Inappropriate??

A nineteen year old Montreal resident has this week pleaded guilty to arson. In April he set fire to a religiously based children's school. Fortunately, there were neither injuries nor loss of life but the resulting fire caused damage of more than half a million dollars. A note left at the scene, which the guilty man admits writing, indicates that the fire was set as a direct retaliation for events in the Middle East. Indeed, the note promised further consequences if world events did not unfold in a different way in the future.

So, having confessed his guilt, what does the young man now have to say about his action? A Canadian Press story released this week exposes some very weak and pathetic responses.

First, the man says that his actions were "inappropriate." One wants to inquire as to just when intentionally burning down a school in Canada, or anywhere else for that matter, is "appropriate." When you belch audibly at a dinner party that is inappropriate! When you burn down a school that is called a criminal action.

To further explain his actions the man is quoted as saying, "I just showed my emotions in the wrong way." No! The truth is, he had the wrong emotions. No matter how aggrieved he may feel about events in another part of the world, attacking the persons or property of people simply because they happen to subscribe to the same religion as those he wishes to vilify half a world away is wrong. There is no right way to express hatred and the desire for revenge.

Apparently the young man's father told the presiding judge that "his son is a good person who made a mistake." What a sad commentary that is on things! I don't know what a parent can say in a situation like this, but this father's comment seems to demonstrate the same inadequacies as the son's. The son does not appear to be experiencing remorse. After all, what he did was merely inappropriate.

The maximum sentence for this crime is 14 years. The report indicates that the father is pleading that the son not be sent to jail but is asking that the judge "impose difficult conditions" concerning probation. OK. Perhaps he should start with paying for the damages to the school as well as the court costs.

Though they are part of the public record, I have chosen not to mention the religious affiliations of the respective parties in this case. The reality is that it doesn't matter who does it to whom! Hatred and and a spirit of revenge are not merely "inappropriate" they are morally wrong!

(This post is based on a Canadian Press story as published in the Hamilton Spectator on Friday, December 17th., 2004.)

If At First You Don't Succeed ...

Although his first novel Lives of the Saints won the 1990 Governor General's Award for Fiction, Nino Ricci has not always been viewed as a successful writer.

Now, let me make it clear, my intention here is neither to laud Ricci as a novelist nor to ridicule those who failed initially to recognize his talent. In fact, I will confess that though I have been conscious of his work I am not amongst the ranks of his readers. The point is simply this. When Lives of the Saints was finally published after being rejected by some major Canadian publishers, the public saw qualities in Ricci's work that some others obviously had not.

A recent interview with Nino Ricci disclosed yet another irony concerning his early efforts to establish himself as a writer. Way back when Ricci was still a first year student at York University he was asked to drop out of a creative writing workshop because his instructor did not believe that Ricci had the qualities to be a writer. Compounding the irony is the fact that the instructor concerned was none other than another acclaimed, award winning, Canadian author W. O Mitchell.

Now I am sure that not every reader of Ricci's several novels [which, in addition to Lives of the Saints, include A Glass House (1993), Where She Has Gone (1997) and Testament (2002)] are uncritical of his skills as a writer. However, his work has certainly been received with sufficient acclaim that no one would suggest that it doesn't deserve to be in print. Fortunately, as his life unfolded, Nino Ricci had enough confidence in his own skills and sufficient encouragement from other teachers and friends to persist with his writing.

(Note: The interview referred to appears in "Concordia University Magazine" (December 2004), the alumni publication of Concordia University in Montreal, from which Ricci received an M.A. in 1987.)

Civilization under the Microscope

Do-Gooders of all stripes (even Christian ones) always run the risk of beginning to consider those they are assisting as some sort of lesser being. That danger may be especially great when the persons concerned are part of a technologically less advanced nation or society.

However, advancements that we may label as "civilization" don't always bring with them an actual gain in human civility. A passing observation in a recent newspaper article really empahsized that fact for me. The time and place of this event are unimportant. It is sufficient to disclose that lines of people were awaiting life changing medical assistance from visiting health professionals. The number of people needing treatment was so great that when darkness fell many were still in line waiting for their turn. Those supplying the medical care observed that "as night fell, each person put down a rock to claim their place in line. Everybody returned the next day with no fuss at all."

Remembering to what lengths some parents in contemporary Canadian suburbia would go just to get their children enrolled in swimming classes at the local rec centre ahead of those of their neighbours, I am impressed. So, tell me, who really are the civilized people in this world anyway?

Caesarea: The Underwater Story

Aerial View of Caesarea

I went to Caesarea on Saturday night! Well, not quite but almost. Even better still, the trip was free It was hosted by the venerable Hamilton Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature and the Arts. The tour guide was marine archeologist, and McMaster University Professor, Dr. Eduard Reinhardt.

Dr. Reinhardt presented an illustrated summary of the underwater archeological research at Caesarea in Israel in which he has shared since 1990. Researchers have been trying to reconstruct the history of the artificial harbour built by King Herod between 20 and 10 BC in the Roman city of Caesarea (about halfway between Haifa and Tel Aviv in modern Israel). This construction project was astounding in both its scope and in its utilization of new technology. The construction of a sizeable harbour on a stretch of exposed coastline required the most up to date engineering skills of that era including the use of hydrolic cement that hardens underwater. (And here I thought that cement was a new building material!) Ash from Mount Vesuvious in Italy was the "secret ingredient" that allowed the cement to set underwater. Regrettably the harbour at Caesarea, despite all its elegance only survived for a little over a century. Recent archeological work has been trying to determine whether the port was destroyed by an earthquake or a tsunami (a giant sea wave).

As I listened to Dr. Reinhardt's presentation I found myself thinking about how prominently the city of Caesarea figures in the events recorded in "The Acts of the Apostles" in the New Testament. It was thrilling to think that on at least two occasions the Apostle Paul had sailed from that very harbour.

Paul's first visit to Jerusalem after his conversion to Christianity was cut short when conspirators tried to kill him. His new Christian friends took him from Jerusalem to Caesarea where they secured passage for him on a ship sailing north up the coast to Paul's native city of Tarsus (Acts 9:30). Paul began another life transforming sea voyage from Caesarea near the end of his life when he set out from Caesarea, guarded by a centurian of the Roman Imperial Regiment, who was escorting Paul to Rome to present his legal appeal to Caesar.

King Herod built not only a harbour at Caesarea but an impressive city that included a palatial residence for the Imperial Roman Governor, an adminstrative headquarters including prison cells (in which Paul was a guest of the state for two years), a hippodrome for chariot races, and an amazing open air amphitheatre. As the Roman Governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate was in Jerusalem for the Jewish passover celebration and available to pass judgement on Jesus, but his regular place of residence was in Caesarea.

While touring in Israel in 1992 I had the opportunity to make a brief visit to Caesarea. One of the most visible remains today of Herod's ancient city is the Amphitheatre.

My own photo of Caesarea's amphitheatre (1992)

The rounded Amphitheatre in Caesarea was constructed so well, as modern tourists are challenged to test for themselves, that even words softly spoken at the stage level can be heard in the upper reaches of the gallery.

In 1959 in the course of excavating the amphitheatre workers came across the first archeological confirmation outside of the New Testament concerning Pontius Pilate and his status in the Roman administration. The inscription, pictured below, is fragmented but has been deciphered to read, when translated, "Pontius Pilate, the Prefect of Judea, had dedicated to the people of Caesarea a temple in honour of Tiberius."

(Photo by RJB, 1992.)

Note: The presentation by Dr. Reinhardt that I attended was open to the public without charge as a courtesy of The Hamilton Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature and the Arts. You are invited to visit their website at http://nebula.on.ca/hamiltonassoc/ for information about membership or news of their coming public lectures.

Reading in Progress

It is always interesting to know what friends are reading. I thought that if I shared that information about myself from time to time it might help you to know me a bit better.

First, I must say that my reading, apart from that in my area of professional interest in theology, ranges rather widely. I usually have several books on the go at a time. When I know the context of the material I am not always intending to read a book from cover to cover. Often I want only to read a section or a few chapters to satisfy a particular interest. (Of course, this is all apart from my occasional binges of escapism into the realm of the mystery novel. When one of those moods hits me I will sometimes read half a dozen in a row until the urge passes.)

At the moment I am finishing up two books on Jazz (Jazz 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Jazz by John Szwed and The History of Jazz by Ted Gioia). I am not a musician. I read with genuine interest but I often find that the details do not stick well in my mind. Sometimes I mix up the horn players with the percussionists. Sometimes I remember fascinating biographical trivia only to realize later that I am no longer sure who the story was about. Oh well, I will keep at it. This interest is one I have acquired more recently than some others with which I also struggle.

In the realm of history I also have two books on the go. I am rereading The Head of the Lake by C. M. Johnston which chronicles the opening up of the western end of Lake Ontario for settlement. Originally published in 1957, and revised in 1966, this book, though interesting, has a dated air about it that is quite quaint. The other historical book that I have on the go is Voice of the Vanishing Minority: Robert Sellar and the Huntingdon Gleaner, 1863-1919 by Robert Hill. This chronicle of the tensions experienced by the anglophone settlement in the Chateauguay Valley south of Montreal explores the roots of the language tensions that still predominate in that part of the world. The interest of this to me is that I grew up in Huntingdon, Quebec, and the Huntingdon Gleaner, still edited by members of the Sellar family, was the local weekly newspaper of my childhood.

For the past week or so I have also been reading the lengthy daily installments of "The Life and Death of Morris Lax" in the Hamilton Spectator. Authored by Hamilton journalist and historian Wade Hemsworth, this series explores the life and the unsolved 1992 murder of a Hamilton scrap metal dealer named Morris Lax. I didn't intend to read this series but I got drawn in by the first couple of installments that chronicled the torturous circumstances of Polish Jews before and during the Second World War. The story is a powerful reminder of how such events permanently shape the lives of those who experience them. (I am assuming that this material will, at some point in the future, be revised for book publication.)

My times for reading are inserted sporadically into a typical day. Some of my most enjoyable hours of reading are ones spent immersed in a hot tub of water in the quiet of the evening. The only condition for bathtub reading is that I select a book with an adequate sized print so that I can enjoy it without the need for glasses which are a nuisance in the tub. (We have this neat bathtub that on command gives forth with soothing jets of water. However, I rarely sample that feature because it creates far too much steam and the bubbling water soon splatters any book that gets anywhere close.)

What's next on my reading list? According to my moods probably one or more of the following that have been beckoning for awhile: Political Visions and Illusions: A Survey and Critique of Contemporary Ideologies by David T. Koyzis (who happens to be a member of the local community and a personal friend), A Primer on Postmodernism by Stanley Grenz (this would be a reread but I certainly didn't digest it all the first time through a couple of years ago), or maybe even Writing the Modern Mystery by Barbara Norville (perhaps as a prelude to dragging out that old mystery story outline that I take out and ponder before refiling every other year). Well, whatever it turns out to be, I have no lack of material from which to choose - nor is there much likelihood that all of a sudden I will give up on reading.

Participants Not Spectators

One of my aspirations in establishing this blog is to create a community of regular visitors. However, I hope that many of those who visit this blog will soon choose to be more than mere spectators of what is happening here. Let me offer some suggestions as to how you can become an actual participant.

First, may I encourage you to return regularly. At the outset I know that "A Voice in the Village" will not be a terribly exciting place. I still have a great deal to learn in order to be capable of making it become the place that I dream of it being. I am looking forward to the time that it will serve as a gateway to many Internet sites that reflect my personal interests. Also, I hope that it will provide links to other web sites on which I will be posting longer articles on topics that interest me. I look foward to the time when I can post a selected list of other Blogs with which I feel some affinity and which may also be of interest to those who visit here. However, in the meantime, it looks rather sparse with only a few posts up and not even an archives of postings in which to browse. Added to that is the fact that my early posts will probably be so varied in subject matter that it will be difficult for a first time visitor to determine where I am going and if what I am doing is really of interest to them. However, don't give up on it simply because it is an infant site in its very formative stages. Bookmark it! Come back often enough to remain apprised of my progress towards these goals.

Another way to participate is to share information about this blog with your friends. If you think that a particular item may be of interest to someone you know, I encourage you to share it with them. At the bottom of each post is a small "envelope" icon. Clicking on that will allow you to send an e-mail to anyone you know advising them of the URL for this site and allowing you to add your own personal comments about it in a message to them.

However, the most direct and exciting way for you to participate in "A Voice in the Village" is for you to actually add your own comments, challenges, questions and suggestions. Clicking on the "Comment" tag at the bottom of each post will enable you to join in the discussion. Not only can other "Blogger" users add their comments but anyone who wishes can "Post Anonymously" and then type in, preview and publish their responses.

Note: At the risk of attracting a deluge of spam, I have also posted a personal e-mail address in my profile. If you have trouble using this site or want to offer comments and suggestions unrelated to the items that are posted, please do not hesitate to be in touch. I will do my best to answer promptly.

So, visit regularly and comment often so that the "Voice in the Village" will not just be one lonely voice but rather a lively conversation!

Noted in Passing: Pierre Berton

Pierre Berton (1920-2004)

Pierre Berton is dead at the age of 84. Though I wasn't necessarily a huge fan it is hard to let his death go by without comment. I first remember him from the early days of "Front Page Challenge." (He was a permanent panelist on TV's longest continuously-runing panel show which aired on the CBC from 1957-1995.) He was not only comfortable on camera, he was made for the medium. Consequently, he appeared on a whole variety of TV public affairs programs and history specials through the years. If people didn't know him by name they certainly recognized his bushy white sideburns and ever present bow tie.

A journalist and prolific writer, he did much to make Canadian history popular and accessible to Canadians during the past fifty years. He authored at least 50 books in his lifetime. He was the winner of three Governor General Awards for Non fiction and was also awarded the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour. His contribution to Canadian life and culture was acknowledged in his being named as a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Unfailingly outspoken, Pierre Berton was always provocative. In contrast with many Candian public personalities he was skilled at self promotion. Nevertheless, despite his national profile, he seemed to struggle with the reality that not everyone acclaimed him and he attributed a certain amount of this to religious bigotry. At the time of the release of his book Marching As To War in 2002 he is quoted as having said, "I was hated you know. I made no secret of the fact that I was an atheist." Personally, though I did not applaud his atheism, it certainly didn't provoke me to hatred. It was his apparent egotism that dampened my enthusiasm for his public persona.

Controversial to the last, only weeks before his death he acknowedged in a Toronto Star interview that he had been an occasional marijuana user since the 1960s. Never missing an opportunity to make his point, an obviously frail, though slyly smiling, Pierre Berton made a cameo appearance on Rick Mercer's Monday Report on CBC TV to demonstrate how to roll a joint. In response to those who suggested that all this might somehow tarnish his reputation he is reported to have quipped, "... I've reached the stage in life where I don't give a damn what I say or what people think."