What about our politics, philosophy, our history?

He said, "If there is something admirable in these it is a mystery."

I'd forgotten where that track was from, and the previous link just says "unknown." Luckily, Sting On the Night (I ain't come up with that site name, kids. . .) notes that it's a b-side from the "We'll Be Together" single.

Which, they note, was released in 1987.

I'm having a difficult time wrapping my brain around the concept that a) that much time has passed, and b) that I still have the lyrics to the thing floating around my brainmeats after all this time, as I've no idea when was the last time I could possibly have heard it.

Anyway, enough about pop music of a decade and a half ago. Only looked up all that because I wanted to use a snappy title for an entry on Anti-War Thinking, from Desmond Tutu and Ian Urbina:

It is difficult not to feel despair and powerlessness at this awful juncture. Millions in the world fought with all their hearts and minds to avoid violence in Iraq. Inevitably, when bombs fall, there is a deep and emotional void that is opened.

Many will pray. Others will simply reflect. Countless numbers will continue to take to the streets. But all will worry over the extent of destruction to come and the scope of its repercussions.

The piece does turn optimistic after those opening paragraphs. Not sure about Mr. Urbina, I'm not that familiar with him or the Middle East Research and Information Project, but Desmond Tutu has earned the right to holding out hope where there seems to be none, I think.

Nor is he the only one:

The Dalai Lama Monday indicated he was willing to walk the extra mile to find a solution to the Tibet issue with China, saying he was even amenable to winding up the post of Tibet's highest spiritual leader.

"If the Tibetan people so desire, I will be the last Dalai Lama," he said, noting that Beijing had often accused him of encouraging "feudalism" through the institution of the Dalai Lama.

The movement supported by Tibetans across the world was aimed at "genuine autonomy, and not independence" for Tibet, the Dalai Lama asserted[.]

Right, guess I should provide a bit of background on that. Um. Guardian Unlimited -- Dalai Lama: Envoy Will Visit Beijing:

A representative of the Dalai Lama will visit Beijing by the end of May to discuss Tibetans' desire for ``genuine autonomy'' within China, the Dalai Lama said Monday.

More details here and there if you're interested. Google News, I stress yet again, is your friend.

Speaking of which, found something else while looking for a story on the upcoming dialogue with China: Dalai Lama calls for dialogue, not war:

When asked about the US-led military action in Iraq, the Dalai Lama said he did not want to comment directly, but said he believed in non-violence.

"When there is war there is destruction and nothing good can come from that," he told a press conference in the Indian capital New Delhi.

"Proper conflict resolution should be through dialogue. It needs more determination and more patience. It may take more time but it is better."

The Dalai Lama, who won the Nobel Prize in 1989, added: "I do not think violence is an appropriate method. Non-violence is the right method.

"The only appropriate method of resolving a problem is dialogue not by force."

You know, I'm almost tempted to check if any Nobel Prize winners are in support of our invasion war liberation of Iraq. . .

Oh, sorry about the lack of updates and email silence of late.

They will, of course, return immediately after I post this.

Talk amongst yourselves.