I was recently reminded of the difference between the interpretation or "CliffsNotes version" of work and the actual work. The most common examples are religious texts, but philosophical texts are a close second. As a result, quotes are often taken out of context. For instance, the Nietzche "quote" "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." Admitting to translation issues, the person and tense variation can be ignored, but the line in my copy reads "Out of life's school of war: What does not destroy me, makes me stronger."
I recently read the Communist Manifesto and again find that the interpreters have taken what they found useful and ignored what they found arguable. The abolition of the family went by the wayside a long time ago. The guideline: "Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition
of all the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution
of the populace over the country." now seems antiquated while "Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children’s
factory labour in its present form. Combination of education with industrial
production..." is indeed an obvious necessity for modern society.
Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy starts out as a foundational work of epistemology but ends in drivel. The last paragraph of The Gift of the Magi changes a great short story to a bludgeon. The Iliad contains no reference to the Trojan horse.
I will skip interpretations of religious texts and the catastrophic effect they have had on human history.
The sheer volume of material that is published yearly makes it impossible to read everything. However, it seems that the interpreters have, by and large, been those with an obvious agenda.
But don't take my word for it. Don't take anyone's word for it. Only by experiencing do we grow. Anything else is a shortcut. Go to the source You will learn much about the author and the interpreters.
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Friday, November 18, 2016
Why It Hurts
The dust is settling. A collection of rationalizations are being developed. Many believe that the lives they have known will continue largely unaltered. Some even hope things will improve.
There are some of us, however, that have already been changed. You see, we saw a light. It was dim, but it was there. The future we dreamed of was so close. In 2008, I joined the Democratic party long enough to vote in the primary. I was glad I did. In 2016, I did so again. The candidate I chose was not chosen by the party. However, I gave my support to the Democratic party regardless. The future would come slower, but it would come.
And then November 8th came...
I watched as it became more obvious that the election had been decided. I watched as news organizations held off from "calling it". I watched as 61,000,000 Americans voted for the past. I watched as 61,000,000 Americans voted for failure. I watched as 61,000,000 Americans voted for hate. Meanwhile, 90,000,000 Americans didn't care enough to even express an opinion.
And now, I no longer care. I had held on to hope. I had believed in my fellow humans. That belief had been tested again and again, but it had remained. It has shattered.
I may be wrong about what the next few years will bring. I do not believe I am. I believe history has given us quite enough examples to make a projection. I will not throw around cliches or comparisons. If the parallels aren't clear to someone, it is because they are deluding themselves. It can happen here. It can happen now.
I will not "hope for the best" or "see what happens". Instead, I will give people exactly what they have asked for.
There are some of us, however, that have already been changed. You see, we saw a light. It was dim, but it was there. The future we dreamed of was so close. In 2008, I joined the Democratic party long enough to vote in the primary. I was glad I did. In 2016, I did so again. The candidate I chose was not chosen by the party. However, I gave my support to the Democratic party regardless. The future would come slower, but it would come.
And then November 8th came...
I watched as it became more obvious that the election had been decided. I watched as news organizations held off from "calling it". I watched as 61,000,000 Americans voted for the past. I watched as 61,000,000 Americans voted for failure. I watched as 61,000,000 Americans voted for hate. Meanwhile, 90,000,000 Americans didn't care enough to even express an opinion.
And now, I no longer care. I had held on to hope. I had believed in my fellow humans. That belief had been tested again and again, but it had remained. It has shattered.
I may be wrong about what the next few years will bring. I do not believe I am. I believe history has given us quite enough examples to make a projection. I will not throw around cliches or comparisons. If the parallels aren't clear to someone, it is because they are deluding themselves. It can happen here. It can happen now.
I will not "hope for the best" or "see what happens". Instead, I will give people exactly what they have asked for.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
On the hills
The light burns in the land of Eternal Twilight
It has its time but is quickly obscured
Gray and green rule and their reign is not tested
I am not of this land
My land is far across the sea
It calls to me
Its voice made louder by the waves
Just yesterday I pondered leaving
Now I know home
I have become addicted to her moods
I think on her often
She that fed me from birth
Her ways have become mine
Soon I will leave this land
I will soar away
I have left no mark upon it
Has it left a mark on me?
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