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Radicalism, its violence seen as self-defence, in Orthodoxy in Moldova

Wednesday, July 15th, 2020

[ by Charles Cameron — this is why I value & love the online community of scholars and friends ]
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This article, brought to my attention online, looks to have strong resonance elsewhere:

This contribution examines why Orthodox radicals in Moldova demonstrate their ability to use direct action – violent or non-violent – to change state policy, examining cases of confrontation over machine-readable identity cards, the non-denominational use of public spaces, non-discrimination against religious minorities and LGBT. The author suggests that the dynamics of religious radicalism in Moldova are explained by the fact that after the regime change in 2009, official discourse is not supportive of the so-called ‘traditional values’ shared by many. In the absence of other discursive opportunities, domestic political confrontations in Moldova are currently symbolically focused on concepts of ‘the European path’ and ‘the Orthodox land’. Since the mainstream Orthodox Church cannot afford open antistate activity, defending the faith and values is increasingly associated with radicals whose direct activism has apocalyptic undertones. The radical Orthodox have become a persistent political factor, able to influence government policies and legislation. They do not envision themselves as perpetrators of violence, considering their actions to be self-defence. The existence of radicals inside the Church also prevents its general drift in the direction of a more liberal position.

The article is:

  • Anastasia Mitrofanova, Questioning the Europeareligiousn path: Orthodox political radicalism in contemporary Moldova
  • I imagine different readers here will have political radical, strategic, extremist and religious responses to this piece.

    Quatorze Juillet !!

    Tuesday, July 14th, 2020

    [ by Charles Cameron — finding in Blake’s poetry a visionary approach to Bastille Day ]
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    It’s Bastille Day! —
    and Zenpundit honors France on this day.

    **

    William Blake, in his poem The French Revolution, writes:

    The dead brood over Europe, the cloud and vision descends over chearful France;
    O cloud well appointed! Sick, sick: the Prince on his couch, wreath’d in dim
    And appalling mist; his strong hand outstretch’d, from his shoulder down the bone
    Runs aching cold into the scepter too heavy for mortal grasp. No more
    To be swayed by visible hand, nor in cruelty bruise the mild flourishing mountains.

    That’s only the first stanza of the 300-odd lines of Book the First out of Seven, only the First having been published. Much to chew on, both in the French Revolution and its aftermath, and in that first stanza of Bkake‘s poem.

    **

    Vive la France !!

    Memento Mori Snapdragon DoubleTweet

    Sunday, July 12th, 2020

    [ by Charles Cameron — dark humor — a trifle, in which death turns to springtime ].

    Really!

    Announcing The Children’s Illustrated Clausewitz!!

    Thursday, July 9th, 2020

    [ by Charles Cameron — just too good to miss! ]
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    **

    I’m delighted to pass along this message from Caitlin Fitz Gerald, who to my mind (and eye and heart) has achieved her audacious goal of putting Clausewitz into verbal and pictorial language suitable for “bright ten-year-olds” and delightful, as well as hopefully informative, to adults — all this with intelligence, skill and wit..

    Caitlin writes:

    I know many of you already know this, but I wanted to spread the word that the Kickstarter for the Children’s Illustrated Clausewitz is now live! Thank you so much for all of your support over the years. It really means a lot, and I’m so excited to finally see this project in print thanks to my partnership with Nic Jenzen-Jones at Helios House Press!

    If you’re so inclined, I’d love for you to spread the word. The Kickstarter runs through the end of the month.

    Love,
    Caitlin

    **

    I’m pleased to note that Caitlin and her publisher, Helios House, have raised more than $40,000 on Kickstarter, with an initial goal of $7,500 — I’ve been waiting for Caitlin’s brilliant work to receive the recognition is so clearly deserves.

    Act now to obtain the standard edition for a pledge of £25 or more! And pass the word!

    Is this a first? It’s surely significant..

    Sunday, May 31st, 2020

    [ by Charles Cameron — who was wondering about this particular strategy a few minutes before encountering this headline.. ]
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    How would cops joining protesters figure in a simple zero-sum game? Impossible, you say? Did ever a white bishop in chess determine the black cause was righteous and declare itself black, allowing the black player to move it? Never, you say? How, then, do we score this move?

    **

    Source:

  • mlive, Flint-area police join protesters marching to seek justice for George Floyd
  • **

    Is this “c” for “cooperate”? And if iterated?

    Fred Leland? Doc Bunker? John Sullivan? Don Vandergriff? John Horgan? Mike Sellers?


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