Confusing Politics with Religion

Much is made these days about the threat of "Radical Islam"...and the fact that the Jihadists often seem bent on killing as many Westerners---particularly Americans---as they can. This has led some to adopt a posture of "political protectionism," akin to the trade protectionists we see in some circles, warning of the dangers posed by "radical Muslims" throughout the world. But at the risk of being thought "politically correct" (an epithet I regard as among the worst things you can call anyone who postures as a "thinker"), I think we need to be cautious about confusing politics and religion.

I think that, properly understood, all of the world's great religions speak to the best in us, not the worst. At the same time, all of them suffer from the handicap of human imperfection, and many of the "mystic" religions---those that assume the existence of an all-powerful God, as opposed to philosophy-based creeds, such as Confucianism---seem to have a thread of evangelicalism in them, seeking to "spread the word" and convert everyone to what they suppose is the "one true" path to salvation.

Unfortunately, this latter aspect also appeals to the worst in us---the facet of human nature that divides the world into "us" versus "them," and strives for ways to prove ourselves "superior" in some ways to the rest. It was that aspect of Christianity that took Europe on the Crusades...had otherwise sane people burning accused heretics and witches alive at the stake...and is still echoing around our own culture in some of the more extreme fundamentalist sects. And yet we, ourselves, seem perfectly able to separate out the "nuts" from those who view their religion as a source of peace and strength, and who view the philosophy of Christianity (and Judaism) as one of tolerance and brotherhood.

It seems to me that before we begin lumping all Muslims together, we need to understand the vast differences between them---differences that are every bit as caverous as those between the Unitarians, the Fundamentalists, and the Polygamists in Utah. Properly understood, many of the differences spring not from the teachings of the Christian religion, but from the political views---and, on occasion, the personal lifestyle preferences---of different religious leaders...some of whom are intoxicated by notions of their own self-worth, and all of whom suffer from human imperfections of their own. Similarly, I suspect that much of the mistrust and hatred that spills across cultures stems not from the core values of the various religions, but from the obvious excesses of each religion's particular strains of crackpots---those who pervert or distort those core values for their own particular ends.

To look at a non-religious analogy from American history, we need only examine our dealings with the natives, which any student of history must accept are not shining examples of honesty or integrity. There were many American Indian tribes who were peaceful, wanted nothing except to be left alone, and who agreed to treaty after treaty, trusting that we would live up to our word. There were also many bands of renegade Indians, who were outraged by what all the white settlers were doing, and would attack along the frontier (though never in the numbers we see in the movies). Our reaction was to lump all of them together...and we had an appalling tendency to attack peaceful tribes in retaliation---the attack on Black Kettle's tribe in the Sand Creek Massacre being among among the most appalling examples. (We also had a tendency to violate any treaty we found inconvenient, another aspect of settling the west that history books often ignore).

If we are going to try to get along in this world, I think all people of good will need to be able to recognize and distinguish others of like mind in different cultures from the "crackpots" that inhabit other parts of the world---and, unfortunately, dominate many of the headlines. Whatever the culture, I think that most people (well...at least those who aren't raised in a climate of hate) are well-intentioned and honorable, and are more than willing to enjoy the blessings we share on this planet. Unfortunately, while we can all recognize and dismiss our own culture's lunatics, we aren't always successful at doing so across cultural borders. And this, I think, is the source of much of the mistrust in the world---and the breeding ground for much of the hatred that perpetuates so many of the continuing conflicts that we seem to see around us.

On the other hand...we do have reason for optimism: the advent of the internet does make it possible to communicate directly with people all over the world. If it does nothing but make us realize that there are thinking souls on the other side of the world who are just as eager to help make the world a better place...if not for ourselves, then for our children and grandchildren...then that, I think, may prove to be the biggest step toward true peace the human race has ever taken.

In any event...at this time of year, it's a nice thought to have, even if cold reality returns after the New Year.

Of course, this does not, mean that our current notions of moral relativism, so prevalent among the "politically correct thinkers" of our day, should be mistaken for actual thought, rather than its absence. In my newest novel, The Star Dancers, a non-human diplomat observes that "Whatever the language, the voice of reason sounds much the same." I tend to agree, personally...though I might add the caveat that "reason'" does seem to imply at least a modicum of "thought," as well.


JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Today's Appearance on Ebling and You

I got to go on the radio today to talk about my new book, The Star Dancers, with my old buddy, Jack Ebling.

Jack and I have know each other since I hit him in the stomach with a fast ball in our first little league game. The next time we met was in Lola Valley Junior High School, in gym class---where he immediately recognized me as the pitcher who came within an eyelash of making him the first candidate for a solar plexus transplant. We were soon fast friends, playing all kinds of sports together...though I don't know if I've forgiven him yet for choosing Michigan State over the Maize & Blue of Michigan.

As always, we chatted about a numer of things---including politics and law. But it was nice that the "kick-off" for my new book got to launch on his radio show.

Two New Sci-Fi Novels by Jeff Caminsky

The first in my series of four sci-fi novels, set 500 years in the future, called The Guardians of Peace have just been released. They are currently available on Amazon...and should be available soon in bookstores (at least in the Great Lakes area; but, such are the problems of unknown writers).

The entire series follows the adventures of Roscoe Cook and the Cosmic Guard (the Interstellar Navy of the day) shortly after Terra (ie, the humans) encounter alien cultures and civilizations for the first time. Unfortunately, humans in the 26th Century are little different from those we see around us today: while many are quite cultured and refined, many are as boorish and self-centered as ever. And since Outer Space in the year 2550 is not the exclusive province of philosophers and scientists, Terran riff-raff has spread throughout the Frontier...and is pressing their government to take a harder line against the aliens.

The first book—The Sirens of Space —lays out the background for the rest of the series. Commander Cook (a gifted officer, with little patience for those he deems fools and an unfortunate talent for rubbing powerful people the wrong way) is promoted to captain and given command of his starship. But, military contractors having changed little over the years, his ship causes him nothing but grief—and it’s all he can do to keep everyone’s mind focused on getting their ship ready to sail. Meanwhile, conniving politicians are scheming to bring about a change in the Terran Government...one more amenable to the commercial interests who see riches beyond compare in the star clouds and planets of the Cosmic East, where the aliens are resisting Terran encroachment. As the book ends, the principals are taking to the skies...toward whatever fate awaits them among the stars.

The second book—The Star Dancers —is where the adventure begins. The reader learns about alien culture, suffering its own schisms and divisions. There, a reform movement is gaining influence, renewing hopes of bringing modernization to the old and decaying culture that has left them stagnating for the last several millenia. Pirates are infesting Terran skies as they have for hundreds of years...leading Terra to develop ever-better machines of destruction to protect their lanes of commerce. Meanwhile, a band of ne’er-do-wells, eager to recover a treasure hidden away deep inside alien skies, confronts an alien scientific outpost just as a peace conference is concluding on an alien regional capital...setting the stage for conflict and tragedy, unless both sides are able to control the hotheads on either side of the border. The book ends with Captain Cook struggling to find his way back to Terra through uncharted skies...as the galaxy is descending into chaos.

The next volume—called Clouds of Darkness—will be published next fall. And the concluding book in the series—entitled, unsuprisingly, The Guardians of Peace—should follow the year after that. (The entire series was finished in1994...but being an unknown author, it’s been tough to get anyone in Mainstream Publishing to read anything I’ve written. So, what the hell...I decided to use a small press to bring it all out).

I hope this sounds interesting enough to generate some interest...or, at the least, to keep the hoots and cat-calls to a minimum. In the meantime, I’ll be plugging away at my computer, working on my next project and waiting for inspiration to strike....




JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Greetings!!

Welcome to all who come to visit...whether you're just passing through, or curious about what I have to say. I suspect this site will be undergoing changes in the coming months...and may move entirely. But I've been meaning to start up a Blog for quite some time---and with everything else that's been happening, I haven't had the time to set one up on my own website (http://www.newalexandriapress.com/ and http://www.jeffcaminsky.com) so I thought I'd take the easy way for now, and see how it goes.

Through the course of the summer, I've been busy readying my latest three books to send off to the printer. Already a half-month behind schedule, it looked for a time as if I'd never be finished...but now I'm just awaiting the new proofs (and hoping I don't find anything else that needs correcting).

I hear that "Perfect" should never be the enemy of "Done"...but when it's your own work that's about to be sent off into the cruel world to fend for itself, it's hard not to fuss and fret. I hope to release all three books---The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, The Sirens of Space, and The Star Dancers---within a matter of days, and should be scheduling book signings and appearances before long.

While I've been planning to release the sci-fi noves (Sirens and Star Dancers) for quite some time, the Shakespeare book is probably what's put things so far behind schedule. With three books to lay out, edit, and proof read, it's taken quite a lot of time and effort. And doing it all by myself, while juggling work, home, vacations, and other committments, hasn't exactly been relaxing. But we're nearing the end...and I hope to have good news to report later this week, once the new proofs arrive.

I'll be posting here and elsewhere...and will keep readers, visitors, and other interested souls apprised of the latest in the World of Caminsky. (Non-interested souls, bless their hearts, will be kept apprised as well...though I suspect they won't be paying much attention). I'll also post links to other sites and blogs I'll be maintaining...and if anyone has any comments or suggestions, I'll be happy to hear them.