I am quite impressed by your maturity and meticulous thoroughness.
Thank you for showing us how much can be achieved when a bright person is shown the joy of learning and is challenged.
Posted on 08/21/2002 3:49:42 PM PDT by NattieShea
I'm jealous of your summer of Dickens. It's been a long time since I've read those books and I think you may have inspired me to pick up a copy of "A Tale of Two Cities" at the secondhand stores to read again.
I think you make some good observations about the industrialization of human society and the effects of the technological revolution as well. No doubt it's possible to err in the direction of either enslaving yourself to technology (the "technology compels" crowd) or hating it with such passion that you rob human beings of the benefits of industry and technology (the New Left's anarchical destruction without concern for the individuals they harm in the process).
Additionally, if I remember correctly, it seems to me that folks in the country generally had a better handle on reality -- and morality -- than lots of folks who populated Dickens' cityscapes. But that's probably another thread ...
I shall be back tomorrow to quote for you a writer and thinker I love very much ... Erik von Keunnelt-Leddihn. It's something I've been meaning to post for a while now and I think you'll enjoy considering it.
Also, I might note for the record that another favorite writer and philosopher of mine -- Thomas Molnar -- HATES machines and himself uses only a microwave to heat the water for his tea if NO ONE is around to help him! It alarms him that I post so much of his work on the internet, as a matter of fact! =)
But he has a point. Not only is he too a Catholic who recognizes the temptation of industrialists and certain humans to lose sight of the dignity of every individual -- paying them as little possible, downsizing them at will and destroying their sensibilities with company-enforced Compliance Programs -- but he also loves Beauty and relishes Time.
There is no question but what industry and technology have made for a more sterile and ugly world in many respects. Perhaps one day humans will better balance their desire to improve the comfort or ease of living with an appreciation of what it means to be human and need Beauty.
Perhaps one day humans will realize that many of their Labor-Saving devices only devour precious Time better spent doing things by hand ... lost in one's own thoughts or conversing with the kindred spirit who helps you with the chores.
I know I hope that one day everyone agrees that cell phones and pagers are boorish interruptions and that blabbing non-stop gibberish on their cell phones is a good way to miss out on the human being or bit of beauty -- much less the bicyclist they're about to flatten -- right before their eyes.
Not quite the first. ;-)
Carry_Okie is a personal friend of mine, Askel. As are you, of course. If you get a chance, you need to read his book. Well worth it. 'Pod
Other than supplying him a book, no.
Thank you for showing us how much can be achieved when a bright person is shown the joy of learning and is challenged.
Thank you, NattieShea ... I've already skimmed through the book and studied the chapter headings ... looks your Dad has done a magnificent job and I can't wait to read the entire book! It's also obvious he's put his good humor and wit to work -- making the book entertaining as well as informative.
The raised cover is beautiful AND clever! =)
NattieShea will be back on tomorrow.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.