2023 archive
Sic Semper Tyrannis? 0
At Psychology Today Blogs. Neel Burton takes an in-depth look at what classical philosophers–Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Seneca, etc.–had to say about tyranny. All of them had intimate knowledge of, and, in many cases, first-hand experience with tyrannical rulers.
In the course of the article, he suggests three conditions that must be met to hold tyranny at bay. In the context of dis coarse discourse, they give rise to feelings of–er–unease (emphasis added):
Second, we need to think more carefully about education, and what it means to be educated. Unless we transform ourselves by carrying out the work of the mind, we could be millionaires, like Nero, or Putin, and still be miserable. Playing the tyrant, and taking everyone down with us, is not, as Seneca reminds us, what human beings are for.
Third, a country’s constitution or political settlement must contain sufficient safeguards to prevent or arrest the rise of a potential tyrant, or simply of a less than decent or competent leader. This is not the case in the U.S. and no longer the case in the U.K. . . .
I find the entire piece timely, indeed, alarmingly so, and commend it to your attention.
QOTD 0
Alexander Morton, in the voice of Golly Mackenzie:
You come into this life naked, wet, and cold. Then things really get bad.
Site Unseen 0
When I worked for the railroad, I took the train to New York more times than I can remember. The first view of New York was the towers of the World Trade Center above the New Jersey bluffs before the train entered the tunnel to Penn Station.
Many years later, when I was no longer working for the railroad, I had occasion to take the train to New York. The first view of New York was no World Trade Center above the New Jersey bluffs before the train entered the tunnel to Penn Station.
Image via All Things Amazing, an image site (some images NSFW).
All That Is Old Is New Again 0
Emma talks with Kim Kelly about the resurgence of black lung disease. A quotation from Kim Kelly:
… coal bosses would rather make money than follow regulations and Republican politicians would rather cut regulations than help the coal miners they like to drag out for photo ops.
Read Kim Kelly’s article.
A Notion of Immigrants 0
Methinks that Emma Lazarus’s The New Collosus is in sore need of being brought up to date (the edit is italicized).
Herewith I offer an updated version:
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
And I will assault them in the street.”
If you look carefully, you can find why I recommend the revision.
The Patriot Gamer, Reprise 0
At the Bangor Daily News, Bruce Snider offers a theory as to the Patriot Gamer’s end game.
Methinks he may be onto something.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Another oxymoronic “responsible gun owner” exposes a child to politeness.
The news report does say that the child is recovering in hospital.
Libel by Label 0
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s David Mills argues that words matter and that using words loosely contributes to dis coarse discourse. Here’s a tiny bit of his article:
One of those words used all the time is “extremist” for someone you disagree with. (Also related words like leftist, rightwing, woke, fascist.) If you successfully label someone an extremist, no one has to listen to him or take seriously anything he has to say. Everyone should act as if he didn’t exist.
I think that a couple of times he tiptoes just a wee bit into the quagmire of what Driftglass refers to as “both-siderism,” but his article is well-worth the few minutes it will take you to read it.
They Were Zoned Out 0
Zoned right out of their home, that is.
Fly the Fiendly Skies 0
They explore new dimensions of fiendliness every day.
The Business Model 0
Jim Hightower is not impressed by Big Pharma’s hissy fit.
Unless, of course, you count executives of giant pharmaceutical corporations as human beings. Gouging patients is their preferred business model.
I commend his entire piece to your attention.