On the Occasion of J. S. Bach's 333rd Birthday

It is appropriate, indeed mandatory, that the birthday[1] of one of the two greatest composers who ever lived[2] be celebrated. About Bach, the late William F. Buckley, Jr, whose political philosophy I abhorred, regarding it as eloquence in support of fascism, got it right when he commented:

[T]here are among us men and women who will not drink from this most precious vessel of our cultural patrimony. To some, he does not speak. If we understand that, then we understand, surely, what the problems are in Geneva, where grown men are actually talking to each other as if it were a challenge to formulate arrangements by which the world should desist from the temptation to destroy itself. If a human being exists who is unmoved by the B minor Mass, it should not surprise that human beings exist who are unmoved by democracy, or freedom, or peace. They have eyes but they do not see, ears but they do not hear. Well, Bach tended to end his manuscripts with the initials, “S. D. G.” — Soli Deo Gloria, To God alone the glory. But God shares that glory, and did so 300 years ago when Johann Sebastian was born[3].

Amen.

---

1. I began writing this short article on March 21, J. S. Bach’s 333rd birthday, but other matters intervened. My apologies to the master, wherever he is.  ↩
   
2. The other being Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  ↩
   
3. National Review, February 26, 2018  ↩
   

Conservatism and Fear

Living as I do in Mississippi, and having lived here most of my life here, I have had an opportunity to observe racism and conservatism in all their different manifestations. The Young Turks just posted a video on recent scientific findings that conservatism is directly related to fear. I can vouch for that out of experience . Watch now

Bolton in the White House? Heaven help us!

According to an article in The Week, dated today (3/8/2018), by Damon Linker, Trump is seriously considering appointing John Bolton as national security advisor. Bolton would be replacing H. R. McMaster.

As the article points out, Bolton is one of those neo-conservatives that believes with all his heart that the only possible response to difficult international conflicts is to bomb, bomb, and then if that doesn’t work, invade, conquer. Throughout his entire political career, he has resisted the use of diplomacy to solve conflicts between nations.

In light of Trump’s shallow understanding of nearly everything touching on presidential responsibilities, one hopes that Trump would seek the advice of knowledgeable advisors, but it is becoming increasingly evident that Trump will seek only flatterers and persons who agree with his ill-formed opinions.

Let us pray.