A New Blog
My name is Joshua Snyder and I am a blogoholic.

As noted above below the header, I've started a new blog entitled Ad Orientem 西儒 - The Western Confucian. The content will be familiar to readers of this blog, but the focus slightly different.

Being rather isolated socially, I miss being out of the conversation without a blog. Also, having two kids, I just was not able to get done what I had hoped to do with my freetime. Besides, I found that blogging kept me away from even less profitable pursuits, much to my surprise.

The new blog, as its name suggests, will turn away from the personal. I may update this old blog from time to time with personal information. And I will keep oit for all of its links, especially on the sidebar.

Our Lady of Lebanon, Pray for Us

[image from Paróquia Melquita de Nossa Senhora do Líbano]

Saint Andrew Kim Taegon
Ora Pro Nobis

Dear Readers,

It is perhaps appropriate that on the day its patron's feast is being celebrated here in Korea, this blog should come to an end. Saint Andrew Kim was the first Korean priest, and the first priest to die for the Faith in Korea. Without him and the other Martyrs of Korea, the Catholic Church might be as hard to come across as the Anglican and Orthodox Churches here, and when it came time to leave Protestantism I might not have so easily chanced upon the Barque of Peter.

The virtues and vices associated with blogging are well known and need not be repeated here. As far as I know, I'm the only English-speaking practicing Catholic within a hundred-mile radius, and blogging has allowed me to interact in a very real way with several Catholics and others through comments and emails. I was fortunate enough to meet three fine gentlemen through this blog, the wisest among them perhaps the one without the blog (who's non-Catholic, too!). I hope to meet them again, and meet the others whom I have not had the chance to meet in person, either in this world or the next.

Before blogging, I used to fill my early mornings with prayer, exercise, and language study. I've all but eliminated the latter two and hope to revive some time for the Royal Canadian Air Force Exercise Plans for Physical Fitness and the Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin. Also, in those moments between classes or when my children are sleeping, I'll turn to the Liturgy of the Hours instead of the computer. I also envison having more time for reading, my favorite leisure activity

I had convinced myself that my blogging only followed my normal daily Internet use, that I'd simply post links to and the occasional comment on stories I found interesting. In reality, I'd spend much unnecessary time looking for those stories. As I get older, I realize that I am much more talented at retaining information rather than knowledge, and blogging, at least as I did it, only emphasizes the former at the expense of the latter.

I will not delete this blog, to preserve the links. I will continue to visit my favorite blogs and perhaps post comments. I'll probably resurface someday, perhaps even soon. I foresee the urge to share a great article to be just too strong.

I'll keep you all in my prayers. Please keep me in yours.

Yours in Christ,
Joshua Snyder, a Sinner

Feast of Saints Peter and Paul Papal Message
As reported by Sandro Magister: The Victorious Barque of Peter, Buffeted in Vain by Satan

Hyderabad, India
Sisters of Mother Teresa imprisoned on proselytism charges

Mahmoudiya
A capital offense if there ever was one: GIs may have planned Iraq rape, slayings.

Bringing the Hagarenes to Her Son
Mary a Meeting Point of Cultures, Says Muslim

Requiescat in Pace
Underground Bishop Guo Wenzhi Dies

Culture of Death Watch
Buffett gift likely to benefit already profitable Planned Parenthood
Human embryonic stem-cell research same as abortion, Vatican family official says

The Distinction Between Patriotism and Nationalism...
is something I've been interested in for sometime. The following definition is attributed to journalist Sydney J. Harris by a commenter from France to the Marmot's post entitled Someone needs a hug, reporting often über-nationalistic Korea's dismel performance on a University of Chicago survey of national pride:

Patriotism is proud [sic] of a country’s virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country’s virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, “the greatest,” but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is.

For the interested, other useful definitions can be found on this recent post of mine: Patriotism vs. Nationalism.

A Natural Utterance I Made in TOEFL Class Today

Look how locked, looked, and leaked look a lot like lacked.

World Cup Quarterfinals
My alliances shift, but how can I not pull for England?

For a Catholic interpretation of the above ad, here are the thoughts of Young Fogey, an Englishman in Philly, from his post on the Row over Nike World Cup advert:

I think it’s a marvellous picture, art that’s too cool and steeped in religious symbolism to sell trainers. It doesn’t belong in church but it’s not offensive in itself. Quite the opposite. Like a hipper version of the end of Braveheart. The primal soul of England: Catholic.

[image from 루니 애인도 놀라게 한 '루니 포스터']

Department of Agriculture Fascism
A sting operation over raw milk: Amish Farmer Says Milk Law Opposes Beliefs.

You can't just give milk away to someone other then yourself. It's a violation of the law.

So says Ohio Department of Agriculture spokeswoman LeeAnne Mizer.

This is outrageous. We all need to do what we can for Arlie Stutzman, the farmer at the center of the story. Let's keep him in our prayers.

Mr. Wendell Berry of Kentucky writes of how such unjust laws have effectively eliminated small-scale farming in The Unsettling of America -- Culture & Agriculture.

In the past, a farming family might raise a few chickens or have a milk-cow the suppliment their diet. Any extra eggs or milk could be sold locally. Then along came the Nanny State and decided everything had to be pasteurized (and stripped of its nutrients). The era of industrial agriculture began.

In Memoriam
I wish this headline were true: S. Korea Marks 4th Anniversary of Bloody Naval Clash.

I brough up today's anniversary in my morning class and was met with blank stares. It was not only that my students did not remember the date, they had no idea what I was talking about.

What? North Korea attack us? But we are brothers, the same race. Koreans don't kill Koreans.

The Reform of the Reform
Roma locuta est: Pope wants guitars silenced during mass.

This would be great news if more than a handful of Catholics listened to the Vicar of Christ. No, the guitars will sound this Sunday.

Next time I see one, however, I might be emboldened to pull a John Belushi and smash the thing over the guy's head. Of course, as in the best scene in Animal House (1978), I'll say "sorry" afterwards. It's still a Mass, after all.

Some "youth Masses" here in Korea use guitars and the music for the English Masses I've attended has been provided by Filipinos with guitars, which is why I exclusively attend Korean-language Masses.

Here's a disc I bought in my pre-Catholic days:

Of the three masses, there is only one I can listen to:

Why? The African choir is astonishingly beautiful and polyphonic, and the accompanying drums are muted and in keeping with the dignity and solemnity of the Mass. The setting is pre-conciliar, and thus in Latin. This is inculturation at its finest.

The other two settings are in Spanish and the music is raucous Cuban and Andalusian folk music, which I enjoy, but not at church.

[link to article via Shrine of the Holy Whapping]

A Purpose-Driven Invitation
Rick Warren to Preach in Communist North Korea

Movie Hype
Hollywood is trying to tap into the Christian market by marketing its latest resurrected superhero as a Christ-like figure, and many Christians seem to be buying into that. Jordan Ballor, of the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty, shows just how misguided that is, in Anti-Christ Superman: The Superhero and the Suffering Servant.

I won't see the movie. I've never seen any of the superhero movies. My question is, why is Hollywood only capable of regurgitating old ideas, albeit with huge budgets?

Jeff Culbreath's Series
TELEVISION AND THE CATHOLIC HOME - PART I
TELEVISION AND THE CATHOLIC HOME - PART II
TELEVISION AND THE CATHOLIC HOME - PART III
TELEVISION AND THE CATHOLIC HOME - PART IV

Tan Lejos de Dios; Tan Cercas de los Estados Unidos
"So Far from God; So Close to the United States" is the traditional Mexican lament. Presidential Canditate Andrés Manuel López Obrador may be aiming to bridge that divide, but in a very unpredicatable way, as noted by this article by Enrique Krauze, translated by the Grey Lady, Bringing Mexico Closer to God*, which begins thusly:

SHOULD Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the front-runner in Mexico's presidential race, emerge victorious on Sunday, it could usher in a form of Latin American leftism as yet unseen: messianic populism. Mexico's fragile democracy could become its first casualty.

Outside of Mexico, people ask which Latin American leader Mr. López Obrador most resembles: Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, Evo Morales of Bolivia or Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil. The truth is that he's not like any of them. He does not have the military stamp of Comandante Chávez or the indigenist roots of Mr. Morales. Nor is he a born compromiser like Mr. Lula who, as some Brazilians say, seems to "know the value of 10 percent." Mr. López Obrador is different: he always strives for 100 percent. And he has higher models to emulate.

The image is by one Sungyoon Choi, a Korean name if I ever heard one.

*Use BugMeNot.com to bypass registration.

Anglicanism
This is painful to watch: Worldwide Anglican church facing split over gay bishop.

I never formerly became an Anglican, but spent six years attending Mass with them, first regularly at St. Mary's Cathedral* in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and then for five years here with The Anglican Church of Korea. Once I heard of Anglo-Catholicism, I was a goner.

This blogger's very first post was in response to the issue that is now rending the Anglican Communion asunder, from August 08, 2003: Some Thoughts on Recent Events in the Anglican Communion.

My prayers remain with the Anglican Communion.

*Our Lady has been there every step of the way on my journey to the Catholic Faith her Son established, from at least the moment I visited the Insigne y Nacional Basílica de Guadalupe as a backacker.

Requiescat in Pace

Sofia's family ask for prayers

I am a bit ambivalent about giving the State the power to execute, but I'd hold the rope for the hanging of the man who raped and murdered eight-year-old Sofia Rodriguez-Urrutia-Shu.

UPDATE: Sofia's parents thank God for sharing "angel"

Korea's Cardinal Cheong on Ecology
His Eminence gets close to Distributivism, Agrarianism, and The Principle of Subsidiarity, it seems, with his latest pastoral letter.

From Gospel call to live ecological life: Korean cardinal:

In the 16-page letter, Cardinal Cheong said that the concentrated use of fossil energy, threats to the diversity of species on the planet, the effects of petrochemical agriculture, the shortage and unbalanced distribution of food and the insufficient degree of food self-support are all reasons for the crisis.

"The church should give priority to the practice of the gospel by transforming our life to sustainable and renewable way," he said.

I wonder if the good Cardinal has been reading Mr. Wendell Berry of Kentucky.

More Crunchiness
Mr. Jeff Culbreath, whose home and farm I had the pleasure of visiting in Northern California, posts his excellent THOUGHTS ON CRUNCHY CONSERVATISM.

A lively discussion has ensued, including a visit by the Crunchy Con himself, author Rod Dreher.

Leave it to Mr. Culbreath, however, who has a way with words beyond that of the subject of his post, to come up with the best quote:

McDonald's IS totalitarianism; Irma Jean's Burger House is freedom.

Color Photos of Wartime Korea
Noting that "[i]t is as if history had always been recorded in black and white, and once some events are shown in color they appear much more relevant," Antti Leppänen of Hunjangûi karûch'im links to a stunning series photos taken by an American GI during thje Korean War: 포화 속에서도 삶은 계속됐다.

Here are three:

Click on the link to see the rest.

Dr. Fleming Takes on Philanthropists, and Links Greed to Sodomy
Hard-hitting stuff, from Yes, They Have More Money:

[N]either Buffet nor Gates has the slightest idea of what to do with his money. Their "ideas" are the usual clichés of the Left: Kill babies, encourage women to hate their father and husbands, destroy religion and tradition and every other thing that might make life worth living.

[....]

It has taken me several decades of observation to realize what Aristotle and Paul were talking about when they condemned pleonexia, the vice of always wanting more wealth. Paul often associates pleonexia (greed is an inadequate translation) with sodomy. Why? Because both are sterile and emasculating obsessions. Look at the bloated bovine bloodless faces of so many plutocrats. Below good and evil, they are truly to be pitied for what they have done to themselves.

Reasons to Homeschool in Korea
More students found poisoned by school meals
Cell camera films abuse of 1st-grade students

Sovereignty, Zarqawi, and WMD
Three Iraq Myths That Won't Quit, from Antiwar.com

Animal Welfare
As an animal lover, not animal rights activist, I find this story disturbing: Case of loving his pets to death.

Here's what happened:

Cafe manager Hwang Woun-young also offered boarding facilities to Seoul residents who needed somewhere to leave their pets when they went on vacation. But despite even having some of his dogs appear in Korean feature films and becoming movie stars in their own right, things were going terribly wrong.

Some of the people who left their pets with Hwang didn't come back, and the pet cafe became a dumping ground for unwanted and abandoned animals. Hwang fell nine months behind in his rent and the owner of the property moved in to evict him. This led to a grim scene last week with 82 dogs and eight cats sitting locked, sometimes three to a cage on the street and in the alleyway leading to the now closed and shuttered cafe. According to Hwang, they had been there for five days.

Pet culture is rather new to Korea. Visit any downtown fashion district, and you can see many young girls carrying around small dogs as if they were accessaries, like handbags. What these youngsters don't realize is that raising an animal takes years of commitment and responsibility.

Return to Clone-and-Kill
Disgraced Hwang to resume work on cloning, stem cells

Design
Babu Ranganathan writes: Creationists Right on Entropy, Evolution.

Plenary Indulgence
Pope Benedict XVI is bestowing another one: Holy Father grants plenary indulgence for World Meeting of Families.

Here are the requirements:

- Make a good sacramental confession
- Receive Holy Communion
- Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father
- Either participate in the celebrations of the World Meeting in Valencia or, "remain united in spirit and thought" with those who are
- Recite as a family the Our Father, the Creed, and other prayers invoking Divine Mercy

South Korea's Conservative Resurgence

The Pendulum Swings: Buoyed by massive local victories, the opposition starts to focus on who could lead them back to the presidency.

I'd be happy with either the lovely Park Geun Hye or Pohang's own Lee Myung Bak as president. Miss Park is Catholic and Mr. Lee is Protestant.

The Return of Maestro Monsignor Domenico Bartolucci
And with him, we pray, Gregorian Chant and Sacred Polyphony, ancient and modern: A Change of Tune in the Vatican – And Not Only in the Secretariat of State.

Signore Magister on the maestro's removal in 1997:

Maestro Bartolucci was named the "perpetual" director, the director for life, of the Sistine Chapel by Pius XII in 1959. Under this and later popes, he was an outstanding interpreter of the liturgical music founded upon Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony. But after a long period of opposition, in 1997 he was dismissed and replaced by a choirmaster thought to be more fitting for the "popular" music dear to John Paul II.

Bartolucci’s replacement was the finishing stroke of the almost complete elimination of Gregorian chant and polyphony as desired by the authors of the postconciliar liturgical reform.

Signore Magister's description of the maestro's concert in the Sistine Chapel:

In the concert, Bartolucci masterfully executed an offertory, two motets, and a "Credo" by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, the prince of sacred Roman polyphonic music and maestro of the Sistine Chapel until the end of the 1500’s.

But he also executed some of his own compositions: three motets, an antiphon, a hymn, and an "Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Benedicto," composed in 2005 after Ratzinger’s election as pope.

Maestro Bartolucci addressed His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI with these words:

Most blessed Father, we all know the great love of Your Holiness for the liturgy, and thus for sacred music. Music is the art that has benefited the liturgy of the Church most of all: the space for the choir represented its cradle, thanks to which the Church was able to form the language that we admire today. The most beautiful examples that the faith of past centuries has left to us and which we must keep alive are Gregorian chant and polyphony: these require a constant practice capable of enlivening and animating divine worship.

Here is what Pope Benedict XVI was quoted as saying after the concert:

All of the selections we have listened to - and especially in their entirety, where the 16th and 20th centuries stand parallel - agree in confirming the conviction that sacred polyphony, in particular that of what is called the 'Roman school', constitutes a heritage that should be preserved with care, kept alive, and made better known, for the benefit not only of the scholars and specialists, but of the ecclesial community as a whole. [...] An authentic updating of sacred music can take place only in the lineage of the great tradition of the past, of Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony.

Hope.

Genesis Namakaokalani Lee Loy (1919-2006)
Requiescat in pace: Advocate for Hawaii sovereignty dies, 86.

To be honest, I've never heard of this gentleman before, but from the obituary we gather that he was a true patriot of Ka Lahui Hawaii, the Hawaiian Nation, and a true Catholic; he had fourteen children. What better way to serve one's country? Funeral Mass will be heald at the Malia Puka O Kalani Catholic Church.

Like that great fellow Buffalonian* Grover Cleveland, I think Hawaii should have remained sovereign**. It was under William McKinley, who was capped in Buffalo by anarchist Leon Frank Czołgosz, that Hawaii was annexed.

*Another The other great Buffalonian President, Millard Fillmore, was a "doughface" (a Northerner with Southern principles), and refused to drape his house in black after Lincoln was capped on Good Friday, 1865.

**See his message to Congress in 1893: Grover Cleveland Opposes the Annexation of Hawaii.