What to believe? On one of our local PBS stations, watched RT (Russian Television), and the news readers giddy with mockery: no soldiers, no tanks, happy voters, much celebration — Crimea is now a joyous place..The next segment was from French TV: tanks in strategic areas, many soldiers everywhere (especially outside polling places), ballot boxes made of clear plastic so the votes can be seen by all..Putin: an example of a glorified Peredonov, poshlost personified, banal evil.
“And another is “don’t sign treaties if you have no intention of honoring them”.”
And referring to history: "On behalf of the Great White Brother in Washington, DC, we SALUTE you savages for being able to survive in whatever stinking desert we put you in!
“The only thing we learn from history is, we learn nothing from history.”
.That is often quoted, but is hardly a truism. For instance, the present slow method of assimilation that Putin is using can be seen as the method used by Germany and the Soviets, known as “Salami tactics.” Basically all that is needed for it to work is a weak opponent that gave up on learning lessons from history..Maybe there should be an addendum to that quote: “And if this quote is all you learned from history, then you will very soon BE history.”
All that for the sake of a quotation. Respectfully, let me explain my view.. I have become skeptical about living life through aphorisms. (There is a name for a person skeptical about skepticism, but dang, I forgot it.) History is there for those who wish to learn from it. Putin learned (indeed, always knew it) and is achieving some important objectives. He is pragmatic and people will suffer now. We are being duped but our point of view may eventually triumph. .But how are the people affected now to be consoled or helped by the promise of an historic truth derived from their situation? It’s as if offering dust to a person in thirst..Temporary in the scheme of things? — of course. Will you or I see his eventual downfall? Doubtful, in my case, at least. Certainly, it will come and the cycle will again come around..The point is, that although all things — physical and behavioral — have some position in a fractal scheme, and large truths can be discerned, it is an intellectual exercise that is effete and arrogant, at least as I see intelligentsia practice it. And personally, I think there are eddies within the historical stream where that quotation is not true. This is one of them. It is kind of a quantum-theory view..I enjoy the Greek and Roman classics of history and philosophy. Anything that we do or say can be found in those writings, and look how long ago it was they were written, and how many fewer people existed. Yet the human template was already apparent.. I read the epic of Gilgamesh and the Code of Hammurabi and admire the ingenuity of humanity so long ago. I used to spend time underlining passages from everything I read and typing them out to admire. I thought it would make me wise and help me avoid mistakes. Santayana’s quote is one I memorized long ago, and I think it is more valuable than Hegel’s, by the way..But people who don’t read all these classics still live and love and survive. My notes of wisdom crumble in my hands, and what was the point of making them? Taking the long view is what Dr. Pangloss did, while calamity after calamity engulfed him.. So I appreciate a pithy quotation as much as anyone. I just don’t anymore expect a pat on the head from some god because I used it. More like a golden chuckle..Cripes, does all that make sense? I certainly don’t mean to criticize you in an unfriendly way. If it seems so, it is my lack of skill to make myself understood. Consider it entertainment from someone who used to take himself way too seriously and probably still does.
emptc12 about 10 years ago
What to believe? On one of our local PBS stations, watched RT (Russian Television), and the news readers giddy with mockery: no soldiers, no tanks, happy voters, much celebration — Crimea is now a joyous place..The next segment was from French TV: tanks in strategic areas, many soldiers everywhere (especially outside polling places), ballot boxes made of clear plastic so the votes can be seen by all..Putin: an example of a glorified Peredonov, poshlost personified, banal evil.
I Play One On TV about 10 years ago
“And another is “don’t sign treaties if you have no intention of honoring them”.”
And referring to history: "On behalf of the Great White Brother in Washington, DC, we SALUTE you savages for being able to survive in whatever stinking desert we put you in!
Sign here."
(Thanks to Firesign Theater)
Kip W about 10 years ago
C’mon, Father. Nobody in his right mind would live in this stinkin’ desert.
emptc12 about 10 years ago
.That is often quoted, but is hardly a truism. For instance, the present slow method of assimilation that Putin is using can be seen as the method used by Germany and the Soviets, known as “Salami tactics.” Basically all that is needed for it to work is a weak opponent that gave up on learning lessons from history..Maybe there should be an addendum to that quote: “And if this quote is all you learned from history, then you will very soon BE history.”
emptc12 about 10 years ago
All that for the sake of a quotation. Respectfully, let me explain my view.. I have become skeptical about living life through aphorisms. (There is a name for a person skeptical about skepticism, but dang, I forgot it.) History is there for those who wish to learn from it. Putin learned (indeed, always knew it) and is achieving some important objectives. He is pragmatic and people will suffer now. We are being duped but our point of view may eventually triumph. .But how are the people affected now to be consoled or helped by the promise of an historic truth derived from their situation? It’s as if offering dust to a person in thirst..Temporary in the scheme of things? — of course. Will you or I see his eventual downfall? Doubtful, in my case, at least. Certainly, it will come and the cycle will again come around..The point is, that although all things — physical and behavioral — have some position in a fractal scheme, and large truths can be discerned, it is an intellectual exercise that is effete and arrogant, at least as I see intelligentsia practice it. And personally, I think there are eddies within the historical stream where that quotation is not true. This is one of them. It is kind of a quantum-theory view..I enjoy the Greek and Roman classics of history and philosophy. Anything that we do or say can be found in those writings, and look how long ago it was they were written, and how many fewer people existed. Yet the human template was already apparent.. I read the epic of Gilgamesh and the Code of Hammurabi and admire the ingenuity of humanity so long ago. I used to spend time underlining passages from everything I read and typing them out to admire. I thought it would make me wise and help me avoid mistakes. Santayana’s quote is one I memorized long ago, and I think it is more valuable than Hegel’s, by the way..But people who don’t read all these classics still live and love and survive. My notes of wisdom crumble in my hands, and what was the point of making them? Taking the long view is what Dr. Pangloss did, while calamity after calamity engulfed him.. So I appreciate a pithy quotation as much as anyone. I just don’t anymore expect a pat on the head from some god because I used it. More like a golden chuckle..Cripes, does all that make sense? I certainly don’t mean to criticize you in an unfriendly way. If it seems so, it is my lack of skill to make myself understood. Consider it entertainment from someone who used to take himself way too seriously and probably still does.