fleming's idea of the literary professor as a "coach" is a bit simplified, it does hammer home the point that literary studies is far more concerned with decoding literature or deconstrucing the canon than it is with reading as a human interaction with a work written by another human being.

Immersed in this academic discipline, it is easy to get caught up in the game of codes and playing with these codes in such a way as to attract funding and get back-slapped and handshaked into the old boys' club of the academy. Though the gender and age demographic has shifted in this sphere, the preoccupation with tenure and thus being safely subverversive has not changed.

The strength of Fleming's article is the call to the reader to put as much into the reading, humanly speaking, as the author did in its composition. Here we have echoes of Hans George Gadamer and an intimation of what Derrida may have meant by the "serious play" of reading. There is a cost in empathizing with the other through literature, or, as Homi Bhabha has put it, in inviting the other into the comfortable and clean home of your known experience of being in the world.

In her book A More Profound Alleluia, on theology and worship, Leanne Van Dyk writes that at "the heart of the universe is not the 'will to power' (Nietzsche) but rather 'Being-in-Communion' (Zizioulas)" (Van Dyk 8). In reading Fleming's article I came back to this quotation and thought of literary studies as this dry, utilitarian, library space in which the "will to power" in literature is decoded, mapped, and supposedly subverted and the names of Nietzsche, Foucoult, and Baudrillard are praised... or at least excessively cited. In my office - a privelleged space occupied by a white, educated male, yes - I find that my reading tends to feel less like a great yet hopeless textual experiment and more like being in communion with others in the world.

There is a cost to this communion. It can be messy, even worldview changing. And it is not always, contra the Romantics, salvific. But the communion is necessary and even sometimes, dare I say it, beautiful.

Welcome

A warm welcome to a new addition to our blog joining us (or at least finally signing on after a great deal of pestering and some limited tech trouble shooting): Q Prentice. Also of academia, Q Prentice is pursing a doctorate in English.

The question - of course - is if unlike our dear e.go and DB, we will see real honest-to-God posts. I think our joining rites should include some kind of hazing ritual that obligates members to post.

Q&A with David Goa

Friends, this interview is a must read - and it is short enough for most of us to sneak it in as part of our blog reading. Comment, a journal I heartily recommend, does Q&A with David Goa. A quote:

I have known biblical scholars both within universities and seminaries that have spent their scholarly life dissecting this or that aspect of the Scriptures all in an attempt to come to terms with their adolescent battle with their father over questions of authority. We can all too easily spend our life looking at our own wounds or that of the church or culture. It is a dangerous occupation when it covers up the deep vocation of the human nature for service and bringing divine love into a fragile and struggling world.

And a picture (and my axe!):

  

Christ the King @ 75

This morning the Cathedral of Christ the King celebrated its 75th anniversary of dedication. On this day in 1933 the Gothic structure was dedicated to Christ, the King of Kings, the first Cathedral so dedicated in the world. I learned at mass this morning that the hope on dedication was that it would proclaim Christ's reign over Hamilton, Ontario and all of Canada.

I also learned that the capstone, donated by the Pope from the catacombs in Rome, has built within it the names of the governing clergy, municipal, provincial and federal members of council/parliament and copies of the daily periodicals, Spectator, Herald, Catholic Register and National Interest. The largest of the 23 carillon bells, the Bourdon, was donated by the Prime Minister of Canada.

I join the good parishioners of the Cathedral four mornings a week for mass, meaning that - if I'm honest - I often feel more a part of its community than my own, at First Hamilton CRC. Another post, someday soon, on what my friends at Christ the King lovingly call my journey back to Rome.

A deep loss

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, wife of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, passed away today at age 76.

Her great works will be remembered by all. Most. Well, some. Click here if you have no idea who she is. (Shame!)

"If we can’t even insult one another for god’s sake, how are we ever going to manage the more serious stuff?"

A unique and insightful article by Andrew Potter (at Maclean's) here.

How I Blog

I love how short the stack of "good" ideas is in this cartoon. For days that feel like that:

The Oriential Orthodox Churches–who did not accept the Council of Chalcedon for fear of crypto-Nestorianism–have in recent history come to a common Christological agreement with the Eastern Orthodox Churches, and Roman Catholic, churches. A similar model I think should be followed with the Assyrian Churches, so we can finally get over what I think were some rather unfortunate misunderstandings 1500 years or so ago.

A reply to Jenkin's piece posted earlier, can be found here.

Are the Workers to Blame?

Over the past few weeks I've had several interesting conversations with colleagues over what role unions and workers play - or have not played - in the auto crisis with the Big 3. A little morning diversion via the Boston Globe:

How to travel for free

There is something deliciously earthy about Tim Patterson's article in the Traveller's Notebook, How to travel the world for free (seriously).

A couple of the pointers:

• #2 - Keep your needs to a minimum. 
  "People need fresh air, healthy food, clean water, exercise, creative stimulation, companionship, self-esteem and a safe place to sleep.
  All of these things are simple to obtain. Most of them are free."
• #3 - Go slow.
  "Indeed, as long as you believe that time is money, you will spend money all the time."
• #6 - Learn a useful craft or skill
  "If you have a skill, such as cooking, animal husbandry, massage, musical ability or basic carpentry, you can barter for free food and accommodation as you travel."

Sometimes I think I fall victim to the over-scheduled life.

I don't think that word means what he thinks it means

The lotus is a superbly beautiful flower that grows out of muck and slime. No symbol could better represent the rise of the soul from the material, the victory of enlightenment over ignorance, desire, and attachment. For 2,000 years, Buddhist artists have used the lotus to convey these messages in countless paintings and sculptures. The Christian cross, meanwhile, teaches a comparable lesson, of divine victory over sin and injustice, of the defeat of the world.

The word in question, of course, being the bolded word above. Was anyone else struck by how completely incomparable these two symbols are in this context?

(re: previous post by Adunare)

When Jesus met Buddha

From Phil Jenkins, via A&L Daily: Something remarkable happened when evangelists for two great religions crossed paths more than 1,000 years ago: they got along.

Frye on Advent

A quote from Northrup Frye on wishing "merry Christmas":

Christianity speaks of making the earth
resemble the kingdom of heaven, and
teaches that the kingdom of heaven is
within man. This is something very like
the conquest of the whole year by the
spirit of Christmas, and is the kind
of thing we mean when we wish
a merry Christmas to all.

Posted by Samuel (through Adunare)

Principium Sapientiae Timor Domini

On the personal blogs of a few of us, there is some material that is worth reflection. From Mako Fujimora:

The medium of beauty in a business world is the workers that make the businesses run. It’s not the stock options or profit. They comprise far more capacity, and far deeper longing and invigorated promise for future generations than the system gives them credit for. So the question is not whether they are paid enough, or given enough work: the question is, does the workplace enlarge humanity, or endanger humanity. In full here

At least a few good friends have been involved in bringing the new Paideai Centre for Public Theology into being. I am no theologian or Biblical scholar, but I have begun to feel that if social activists and culture makers are to have a good shot at rooted, faithful service of God and our neighbour, then surely the challenge is very high for folks such as those at the Paideai Centre to cultivate Biblically sound, historically grounded, tough minded approaches to God and the world. I am inspired by their centering text:

Principium Sapientiae Timor Domini - the Fear of the LORD is the beginning of Wisdom

Thoughts on BCE

• This deal was a farce on the entire notion of shareholder rights. An under-performing company feels pressure from shareholders to perform and, rather than become more customer-focused, offer better pricing and product lines and actually become a better business, the Board of BCE basically allowed the investment bankers, hedge funds, pension funds and institutional players to run rough-shod all over the business and enrich themselves on some crazed debt and fee fueled deal with a million moving parts.
• Do Michael Sabia (the CEO who came up with this idea) and Robert Milton (the CEO of Air Canada) have drinks and share ideas on how to take a monopoly and screw it up?

Article here. Brilliant.

B, your thoughts?

Why Graduation Hurts Some People

Unlikely Monks

Today's National Post carries a provocative story on the life of Thomas Merton, An Unlikely Monk - whose early life and conversion bear much resemblance to his inspiration St. Augustine. Popular interest in monastic practices has shot up as the romanticism of denial in an age of too much choice and abundance stirs almost rebellious, adventurous and noble notions. But the question of the article that sits with me, one which Merton spent much time with, is what "value lives of disengagement and contemplation brought to general society"?

I'm not so sure I want to easily couple disengagement with contemplation. It seems to me genuine engagement - engagement which rises beyond the insecurity of self - begins and ends with contemplation. I think the question I prefer is: what quality or kind of engagement does contemplation suggest in general society?

For the rest of this week and this weekend I will be retreating for silence and contemplation at St. Gregory's Abbey, in Three Rivers (MI). I warmly anticipate meals, conversation and reflection on this with friends and colleagues who are joining me.

Ten Stories of 2008 You Didn't Hear & The Ten Worst Predictions of 2008

I admit it. I subscribe to Foreign Policy. It's flashy, easy to read, and full of interesting little factoids that - while at times questionably framed - are all too much fun for my bad social science self to give up.

I don't think I'll renew my subscription (but then, I didn't think I'd reread all of Terry Goodkind's trashy fantasy blockbusters, and here we are - book 5 and counting). But even if I don't, there are at least two features that I think are enough fun to pass on:

The Top Ten Stories You Missed in 2008 and The 10 Worst Predictions for 2008.

Hey, indulge a little.

Big Decisions Aren't the Problem

I was reflecting on a lunch I had with a good friend this past weekend where she lamented how 'busy' life had become, and the importance of saying 'no'. It was part of a broader - more philosophical discussion - about how we "get to where we are" in life. A colleague and I were talking about this same topic today (at the very same luncheon spot, coincidentally) and he made the rather sage point that it isn't the big decisions that get us into trouble - or rather that map out our direction in life. He made a compelling argument that it is a hundred, or a thousand small decisions that carefully focus what subsequent decision making will need to be done. This resonated with me a great deal, especially reflecting on Advent and a long obedience in the same direction. The same is true in public policy - our options are more often than not constrained by previous decisions, such that we often complain TINA (there is no alternative). But - of course - there is always an alternative. The trick is recognizing the path we're choosing before it's too late - because I do, nonetheless, think there are times when it is "too late".

When my colleague reads this I'm sure he'll grace us with a link to the article he read that spurred our conversation :)

Later the article in question is about marketing and the "art of being 15 minutes ahead". Quote: 

The great Ken Burnett talks about the notion of being 15 minutes ahead. Don’t waste your time searching for the one big idea that will transform your fundraising like a magic bullet. Instead, concentrate on just being that little bit better, quicker, smarter, more personal, more evocative, more attentive… You get the idea.

Lucky for Me

I'm getting a PhD.

What the hell happened?

As asked by Gilles Duceppe when he ran into Mr. Dion in an elevator after his near miss Thursday night response. A disastrous series of events unfolds for the L of O in his almost-no show response to Prime Minister Harper. You really have to read the chronology to believe it.

Two thoughtful pieces about this absolute nuclear winter in Canadian politics in the last week: The Canadian Political Crisis, from John von Heyking at Lethbridge and Canada's Questionable Coalition, at C2C.

If Starbucks marketed like a church

Kinda funny and kinda true. 

Quotes of the Morning

After reading some particularly outrageous faculty exchanges on the Uni list serve where I teach part time (and freaking out) colleagues respond:

Friends don't let friends post on faculty list-serves.

Thursday, Dec 4 - John Ralston Saul

4 December 2008 — A FAIR COUNTRY Speaking Event at the Hamilton Public Library, 7:30 p.m. 

http://www.johnralstonsaul.com/live.html

SUMMARY OF A FAIR COUNTRY:

In this startlingly original vision of Canada, thinker John Ralston Saul unveils 3 founding myths. Saul argues that the famous “peace, order, and good government” that supposedly defines Canada is a distortion of the country’s true nature. Every single document before the BNA Act, he points out, used the phrase “peace, welfare, and good government,” demonstrating that the well-being of its citizenry was paramount.

He also argues that Canada is a Métis nation, heavily influenced and shaped by aboriginal ideas: egalitarianism, a proper balance between individual and group, and a penchant for negotiation over violence are all aboriginal values that Canada absorbed. Another obstacle to progress, Saul argues, is that Canada has an increasingly ineffective elite, a colonial non-intellectual business elite that doesn’t believe in Canada. It is critical that we recognize these aspects of the country in order to rethink its future.

Cluster Models and Competitive Industry

Inspired by the below post there are important arguments to made for competition improving both the quality and even quantity of businesses. I ghost wrote a piece a month or so back making the argument that clusters - or geographic concentrations of interconnected companies - can be an important stimulus for industry. First, a concentration of competitive companies concentrates ideas and innovation within particular places. Second, this concentration is as much about resource chains as people themselves, creating pools of highly skilled workers in close proximity. Finally, cooperation between companies within an industry can build 'brand capacity' - a scale of work that only associations of competitors can accomplish. The spin off benefits are also worth reflecting on - supply chains thrive around high level competition.

Today the New York Times quotes Ford's 33 page-plan, submitted to the Senate Banking Committee. It argues that Ford's survival is tightly tied to the industry generally. Quote:

Because our industry is an interdependent one, with broad overlap in supplier and dealer networks, the collapse of one or both of our domestic competitors would threaten Ford as well,” the company said in its plan. “It is in our own self-interest, as well as the nation’s, to seek support for the industry at a time of great peril to this important manufacturing sector of our economy.”

Here

The Big Bad....improver of business?

It was the classic so-called Wal-Mart effect: Business began to shift to the newcomer and away from the town's main street, where her store is located. Ms. Westman, however, responded swiftly.

She ditched products in her store that were also carried at Wal-Mart, such as picture frames and candles. Instead, she returned to her shop's higher end roots of custom window coverings and one-of-a-kind sofas and chairs. Sales at Homeworks Custom Interiors recovered, and have since doubled to about $1-million a year, she says.

"I think there's a little bit of concern when Wal-Mart comes," Ms. Westman says. "It does worry a small town when it happens ... But we probably needed a kick in the pants, and to refocus."

Here

The Millman Chart and Policy Making

Religious circuits tend to suggest that what a person believes is fundamentally determinative of how that person acts - perhaps even exclusively determinative at times. Policy folk like to burst this bubble - a bit uncharitably at times - when they talk about what is called the structure/agency problem (a problem which, btw, I have found no better answer for than Dooyeweerdian social philosophy). This begs the question: where are the sources of policy?

David Brooks argues that the new architecture of global politics isn't being developed by high minded theory. Some theoreticians, he writes

may still talk about Platonic concepts like realism and neoconservatism, but the actual foreign policy doctrine of the future will be hammered out in a bottom-up process as the US and its allies use their varied tools to build government capacity in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, the Philippines and beyond. Global strategies may imagine a new global architecture built at high-level summits, but the real global architecture of the future will emerge organically from these day-to-day nation-building operations.

Ross Douthat paints a similar picture - I think - when he argues that foreign policy can't really be camped out theoretically, but is divided more in terms of personality. Thus we can think Jackson and Hamilton as "realists" perhaps, but different kinds expressing what may be congruent ideas through very different psychologies and processes. A neat little graph to sum up some of these ideas:

   

Munk Debates

I would *really* like to go to this tonight:

Munk Debate on Humanitarian Interventions: December1, 2008

Be it resolved that if countries like Sudan, Zimbabwe and Burma will not end their man-made humanitarian crises, the international community should...

For [+] Mia Farrow Gareth Evans

Against [-] Rick Hiller John Bolton