Enjoying David Warren
This morning I can highly recommend you to read David Warren’s last two articles for “The Ottawa Citizen” – easiest accessible on his site at www.davidwarrenonline.com.
They are of quite a different nature, the one titled “Why I defy” is most profound and important for those of us who are concerned – and to those who should be – about the social intrusion of Darwinism into our life. – The other one is a generous as well as critical obituary of “Scott Symon” in which Warren shows us his sheer humanity, a side of his which we don't often get to see.
Rush to get to it – and enjoy!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Stop the world, I wanna get off ...
Well, the above lead song from a musical of many years ago and Mark Steyn's article of today is about all that's on my defeatest mind this morning - yes, you've read correctly, this eternal optimist has turned defeatest, if only for this morning - Mark on the other hand lives up to his usual description as an alarmist http://www.steynonline.com/content/view/1808/26/ and how I'd wish we had many more of him to shake us out of our somnambulance.
But as we don't - nor do I see a silver lining, allow me this morning to wallow in this moody song of years ago with a glass of schnapps or two - yes even this early in the morning - but don't be concerned, I'll be back tomorrow morning with my sword blazing - will I be then the only modern Don Quichote while the rest of you will have already become part of the saddest social landscape of our times ?
Oh, but I forget - we have after all our federal and provincial HRCs to keep us protected - so I guess there really isn't anything to be concerned about, right ?
Gotcha !
Well, the above lead song from a musical of many years ago and Mark Steyn's article of today is about all that's on my defeatest mind this morning - yes, you've read correctly, this eternal optimist has turned defeatest, if only for this morning - Mark on the other hand lives up to his usual description as an alarmist http://www.steynonline.com/content/view/1808/26/ and how I'd wish we had many more of him to shake us out of our somnambulance.
But as we don't - nor do I see a silver lining, allow me this morning to wallow in this moody song of years ago with a glass of schnapps or two - yes even this early in the morning - but don't be concerned, I'll be back tomorrow morning with my sword blazing - will I be then the only modern Don Quichote while the rest of you will have already become part of the saddest social landscape of our times ?
Oh, but I forget - we have after all our federal and provincial HRCs to keep us protected - so I guess there really isn't anything to be concerned about, right ?
Gotcha !
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Condensed thoughts on “the lesser evil”
(Applicable to politics, the economy, ecology, health and wellness, capital and labour, etc)
According to Hegelian dialectics all propositions (thesis) will inevitably arouse an automatic opposition (antithesis) and this creates the need for a resolution (synthesis). While modalities for conflict resolution do indeed exist they are not readily available at any one moment and therefore in the absence of same the following assumptions would seem to constitute a reasonable structure to avoid (if not evade) unnecessary emotional or partisan criticism and allow for discussions in an environment of cooperation.
1 – I believe that all discussions ought to be based on a philosophical as well as a pragmatic premise (rather than on arbitrary utopian wishes, personal likes or dislikes – as for instance with wishes for absolute justice, equality, etc).
2 – We could start with a philosophical premise based on the inherited wisdom through the ages as given to humanity through the great thinkers of Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Pythagoras, and many others as well as a review of humanity’s history.
3 – It is furthermore assumed that humanity (in general as well as individually) is a combination of good and evil of various degrees; nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes, including all government leaders, etc. (of course, some more than others). Therefore, I generally have a disdain for politicians, even it they seem to be part of a presently necessary evil.
4 – Mankind’s consciousness is evolving ever so very slowly over millennia and any attempt for quick improvement through governmental actions or political pressure groups has rarely been very helpful (if at all). Most so-called world improvers (in German sociological terms referred to as “Weltverbesserer”) or their activist methods have led to disaster while in the mean time only enhancing their own psychological need for greed and power. As the old saying goes “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”.
5 – Improvements in the consciousness of individuals or groups have only come through individual efforts and not by blaming or criticizing others (in or out of government) – as Karl Jung already stated that governments are the reflection of the general consciousness (or sub-consciousness), in other words, we get the government we deserve.
6 – Mankind still being primarily selfish in nature, any attempt to curb this trend through political agenda only leads to the diversion of goods and services to other equally selfish individuals.
7 – Taking this into consideration the laws of the various countries at the moment serve the best way possible and as minimum protection.
8 – Absolute justice and equality is an illusion and so we are therefore encouraged to always deal with relative (imperfect) situations, i.e. “support of the lesser evil” – in this context we need to curtail our conscious and subconscious likes or dislikes and gently work with the psychological given.
________________________________
Having stated the above basis points – you will therefore note that I am not very fond of criticism or negativity in general, however, not wanting to be a mere bystander or complainer, I will go to the defense of anyone upholding similar principles to the best of their abilities – and will disagree and even commit to warfare (if unavoidable or deemed necessary) in the defense of the “lesser evil”. By supporting this lesser evil we deal with the reality at hand, while anything that is not as yet in the compass of a possible future and ungrounded in some or more of the above assumptions is idle self-indulgence and void of responsibility. – This will ultimately have the benefit to soften the impact of the inevitable harsh transformation or destruction in the long run.
While I believe that the institutions of our society (both liberal and conservative) are presently in great turmoil and indeed in need of drastic overhaul (due to human intransigence, corruption and decadence, etc this is unlikely to happen in the short run) or – if this is not going to happen – more drastic and perhaps violent upheavals will take place (a more likely outcome indeed). Thereafter the phoenix can and will rise again.
This lesser evil is presently visibly by the efforts of
a – the conservative groups in the area of politics, business, arts, etc.
b – the liberal groups in the areas of ecology, health and wellness, etc.
We also have to become aware to which extent some institutions have become corrupted over time (no point to get excited over this as it is simply part of human nature – therefore we need to refrain from “blaming” certain groups or individuals as the happenings are simply an outgrowth of society’s deformations in general), e.g. as only some examples of failure due to inherent opposition or competition (rather than cooperation) I would here like to mention:
a – on the conservative side it is the failure of our large scale industrial, commercial and financial sectors.
b – while on the liberal side it is in the lack of insight in academia, the labour unions, and the politics of liberal/socialist groups in the media and government.
________________________________
Further input and feedback on subject matter would be welcomed.
(Applicable to politics, the economy, ecology, health and wellness, capital and labour, etc)
According to Hegelian dialectics all propositions (thesis) will inevitably arouse an automatic opposition (antithesis) and this creates the need for a resolution (synthesis). While modalities for conflict resolution do indeed exist they are not readily available at any one moment and therefore in the absence of same the following assumptions would seem to constitute a reasonable structure to avoid (if not evade) unnecessary emotional or partisan criticism and allow for discussions in an environment of cooperation.
1 – I believe that all discussions ought to be based on a philosophical as well as a pragmatic premise (rather than on arbitrary utopian wishes, personal likes or dislikes – as for instance with wishes for absolute justice, equality, etc).
2 – We could start with a philosophical premise based on the inherited wisdom through the ages as given to humanity through the great thinkers of Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Pythagoras, and many others as well as a review of humanity’s history.
3 – It is furthermore assumed that humanity (in general as well as individually) is a combination of good and evil of various degrees; nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes, including all government leaders, etc. (of course, some more than others). Therefore, I generally have a disdain for politicians, even it they seem to be part of a presently necessary evil.
4 – Mankind’s consciousness is evolving ever so very slowly over millennia and any attempt for quick improvement through governmental actions or political pressure groups has rarely been very helpful (if at all). Most so-called world improvers (in German sociological terms referred to as “Weltverbesserer”) or their activist methods have led to disaster while in the mean time only enhancing their own psychological need for greed and power. As the old saying goes “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”.
5 – Improvements in the consciousness of individuals or groups have only come through individual efforts and not by blaming or criticizing others (in or out of government) – as Karl Jung already stated that governments are the reflection of the general consciousness (or sub-consciousness), in other words, we get the government we deserve.
6 – Mankind still being primarily selfish in nature, any attempt to curb this trend through political agenda only leads to the diversion of goods and services to other equally selfish individuals.
7 – Taking this into consideration the laws of the various countries at the moment serve the best way possible and as minimum protection.
8 – Absolute justice and equality is an illusion and so we are therefore encouraged to always deal with relative (imperfect) situations, i.e. “support of the lesser evil” – in this context we need to curtail our conscious and subconscious likes or dislikes and gently work with the psychological given.
________________________________
Having stated the above basis points – you will therefore note that I am not very fond of criticism or negativity in general, however, not wanting to be a mere bystander or complainer, I will go to the defense of anyone upholding similar principles to the best of their abilities – and will disagree and even commit to warfare (if unavoidable or deemed necessary) in the defense of the “lesser evil”. By supporting this lesser evil we deal with the reality at hand, while anything that is not as yet in the compass of a possible future and ungrounded in some or more of the above assumptions is idle self-indulgence and void of responsibility. – This will ultimately have the benefit to soften the impact of the inevitable harsh transformation or destruction in the long run.
While I believe that the institutions of our society (both liberal and conservative) are presently in great turmoil and indeed in need of drastic overhaul (due to human intransigence, corruption and decadence, etc this is unlikely to happen in the short run) or – if this is not going to happen – more drastic and perhaps violent upheavals will take place (a more likely outcome indeed). Thereafter the phoenix can and will rise again.
This lesser evil is presently visibly by the efforts of
a – the conservative groups in the area of politics, business, arts, etc.
b – the liberal groups in the areas of ecology, health and wellness, etc.
We also have to become aware to which extent some institutions have become corrupted over time (no point to get excited over this as it is simply part of human nature – therefore we need to refrain from “blaming” certain groups or individuals as the happenings are simply an outgrowth of society’s deformations in general), e.g. as only some examples of failure due to inherent opposition or competition (rather than cooperation) I would here like to mention:
a – on the conservative side it is the failure of our large scale industrial, commercial and financial sectors.
b – while on the liberal side it is in the lack of insight in academia, the labour unions, and the politics of liberal/socialist groups in the media and government.
________________________________
Further input and feedback on subject matter would be welcomed.
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