Freedom of expression: a feeble faith

The threats and outrage expressed over Salman Rushdie's knighthood reveals a terrible feebleness of faith on the part of some believers of Islam. It's supporters believe their prophets can be sullied by one they consider despicable. It seems Islam regards its foes as greater than its leaders. This intolerance for any type of criticism, whether lofty or base, speaks more to a lack of faith than a desire to protect the "infinitely powerful" or to follow in the steps of the"infinitely merciful".

A infinitely merciful and powerful deity doesn't need or require suicide bombers or draconian regimes to silence loudmouths.

Adam's log, stardate 2007.06.14

Well it was ambitious of me to try and read and comment on one chapter of Schopenhauer per day. I'll try and get chapters 3 through 5 up today.

We're returning to Montréal shortly, so the last couple of weeks have been a flurry of renovation activity. I'd planned on taking 18 months to complete what has to be done. i now have less than a month.

My marathon plans are still on track. Maybe this is my year to run 42 km, hopefully in 3 and 1/2 hours. Broken toes, bronchitis and Norwalk virus have stymied me in the last few years. if I succeed, then I'll get my first tatoo- a running man.

Politically, the conservatives seem edging towards implosion, with nothing left but a western rump and a bad taste in the mouths of eastern Canada. On the other hand, growing numbers of foreign insurgents threaten our troops in Afghanistan, and the American failure in Iraq, coupled with a conflict between Turkey and an embryonic Kurdistan, sabre rattling with Iran and a palestinian civil war signals a anxious time for everyone. Did it sound like this in 1912?1938?

I made my first Long Island ice-tea yesterday. Summer in an alcohol-loaded glass.