Something Beautiful

Albert Baez, R.I.P.

I was moved to learn that Albert Baez has died.  Although a distinguished scientist in his own right, he is probably best known as the father of singers Joan Baez and Mimi Farina.  I was particularly impressed to see that, many years ago, he had changed his occupation because his work as an experimental physicist conflicted with his Quaker beliefs.   

Helping people

Helping people can be beautiful too. On today's N.Y. Times Op-Ed page is a most inspiring article by Nicholas Kristof on micro-loans and the benefits they can bring to Third World countries. We too -- you and I -- can contribute meaningfully with even small amounts. Much more at Kiva.org.

Animals

I've been suffering from a lack of all inspiration and that has caused the dearth of recent posts. Just now, however, I did come across these photos and think them worth bringing to your attention -- Nick Brandt gallery.

Book of Hours (Flemish, 15th c.)

I love the borders of this Book of Hours, with all their flowers, birds, and other fauna --

February, ff. 2v-3r
December, ff. 12v-13r
Pentecost, ff. 22v-23r
Visitation, ff. 62v-63r
Flight into Egypt, ff. 108v-109r
St Francis; St Jerome, ff. 204v-205r

Bit of Ireland

This photo of Ross Errily Friary is quite the magic carpet - it transports me immediately to my beloved Ireland. 

Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.

A man whom I respected died a few days ago, on February 28, 2007.  In 1949, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., published his book,  “The Vital Center: The Politics of Freedom.” In it he argued that pragmatic, reform-minded liberalism, limited in scope, was the best that man could hope for politically.  He explained --

Problems will always torment us because all important problems are insoluble: that is why they are important. The good comes from the continuing struggle to try and solve them, not from the vain hope of their solution.

Much more recently he defended Western culture by arguing that the concepts of freedom of expression, religion, human rights, liberty and democracy are distinctively Western values.   He wrote --

These are European ideas, not Asian, nor African, nor Middle-Eastern ideas, except by adoption. There is surely no reason for Western civilization to have guilt trips laid on it by champions of cultures based on despotism, superstition, tribalism, and fanaticism.

Well, I think that not be entirely true, but Schlesinger has here offered a useful reminder of the blessings of Western civilization and of the limitations of many other cultures.