Dear Marion, Discombabulated is the word that best describes my condition this evening, - and for the paradoxical reason that I have reached a stage of tentative completion of the various little tasks that I set for myself. The estate planning has reached an orderly conclusion. I've placed the computer for Nantucket, wrapped in an old mattress pad, in the van for the ride to Hyannis early tomorrow morning. I'm leaving the third floor rooms where I've been working into a state of reasonable, if only superficial neatness. Day after tomorrow, when we have returned from Nantucket, I expect to apportion my time between cleaning and putting this house in order. For all that, it's not nearly as disorderly as it might be, nor as orderly. Our recent exchanges about National Socialism have given me much to think about. Your reference to sadism sent me to Wikipedia for more information about this distasteful topic to which I hadn't paid much attention. I try to reconcile your explanation of Nazi behavior as "sadistic" with the notion of Hannah Arendt of the "banality" of evil. To my understanding sadism and banality are mutually exclusive. When I talk to patients who, like their former president, whom they enthusiastically supported, are not frightened or offended by "waterboarding" or other forms of torture, I get the impression not that they take pleasure by inflicting pain, but that they are indifferent to pain inflicted on others. ==================== I just checked my e-mail and read your letter. Thank you. I agree with everything you write, but tonight at least, my eloquence can't keep up with yours. ==================== Would you find it a travesty to examine the relationship to animals as a paradigm illuminative of our compassion with or indifference to suffering? I am reminded of the text of one of Bach's secular cantatas, No. 208, often referred to as the Hunting Cantata (Jagd Kantate). It begins with a recitative and an aria: 1 Recitativo Soprano I: Diana Continuo Was mir behagt, Ist nur die muntre Jagd! Eh noch Aurora pranget, Eh sie sich an den Himmel wagt, Hat dieser Pfeil schon angenehme Beut erlanget! 2 Aria Soprano I: Diana Corno da caccia I/II, Continuo Jagen ist die Lust der Götter, Jagen steht den Helden an! Weichet, meiner Nymphen Spötter, Weichet von Dianen Bahn! What pleases me is above all the lively hunt! Before the Goddess of Dawn shines, before she dares to appear in the sky this arrow has already got fine booty! Hunting is the gods' delight Hunting suits heroes! Out of the way, my mocking nymphs, Out of Diana's way. The author of the text, Salomon Franck, was a lawyer and a poet who who wrote the texts to some of Bach's most memorable music. It's my impression that in the 17th and 18th centuries, hunting was the prerogative of the nobility, and it's not surprising that this erudite and imaginative author should represent hunting as divine recreation par excellence. If you're interested in my reflections on hunting consider taking a look at http://home.earthlink.net/~ernstmeyer/bookgroup/20050403_01bk.html I'm short of eloquence tonight. Must get to bed to be alert for tomorrow's drive to Hyannis and back. Please consider the question: Is hunting good? Does hunting make the hunter a good person? Does hunting make him or her a bad person? Is it good to join the Army and shoot to kill - not animals, but other human beings? The question is close to home. Remember Ernst, Fritz and Heinz all volunteered. Please explain. Jochen