Letter #9: Russian Bear Was Just Hibernating

In the September 11, 2008 issue of the Beacon there was a commentary about the fall of the Soviet Union and Russia’s current economic and political state. I wrote a response, which was published the next week. Below is my letter.

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Russian Bear Was Just Hibernating

Colonel Quinn (September 11 Beacon, “Rising Russia – The Bear Awakens”) got his article off to an inauspicious start by making three errors of fact regarding events in Russia.

(1) Though it can be enjoyable to blame neo-cons for just about everything that upsets foreign powers these days, Russia has a well-developed and readily recognized predilection for subjecting its small near-neighbors to the vicissitudes of expansionist aggression. The means have been varied, in a macabre sort of way: there’s been creative violence (e.g. Ivan the Terrible, 16th century), modernizing imperialism (e.g. Peter the Great, 17th–18th centuries), enlightened despotism (e.g. Catherine the Great, 18th century), and Bolshevizing atheism (e.g. Vladimir I. Lenin, 20th century). The folks to ask about this are the victimized people of Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, East Germany, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Tajikstan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, among others.

(2) Far from being subjected by the U.S. and NATO to a post-Cold War Versailles Treaty treatment, post-Soviet Russia was largely just left to sort out its copious self-induced problems; meanwhile, assistance and protection were extended to the numerous surrounding countries that Russia had crushed the life out of for the better part of a century. If Russia wants to seize on U.S. aid rendered to brutalized people as justification for expanding its sphere of military action, the justification includes a healthy dose of pretense.

(3) Recall, too, that 20 years ago the Soviet machine collapsed following a coup attempt, it did not “willingly” give up its empire. Gorbachev and Yeltsin were not Boy Scouts trying to clean house, they were hardened pragmatists scrambling to keep erect what could be salvaged of the collapsing Communist house of cards.

Today Russia – like China, who is also experiencing incredible domestic turmoil – is trying to solve its problems in part by nationalizing all issues; this tactic takes the focus off the fact that the people in charge are the ones chiefly responsible for the worst domestic problems. America hardly needs one of its own officers mischaracterizing the actions of a sitting American President in a way that echoes nationalist Russian agitprop.

Sleep Well

A bad conscience is defined as one formed by refusing to discern God’s will and then admitting the guilt of disobeying it.

Sometimes having a clear conscience is just a sign of a bad memory.

I don't mean to suggest that one should stay up at night wondering why he sleeps soundly.

Rather, the point is that discerning right and wrong is not a self-referential act. The standard for judging right from wrong must be outside ourselves, our circle of friends, our culture, our era.

Magdalene

Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

St. Mary Magdalene is listed in the Catholic calendar as a "Penitent." She had been a prostitute out of whom seven devils were cast, and her conversion was profound: it was she who anointed Christ before His burial and washed His feet with her tears, eliciting the response, “she hath wrought a good work upon Me.” At her request Christ brought her brother Lazarus of Bethany back from the dead; she was also the first to arrive at the empty tomb, and she carried the news of the Resurrection back to the Apostles.

The Tomb of Lazarus

In Bethany just outside of Jerusalem stands a church built on the spot where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus dwelled. Here out Lord took His rest among friends.

The Church at Bethany

The life of Mary Magdalene is proof positive that we can’t create a mess big enough for God to not be able to put things right again. The only real obstacle is an unwillingness to let go of our own brilliant ideas and humbly surrender them to the Almighty.

Himself in Bethany

At 100

Today marks the 100th day since I posted this note declaring that for 100 days I would "offer a daily rosary for my parish priest, for the Pope, and for all the priests from whom I have received the sacraments."

I'm happy to report that I met the goal, Deo gratias.

Holy Land Photos

I created a SlideShare page and posted a presentation of photos from my Holy Land pilgrimage in February, 2008.

The photos became a but pixelated in the conversion process, but you can still make them out at http://www.slideshare.net/sromer/holy-land-photos

I Confess

"For by an evil loving of myself I lost myself, and by seeking Thee alone and purely loving Thee I found both myself and Thee..." à Kempis, My Imitation of Christ

There's an element of malice involved in hanging on to one's sins and failings. Maybe we're too embarassed to confess them and give them up. Maybe we detest ourselves for what we've done and won't relinquish what has poisoned our souls in self-retribution. Maybe we're too attached to our vices and simply enjoy them still.

If in Communion we meet our Maker under the appearance of bread and wine and so consume the medicine our soul needs to be strengthened, refreshed, and healed, then in Confession we meet our maker in the guise of a surgeon who cuts away the toxic gangrene of sin that putrefies. Though the means by which each Sacrament works is different, both Communion and Confession give an increase of sanctifying grace, the great gift that turns all of us from wayward children into prodigal sons who are welcomed home and made whole again.

"The source of interior unease is always the same: self-love that flees from the cross...The more a soul prays, the more peace and happiness it has."
- St. Maximilian Kolbe

Door to Door

This afternoon I finished the second three-hour walk-through of my townhouse community.

There are 72 houses in my neighborhood, so for the past two Saturdays Susan and I (the home owner's association President and Secretary/Webmaster respectively) have gone door to door meeting neighbors, telling everyone about the new community web site, collecting email addresses, and documenting violations of community covenants (it's a thankless job, but it needs to be done).

After reviewing my notes of the two sessions, I've come up with the following superlatives for these expeditions.

Most Likely to Cause an Eye Roll
"I haven't paid my water bill because I thought that was automatically included in my association fee. I used to be a property manager, and I know about these things."

Afterwards we pondered why no explanation was offered on what this chap did with the water bills he'd received in the mail. I think Susan nailed it when she said, "he's full of it."

Most Likely to Result in an Adrenalin Rush
One ESL neighbor from India greeted us at the door in his pajamas. The conversation relied heavily on hand-gestures, and finally he motioned for us to follow him back into the house. We entered the kitchen, where the pajama-clad host grabbed a large kitchen knife and began waving it around. After a few perplexing moments we realized he was motioning with the knife towards the back door. It turns out a tree had fallen across his property line, and the owner from who he was renting had not helped him to resolve the problem -- so the old guy had done what pruning he could with the kitchen knife.