That's what Big Al would have done. That is in fact what he did do when Newton's theory of gravity, a product of one of the greatest minds of all time, did not quite compute for him. Which led to a product of another one of the greatest minds of all time, Einstein's general relativity. It makes sense to me that one can do worse than be guided by great minds in our mortal everyday efforts to make sense of the mostly irrational world around us.
In reading today's normblog profile of Peter Ryley, I was particularly gratified by his response to the standard question 'Can you name a major moral, political or intellectual issue on which you've ever changed your mind?'
I used to subscribe to the liberal viewpoint that was fashionable at Columbia University in the 1960's. Then, gradually, a pernicious form of insanity characterized by self loathing invaded this view, spearheaded by the likes of that besotted disgrace to the great liberal family tradition of Jack and Bobby. By now this onetime great liberal view has devolved to full-blown insanity, with celebrity status galore in HolySh*tWood, the current majority in Congress, and among many adherents of a philosophical stance that has become a self inflicted paraplegic.
What made sense to me in the 1960's still makes sense: democratic government is the best form this world has ever produced. Alas, the best of the liberal viewpoint has vanished from the earth.
In reading today's normblog profile of Peter Ryley, I was particularly gratified by his response to the standard question 'Can you name a major moral, political or intellectual issue on which you've ever changed your mind?'
I have changed my mind on most things, but the most important one is on international affairs. I used to have a fairly orthodox, anti-American, leftist viewpoint. To my horror, I used to read Chomsky approvingly. However, I had doubts that I kept pushing to the back of my mind. I came to a slow realization that the reason for my misgivings was a simple one. The position I held was wrong. Reading Nick Cohen's journalism was important in confirming my revised views, as were the books he recommended in his columns. Then I discovered the blogosphere when Steve Davies, my PhD supervisor, recommended normblog after I had commented adversely on 19th Century anarchists' apologist attitudes to terrorism. It was with huge relief that I found solidarity in blogs.
I used to subscribe to the liberal viewpoint that was fashionable at Columbia University in the 1960's. Then, gradually, a pernicious form of insanity characterized by self loathing invaded this view, spearheaded by the likes of that besotted disgrace to the great liberal family tradition of Jack and Bobby. By now this onetime great liberal view has devolved to full-blown insanity, with celebrity status galore in HolySh*tWood, the current majority in Congress, and among many adherents of a philosophical stance that has become a self inflicted paraplegic.
What made sense to me in the 1960's still makes sense: democratic government is the best form this world has ever produced. Alas, the best of the liberal viewpoint has vanished from the earth.
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