June 5, 2005
Welcome
Does the world need another blog?
The answer to this question is no.
Examine the blogroll of your favorite opinionated soul, and you will see at least a dozen, and that’s anyone who isn’t just link-besotted. The blogosphere is crowded, and just about every possible shade of interest is represented. Many blogs die of non-posting. The writer thought he had something to say, and then found he didn’t. That could be my fate.
Why do I think I you should read me?
This is a roundabout way of answering the question, by the bye, and typical of my way of writing. If it annoys you beyond bearing, stop now, thanks for dropping by, and I’ll hope you didn’t leave mad. I think, though, that I do have something to say.
So the format for this will be mostly essays, probably not posted more than once a week. If this works out, you get to read it in progress.
This blog is not about current events, though there will be some comments. But mostly, this is going to be about what I’m reading and how it relates to other things I’ve read or have been thinking about.
“Baboons are scared of us.”
So what’s up with
that?
All you need to know about humanity is summed up in that one statement.
Before you dismiss my view as unnecessarily harsh, remember that I’m the “squishy” conservative in my household. I think we are fallen, not inherently evil. We have in us the Old Adam, and he’s not nice. We can be redeemed, or redeem ourselves. I am not a believer, though many of the terms I use have theological implications. However, C. S. Lewis had a definite point in Mere Christianity – “Love thy neighbor as thyself” simply means cutting others exactly the same slack that you – in all your self-love and self-indulgence – cut yourself. Therefore, I’m squishy. I cut you my slack. Say thank you.
This does not, however, change my basic view of human psychology or nature, or whatever you want to call it.
Heinlein pointed out in Starship Troopers that, if a child discovers that he can with pleasure and profit bully and abuse other people, he will never stop doing so. Human beings are the product of what gives us pleasure and profit. At no point (pace PETA) has it given (the surviving) humans pleasure or profit to allow any other animal to replace us at the top of the food chain. Baboons give us a run for the money in terms of team-work, planning and execution of heinous acts. But they’re scared of us, and they should be, because we’re better at it than any other creature Earth has spawned.
Our only true competitor and predator is…we ourselves.
Article 1
Article 2
Posted by Squishy at 08:00 PM