Dr Yoo, I assume ...

Thoughts on the day after tomorrow, July 4, 2006:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Yoo

Dr. John Yoo, I assume you are a brilliant idiot.

It appears that you have dedicated your genius to the pursuit of power as the ultimate arbiter of human destiny. This is in keeping with the Old Testament god, Jehovah, illustrated by Joshua and the Battle of Jericho. (Note: More about this later.)

You see, John, Jesus introduced a transcending ideal, the seed of a new paradise to emerge after him. It is ideal that the Creator's strength rests in the strong nuturing the weak ... the father, the baby; the big brother, the little sister; the healthy, the sick;, welcoming the stranger; offering peace to one's enemy ... that it is up to the strong to nuture the diversity of the bioshphere.

This transcending ideal of nuturing, this "holy spirit", transforms us.

We have other transcending ideals to guide us while rejecting violence as a solution ... violence may be a defense, but it is never a solution or a tool for seeking one.

Our transcending ideals are clearly stated in our Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/document/index.htm

And in our Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to our Constitution:

Original Ten Amendments: The Bill of Rights

Passed by Congress September 25, 1789.
Ratified December 15, 1791.

Amendment I
Freedoms, Petitions, Assembly

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II
Right to bear arms

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III
Quartering of soldiers

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV
Search and arrest

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V
Rights in criminal cases

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI
Right to a fair trial

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed; which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.

Amendment VII
Rights in civil cases

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII
bail, fines, punishment

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX
Rights retained by the People

The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X
States' rights

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

http://www.ushistory.org/documents/amendments.htm

Article I Section 1 of our Constitution reads:

Article. I.

Section. 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

http://www.ushistory.org/documents/constitution.htm

And John, from your resumé I also assume that you have lived your adult life within the legal bureacratic systems of our nation. It has been my experience that individuals who succeed in that environment are too often those who suck up to the "powerful who reward those who suck up to them". It is a fairly standard outcome of the classroom environment where those who do best are typically those who learn what the professor/teacher wants and then provide that for the professor/teacher. On the surface this seems to be a reasonable arrangement, but when it is used to maximize power and stiffle original thought or creativity that threatens the power base, then it becomes the arthritis of aging cultures.

Gonzales, Libby, Rove, Yoo ... a set of brilliant ass-kissers. No wonder our nation has wandered so far from the transcending ideals of our founders ... ideals that should re-invigorate us in each new generation with new ideas based on original thought and creativity. Instead we are becoming brittle with the attempt to hang on to old ways (the absurdity of God as "The Invisible Hand"), old wealth (oil), and old power (a military strategy based on "we have nukes").

While Joshua won the Battle of Jericho, the victory foreshadowed the future for the Israelites at the hands of their enemies. What we now know in all human relationships from families to nations, breaking the cycle of violence is the real sign of strength. Jesus was right. Sorry, Dr. Yoo. Reality dictates awarding you a failing grade on your life.