A quotation from Russell, Bertrand

When one admits that nothing is certain one must, I think, also admit that some things are much more nearly certain than others. It is much more nearly certain that we are assembled here tonight than it is that this or that political party is in the right. Certainly there are degrees of certainty, and one should be very careful to emphasize that fact, because otherwise one is landed in an utter skepticism, and complete skepticism would, of course, be totally barren and completely useless.

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) English mathematician and philosopher
“Am I an Atheist or an Agnostic?” sec. “Skepticism” (1949)

#quote #quotes #quotation #certainty #skepticism #judgment #likelihood #moderation #probability
Sourcing / notes: https://wist.info/russell-bertrand/67789/

After-Action Report: The 160th Anniversary Reenactment of the Battle of Chickamauga

Mrs. Robin and I home schooled both of our children (now grown and with families of their own), and #homeschool American #History classes included attendance at - and then participation in - "Living History" events. These are re-creations of people and events that made American History and whose impact continues to this day.

The article linked below is my "Report of the Chaplain" following this past weekend's amazing re-creation of the three-day Battle of Chickamauga. This was the last Confederate victory before the rape of the South by General Sherman which devastated much of Georgia but helped bring the War Between the States to an end. Written from the point of view of a Confederate soldier, and with heavy emphasis on the spiritual aspects of that terrible war, I hope readers find it informative and inspiring:

https://technophobeconfessions.wordpress.com/2023/09/25/report-of-the-battalion-chaplain-blood-steel-and-victory/

#USA #CSA #civil-war #USA-history #soldiers #armies #gospel #bible #revival #judgment

A quotation from Lincoln, Abraham

The true rule, in determining to embrace, or reject any thing, is not whether it have any evil in it; but whether it have more of evil, than of good. There are few things wholly evil, or wholly good. Almost every thing, especially of governmental policy, is an inseparable compound of the two; so that our best judgment of the preponderance between them is continually demanded.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
Remarks, House of Representatives (1848-06-20)

#quote #quotes #quotation #compromise #evil #good #policy #politics #government #judgment
Sourcing / notes: https://wist.info/lincoln-abraham/5274/

A quotation from Bierce, Ambrose

ABSURDITY, n.: A statement or belief manifestly inconsistent with one’s own opinion.

Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) American writer and journalist
The Cynic’s Word Book (1906)

#quote #quotes #quotation #absurdity #judgment #opinion #preconception #prejudice #silliness
Sourcing / notes: https://wist.info/bierce-ambrose/26171/

A quotation from Martin, Everett Dean

Education is more than information, or skill, or propaganda. In each age education must take into account the conditions of that age. But the educated mind is not a mere creature of its own time. Education is emancipation from herd opinion, self-mastery, capacity for self-criticism, suspended judgment, and urbanity.

Everett Dean Martin (1880-1941) American educator, minister, writer, lecturer
The Meaning of a Liberal Education, Preface (1926)

#quote #quotation #education #judgment #self-control #self-criticism #sophistication #timelessness
Sourcing and notes: https://wist.info/martin-everett-dean/57221/

A quotation from Spinoza, Baruch

I have often wondered, that persons who make a boast of professing the Christian religion, namely, love, joy, peace, temperance, and charity to all men, should quarrel with such rancorous animosity, and display daily towards one another such bitter hatred, that this, rather than the virtues they claim, is the readiest criterion of their faith.

Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677) Dutch philosopher
Theological-Political Treatise [Tractatus Theologico-Politicus], Part 1, Preface, sec. 23 (1670)

#quote #quotation #animosity #Christianity #conflict #division #hypocrisy #judgment #self-righteousness
Sourcing and notes: https://wist.info/spinoza-baruch/56794/

#Brazil will have first #climate litigation trials in the Supreme #Court

source: https://blogs.law.columbia.edu/climatechange/2022/03/28/guest-post-brazil-will-have-first-climate-litigation-trials-in-the-supreme-court/

The cases will be the first climate litigation cases to receive a #judgment by the Supreme Court. ADPF 760 calls for the implementation of the Action Plan for Prevention and Control of #Deforestation in the #Amazon (PPCDAm), an essential policy to meet the deforestation target established in international climate agreements and Brazil’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

#news #law #justice #environment #forest #nature

Is the International #Court of #Justice just a Western invention to judge the rest of the #world for #crimes that the West itself commits?

International Court of Justice orders #Russia to cease hostilities in #Ukraine - source: https://www.euronews.com/2022/03/16/international-court-of-justice-orders-russia-to-cease-hostilities-in-ukraine

To say it right away, I also condemn the war in Ukraine. Nevertheless, I was surprised by the quick judgment, especially since the West has never been judged for something similar.

So it was once president #Bush junior who said he would rather bomb the Court than defer to its #judgment - source: https://www.hrw.org/news/2002/08/03/us-hague-invasion-act-becomes-law

Investigations into #torture and other war crimes committed by the U.S. in #Afghanistan did not take place because of massive threats to the court - source: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/405871-bolton-threatens-sanctions-against-international-criminal-court

It is common knowledge that the United States fail to comply with international law, but demands compliance from other states.

But also for Western Europe international law seems to have no meaning.

Former German Chancellor Schröder readily admitted that NATO's interference in the Yugoslav war was a violation of international law - source: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/03/14/schr-m14.html

The European Union is an economic alliance, not a military one. Nevertheless, the #EU has issued mandates to intervene in the Syrian war, which is reserved for the UN - source: https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/german-military-intervention-in-syria-legal-lawyers-rule/

The EU stubbornly refuses to accept war #refugees caused by them and either lets them drown in the Mediterranean or freeze to death at the Polish border. According to the Geneva #Refugee Convention, the EU would be obliged to take care of these refugees.

It's inhumane how the whole world ignores international #law. But the fact that the International Court of Justice judges selected states for this and leaves the West unpunished is disgusting. Before the law all states must be equal or we accept the arbitrariness and the right of the strongest.

#news #law #democracy #war #terror #europe #usa #uno #problem #fail #freedom

The UK High Court will deliver its decision on Monday morning about whether to permit Assange to appeal the US extradition decision

https://twitter.com/StellaMoris1/status/1484505652227682304

The #judgment will be read out at #10.45am, #London time
#RoyalCourtsofJustice
#TheStrand
WC2A 2LL
(Opposite Australia House)

The judgment will either:
1) Certify that the point(s) of #law raised by #Assange are of #general-public-importance--thus giving him #permission to lodge an #application with the #UKSupremeCourt; or
2) #Deny such #certification, in which case the #extradition order will pass to #UKHomeSecretary
to authorise or deny #Assange's extradition. The #judges making the decision about whether to #permit the #appeal to proceed to the UK Supreme Court are the same ones who heard the #HighCourt appeal, #LCJIanBurnett and #LJTimHolroyde, and who #reversed the #magistrate's #decision #refusing Julian's extradition to the #US.

#julianassange #stellamoris #dropthecharges #freeassange #wikileaks #journalismisnotacrime #weareallassange

#daniel #belshazzar #feast #judgment #tories #politics #crime #human_rights #UK #global

A quotation by Von Clausewitz, Karl

We repeat: strength of character does not consist solely in having powerful feelings, but in maintaining one’s balance in spite of them. Even with the violence of emotion, judgment and principle must still function like a ship’s compass, which records the slightest variations however rough the sea.

Karl von Clausewitz (1780-1831) Prussian soldier, historian, military theorist

On War [Vom Kriege], Book 1, ch. 3 “On Military Genius” (1832) [tr. Howard/Paret (1976)]

#quotation #quote #balance #calm #character #judgment #passion #serenity #strength

More notes and sourcing on WIST: https://wist.info/von-clausewitz-karl/48664/

A quotation by Fussell, Paul

The past, which as always did not know the future, acted in ways that ask to be imagined before they are condemned. Or even simplified.

Paul Fussell (1924-2012) American cultural and literary historian, author, academic

“Thank God for the Atom Bomb,” The New Republic (26 Aug 1981)

#quotation #quote #foresight #future #history #judgment #past #perspective #retrospect

More notes and sourcing on WIST: https://wist.info/fussell-paul/48643/

The Hawaiian Kingdom vs the US

https://hawaiiankingdom.org/blog/2021/07/
https://nlginternational.org/2021/07/wplc-iadl-and-nlg-file-joint-amicus-brief-supporting-the-hawaiian-kingdoms-complaint-against-the-us-requesting-a-declaratory-judgment-and-effective-end-of-u-s-occupation

#WPLC, #IADL, and #NLG file #joint #Amicus #Brief supporting the #Hawaiian #Kingdom’s #complaint #against the #US requesting a #declaratory #judgment and #effective #end of #US #Occupation

#hawaiiankingdom #education #international #law #relations #treaties #warcrimes #homeland #landback #AlohaAina #love-of-the-land