The Athenian Jury Trial

I must commend the Greeks----those of the Golden Age of course------for their marvelous contributions to democracy. Both the right to vote for leaders and the right to have cases decided by juries of citizens have civilized many societies ever since 500 B.C.

Now the juries in Athens took a while to choose and administer, given the fact that a jury had to have 501 members.

And the juries sometimes got it wrong. The worst example of an Athenian jury going off the rails (forgive the prophetical reference to an industrial development that followed my death by 70 years) was its conviction of Socrates for "corrupting the young."

Those of you who know me and what I fought with great energy in my lifetime recognize that religious hypocrisy made me crazy. Well, Socrates was convicted for corrupting the young by teaching them that they did not have to worship or honor the Olympian gods.

Socrates' jury trial was a travesty. The Olympian gods were a pack of scoundrels, whose escapades made some memorable stories and myths to entertain people for thousands of years. But, as moral examples of conducting a good honorable life the Olympians were clueless.

Now that I think of it a bit. To worship and honor the Olympians would do more to harm the moral fiber of the Athenian youth than would have a good talk over coffee with Socrates.

Socrates taught the youth of Athens and anyone else that would listen to him for free, much to the chagrin and regret of his wife and children who had little to live on.

Too bad the Greeks did not have a brilliant constitution like the Americans came up with, in which the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution wisely protected a robust free speech, the freedom to exercise religion and kept the church and state at a respectable distance.

Of course the Americans had the benefit of 2200 years of recorded history to learn from and some brilliant founding fathers. The Americans saw the value in voting and jury trials, protecting both rights with great energy.

Wise folks, those ancient Greeks and modern Americans.

Voltaire

WHILE THE DEMOCRATS SLEPT

Forgive my foray into American history. I barely knew America before I passed into my present state: eternal satirist. I always thought America had great potential. Still believe that.

But, somewhere in my memory I remember a conversation with my American friend Ben Franklin. He spoke of some brilliant courageous move by George Washington leading the American troops in some ships across the Delaware River at night. The British troops were sleeping. The Americans surprised them with the night time attack and won a big victory.

That appears to have been what happened this Tuesday when Republican Senatorial candidate Scott Brown upset the Democratic candidate Martha Coakley in a special election for a U.S. Senate seat from Massachusetts, a Democratic stronghold.

I just finished the New York Times article on the election. It appears that all the top Democrats were sleeping, vacationing, inept or some combination thereof. Coakley, who probably would have made a fine Senator, was an inept and arrogant campaigner. In a sports crazy state she knew little or nothing about Boston Red Sox history. She found the gritty work of politics distasteful.

The Dems in the White House, who are some of the finest political organizers around, took Massachusetts for granted until it was too late.

I was having coffee this morning with Harry and Bess Truman, who had just finished one of their brisk walks. We were talking about the Massachusetts Senatorial election. Harry and Bess told me that Harry and his team had upset Tom Dewey in the 1948 Presidential race in a similar way. Dewey had been so far ahead in the polls in the summer of 1948 that he and his team stopped campaigning for quite some time. Until it was too late.

Repeating the mistakes of the past. That what the Democrats did on this one.

That is it for today. I am going running.


Voltaire


Voltaire

SARAH'S BIRTHDAY

Happy birthday to Dr. Sarah Elizabeth Dennis, my oldest daughter. Born in a raging snowstorm, in the famous winter storm of 1979.

She is a star, has always been and will always be.

Outstanding for her passions: love for her families and friends, love for education.

The world is a lot better place because this young woman is striding through it.

In love and admiration,


Voltaire

A Writer's Voice

I have been taking creative writing classes, doing some writing in different genres and hanging around writers, dramatists and other artists since June of 2005. Like the rest of my life this has been thrilling.

Often, I heard the phrase "writer's voice." The more I read, the more I write and the more I think about the most important issues in a life, the easier it is for me to discern a writer's voice.

I start almost every day during the business week with some reading at 3:45 AM (CST) in my writing room with a steaming cup of coffee at my side. I don't always know what I will read when I enter that room. This week I picked up Brenda Ueland's Strength to Your Sword Arm.

This book is a goldmine and its author a saint. Read one essay in this book and you will immediately understand the concept of a "writer's voice."

Brenda Ueland is in a friendly warm conversation with her readers. She writes with a fine hopeful view of life that will immediately boost your spirits and bring a smile to your face.

There is no better writer's voice extant.

And I should know since in my first life in 18th century France no one wrote more than me.


Voltaire

Winston Spencer Churchill

A guiding light for all of us.

Winston raced thru life with wonderful enthusiasm, zest, reslilience and COURAGE.

I highly recommend to you and your children Paul Johnson's Winston Churchill (2009). This 170 page biography captures the essence of a remarkable leader.

I have never given my talented children any required reading, but this book may be the first.

With love and enthusiasm,


Voltaire

Brenda Ueland

Looking for a muse ?

Looking for a morning dose of hope, love and saintliness ?

Then, spend a few minutes with this woman's writing and you will be immediately refreshed.

Her books include: If You Want to Write, Me and Strength to Your Sword Arm.

Ueland was an essayist, journalist and creative writing teacher of the first rank.

Her warmth radiates in her writing.

Please tell me what you think of her.


Voltaire

Movie Reviews: December 2009

1. It's a Wonderful Life. (Frank Capra as director; starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore) 1947. Stunning film about the value of community, family and friendship. As contemporary as ever, given the mortgage crisis of the last two years and the declining size of the middle class in America.

2. Sherlock Holmes (2009, starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law). A disappointing 21st century adaptation of the 19th century detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Director tried to make Holmes act like James Bond. A rather bad idea. Great acting by Mr. Downey as the eccentric Holmes. Save your money and rent a Bond movie with Sean Connery on Netflix.

3. Up In the Air (2009, starring George Clooney and a lovely actress whose name escapes me).
A fairly profound film. "Profound" and film in the same sentence ? Doesn't happen often with American made films. The emotional effects of corporate downsizing and the frightening lack of intimacy in the lives of some corporate execs. My honey and I strongly recommend you see this one and call us to talk about it.

4. It's Complicated (2009, starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin) Want a good night at the show ? Go see this flick. Funny funny scenes keep your mind off a bad plot. Pathos is there also. Helps all of us appreciate loves that last.

Christmas Vacation 2009

It was a great one--about ten days long. Full of love, sleep, running, reading often and widely, some good long runs (12, 9 and 5), four movies, two fine holiday parties with lovely friends.

Finished a wonderful, powerful bio of Winston Churchill by Paul Johnson. I recommend this book highly. I find Churchill to be one of the most inspirational figures in history. Lots of people share that view.

Very very refreshing time.

A time to dream big dreams. There is no limit to what we can do. As Brenda Ueland and Wm. Blake said so well:" God is the creative imagination, and the more you use your imagination generously for the benefit of others, the more you have."

2010 is going to be a great year for all of us.

Happy New Year.