Lethality

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, said an ancient Hebrew prophet. Advent is a sober/joyous season of light overcoming darkness. On this First Sunday of Advent, many Christians light a candle to anticipate the victory of light over what the Star Wars movies called the “dark side.” Lethality is part of the darkness to be overcome by Advent’s light of hope, peace, joy and love.

Of the three major Christian attitudes toward war and peace, the oldest is Pacifism (during Roman rule). Emperor Constantine’s embrace of Christianity began a conversation about whether a war can be just and under what circumstances, leading to the Just War theory of last resort. A third attitude is the Crusade. Historian Roland Bainton said the worst wars are religious wars.

In his first inaugural address, Donald Trump spoke of “American carnage.” Some of his followers were attracted to his promise to end “forever wars.” However, he is inclined neither toward pacifism nor a philosophical theory about a “just” war.  He tends to live transactionally, spontaneously, “in the moment.” He’s a natural crusader, as is his Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.

Hegseth, a former Fox Network infotainment personality and a former Major in the Minnesota National Guard, now leads the 1.4 million people in the Department of Defense. He’s on a lethality crusade, which he considers manly, noble and virtuous, per se, rather than a tool of last resort. See Heather Cox Richardson, Joyce Vance, and various US Army YouTube videos, such as:

“The Sweet Sound of Lethality;” “What is the future of the U.S. Army’s lethality?,” “Lethality Explained,” and “Full Lethality Build in the Army.”

From “The Perils of Lethality,” by Christopher Preble and Michael Cohen, Stemson, June 24, 2025

Buddha feet

Doug Jones is running. May he have Buddha feet. Last week I watched an 8-minute video recap of the Auburn-Mercer game, where Tiger QB Deuce Knight ran for four touchdowns in the first half. His swift Buddha feet reminded me of Cam Newton in the 2010 Iron Bowl.

Our friend Rita alerted us that some Texas Buddhist monks will be in Alabama on a 2300-mile Walk for Peace Across America. We hope to meet and thank them. May they have Buddha feet for their journey. (One member of their party, Aloka, has four Buddha feet!)

Today, the well-heeled Lane Kiffin is expected to announce that he will remain the head football coach at Ole Miss or move on to LSU. Hyped expectations mean that wherever he goes (or stays), he will need to be on his toes. He’ll need Buddha feet, which by now you know is a metaphor for mindfulness.

As I approach 75, I have new appreciation for sure-footedness. I first heard the term “Buddha feet” yesterday in a 4+ minute video by Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh (1926-2022).

From “Walk like a Buddha,” Plum Village App, via YouTube, November 1, 2025.

This Buddhist wisdom has been echoed by a teacher in another tradition who has famously said, “Be where your feet are,” described in this one minute thirty-four second video via YouTube (2023).

“Peace through bungling”

It’s difficult to follow news about Russia’s war against Ukraine, but an article by Eliot Cohen in The Atlantic Daily was a clarifying analysis with a realistic projection of possible outcomes. Two excerpts:

A plausible cease-fire would freeze territorial control more or less along current lines, with provisions for Ukraine’s economic reconstruction, the repatriation of its citizens from occupied lands, entry into the European Union, and long-term military support from the West, including at least a rotational NATO military presence. Above all, it would need to include recognition by all parties of Ukraine’s sovereignty and right to choose its own destiny.

From Cohen’s closing paragraph:

Still, if even a Ukraine severed from the Donbas and Crimea—in theory, only temporarily; in reality, probably permanently—can maintain its sovereignty, consolidate its democratic institutions, be assured of entry into the EU, acquire the arms it needs to defend itself bolstered by the intermittent presence of Western armies and air forces, it has a chance. It deserved much better. … 

From “Peace Through Bungling,” by Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic Daily, November 27, 2025

In All Circumstances

On this Thanksgiving Day, like a warm blanket on a cold day, I’m re-reading Tuesday’s Daily Meditation by Brian McLaren from the Center for Action and Contemplation.

McLaren draws “an eight-fold way of happiness” from Jesus’ Beatitudes. It’s a blessing “to miss out on the never-enough system.” “There is blessing in being unsatisfied about the injustice in our world.”

It’s a blessing to know “the disadvantages of advantages, and the advantages of disadvantages,” “to be grateful not just in the good times, but also in the bad times; to be grateful not just in plenty, but also in need; to maintain thankfulness not just in laughter, but also through tears and sorrow.”

A follower said, “rejoice in trials, because through trials come patience, character, wisdom.” Another said, “I have learned to be content with whatever I have” and to give thanks “in all circumstances.”

McLaren wrote: The words “in all circumstances” shouldn’t be confused with “for all circumstances,” of course. But neither should they be thinned to mean “in easy circumstances.”

Finally: You may lose a loved one, or facet after facet of your physical health, but you can still be grateful for what you have left. … saying, “For this breath, thanks. For this tear, thanks. For this memory of something I used to enjoy but now have lost, thanks. For this ability not simply to rage over what has been taken, but to celebrate what was once given, thanks.”

From “In All Circumstances,” a Daily Meditation from the Center for Action and Contemplation, November 25, 2025 (linked above), adapted from Brian McLaren’s 2011 book, Naked Spirituality: A Life with God in 12 Simple Words. Photo by Debbie Huston, untitled (detail) 2018.

The art of diplomacy

As the Trump administration seeks to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, I mused in yesterday’s post about some people I thought would have been good negotiators. Others I thought about, but didn’t mention, were Condoleezza Rice, William B. Taylor and Fiona Hill.

Several unlikely folks have been drawn into the negotiations, including 39-year-old Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, who was profiled in an insightful November 25 BBC article.

A November 23 BBC article, “US and Ukraine signal peace plan progress after Geneva talks,” describes important efforts by European leaders who are providing strong support for Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

This fragile situation is developing rapidly. As of this writing (Tuesday evening in the US), news reports are pouring in over the Internet from various media sources in Europe and the US.

From “Ukraine agrees to peace proposal, with only ‘minor details’ to settle, official says, but no word from Russia,” by Camilla Schick, Margaret Brennan, Jaes LaPorta, and Nancy Cortes, CBS News, November 25, 2025.

Snyder’s interpretation

The link below the photo takes you to a point-by-point interpretation by Timothy Snyder of the Russian peace draft that is sometimes/sometimes not called a US Peace Plan.

Snyder is clear that any reference to the document as a “peace plan” is itself Russian propaganda. His interpretation is extremely valuable reading.

My choice for a US negotiating team in Geneva would be: Snyder, Anne Applebaum, Ambassador Michael McFaul and Admiral James Stavridis.

See also “On Illegal War and Immoral Peace,” by William Kristol, Andrew Egger, Cathy Young and Jim Swift, The Bulwark, November 24, 2025; and “The confusing peace talks regarding Ukraine,” by Robert Hubbell, Today’s Edition Newsletter, November 24, 2025.

From “Russian Unreality and American Weakness: Notes from a bizzare moment of diplomatic history,” by Timothy Snyder, Thinking about…, November 24, 2025.

COP 30

Last week, I was part of an email conversation with some of the smartest people I know. The topic was the 30th “Conference of the Parties,” the United Nations Climate Change Conference, held in Brazil from November 10-21. The US was not among the 200 participating nations.

Stephen began the conversation with a link to a November 18th PBS interview with John Kerry: “This is a summary of the conference and detailed background on the whole subject of climate change. … Renewables are proving in many cases to be viable alternative to fossil fuel generated energy.”

Ernie replied, “Once you amortize the installation costs of a solar panel or a wind turbine, except for maintenance (which is minimal on solar panels), the things use free solar/wind energy to produce electricity at a profit for the owner/installer. … If you travel north on U.S. Hwy 287 out of Dallas, you will encounter hundreds of wind turbines.”

Here’s a link to the video of William Brangham’s 10-minute interview with John Kerry, and a transcript of the interview: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/as-u-s-skips-climate-summit-john-kerry-says-absence-undermines-global-cooperation.

Our ancient webs

The digital Internet is a recent, transformative, evolving development that we sometimes call “The Web.” But, webs are not new, as my friend Al reminded me with Steve Byrne’s slant on Genesis. It is profoundly humorous and profoundly instructive.

Today, I woke up with a reminder from Richard Rohr to be grateful and humble: All the truly great persons … are characterized by what I would call radical humility and gratitude. They are deeply convinced that they are drawing from another source; they are instruments. Their genius is not their own; it is borrowed.

Regularly, including today, Heather Cox Richardson helps me sing with Rod Stewart, “I don’t know much about history….” She wrote: In 1866, President Andrew Johnson accused Republicans of trying to overthrow the government, called congressmen traitors, and called for them to be hanged.

Mark Twain understood our webs when he said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.”

From “Lawmakers say Rubio distanced US from peace plan,” by Joe Gould, Politico, November 22, 2025

A slow-down Saturday

I’m still pondering the implications of the Gallup article mentioned in yesterday’s post, “Record Numbers of Younger Women Want to Leave the U.S.” Gallup identifies some major contours of our current culture, and I see many nuances. Gallup’s “Bottom Line” closes with this paragraph:

Unlike their peers in other advanced economies, younger American women now stand apart from the rest of the U.S. in several respects. They increasingly lack faith in national institutions and picture their futures beyond America’s borders.

Today, I’m savoring a slow day, spending some time with Robert Hubbell’s “Friday was ‘opposite’ day’ in Trumpworld,” and with a delightful blog post by our friend Rita, especially her closing paragraph:

Recipe for Inner Peace: Slow down. Do something kind for someone else. Allocate your attention budget wisely. Take time to nurture your heart and soul. Know what’s happening in the world but don’t drown in speculation. Choose your news sources carefully and limit daily consumption. Take action to alleviate anxiety, and remember that you don’t have to do it all, just do your small part to support the resistance. Savor joy and awe in the many ways they offer themselves. Find gratefulness in the details, and in the simple gift of waking up alive every day. Show appreciation to others every chance you get. Get enough sleep. Make time to meditate.

From “Hawks and Doves,” by Rita H. Clagett, Morning Rounds, November 21, 2025.

Why?

This week, our son Rob shared a Gallup article that left me with the unsettling question, “Why?” Here’s the opening paragraph:

For the second straight year, about one in five Americans say they would like to leave the U.S. and move permanently to another country if they could. This heightened desire to migrate is driven primarily by younger women.

“What has changed in the US?” This was my question after reading the article’s second paragraph:

In 2025, 40% of women aged 15 to 44 say they would move abroad permanently if they had the opportunity. The current figure is four times higher than the 10% who shared this desire in 2014, when it was generally in line with other age and gender groups.

Tomorrow, I’ll share some thoughts about the poll. What do you make of these statistics?

From “Record Numbers of Younger Women Want to Leave the U.S.,” by Benedict Vigers and Julie Ray, Gallup News, November 13, 2025.