And speaking of the 2008 Olympics,

which I did in my last post (“Lest we forget, part 2”), I want to introduce you to Verum Serum, an interesting website that bills itself as “an eclectic Christian blog run by two guys from O.C.” (that’s Orange County, California, for you non-bicoastal types). John and Scott have posted a very interesting column called “Ten Things To Remember About China (As You Watch The Olympics)”. My recommendation is that you read it carefully and ponder it for a long while afterward. A very long while.

It occurred to me the other day that since China’s population (1.3 billion) is more than four times that of the United States (just over 300 million), that’s enough people so that two people from China could hold down each American while two other people from China beat each American senseless. Or worse. Simultaneously. Not that that would ever happen, of course.

You’ll have to pardon me, my xenophobia (not to mention my paranoia) is showing. But it’s enough to give one pause.

Still, they can sure put on a mean opening ceremony. If you like being a faceless little cog in a great big impersonal machine, China may be just the place for you.

Lest we forget (part 2)

First, see “Lest we forget” (my post of August 6th).

Today was Nagasaki.

And now, even as Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush are photographed together in Beijing, China, at the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics, Russia has invaded the Republic of Georgia.

George Santayana was right: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” (The Life of Reason, Volume 1, 1905.) Santayana also said, “There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval.” (Soliloquies in England, “War Shrines”, 1922.)

Perhaps Mr. Putin just has a different way of enjoying the interval. And a short memory. I choose not to speculate about Mr. Bush because his time remaining is short.

God help us all.