07.24.08
This blog is now suspended
07.23.08
Roof gardens
The Stoic philosopher Seneca disapproved of roof gardens. (How astonishing that even the Romans had roof gardens. They had a talent for urbanism, but surely they weren’t short of space.) Seneca asked: “Is it not living unnaturally to plant orchards on the top of towers, or to have a forest of trees waving in the wind on the roofs and ridges of one’s mansions, their roots spring at a height which it would have been presumptuous for their crests to reach?” (Quoted by Lesley Chamberlain in article called High Life in the current edition of Prospect Magazine)
07.22.08
Yobs and the prevailing “culture”
In the South London suburb of Croydon on July 18th two police officers asked a churlish young woman to pick up a fast food wrapper she had dropped on the ground in a shopping mall. She picked it up, then deliberately dropped it again, challenging the police to do something about it. When they protested they were surrounded by a mob of screaming kids who attacked the policemen and threw them on the ground.
No, America is not alone. Children in Britain grow up with no respect for their elders or their teachers, left alone to join gangs, roam the streets and get fat on fast food. Their parents are so caught up with two jobs and trying to buy the things they see advertised on TV that they end up with no control over their teenagers and are frequently abusive to them. This is a double-whammy - - the so-called free market and unrestrained capitalism meets political correctness and women’s desire (and need) to work outside the home till evening. The unholy mix produces a society without ethics, morals, direction, self-discipline or education. It isn’t everywhere, but it is a blight on our civilization and a sign of decline.
What can we do about it?
07.21.08
Epicurus says…….
Live justly and obey the laws. Thus you avoid the anxiety of wondering if you will be caught and punished.
07.20.08
Gormless youngsters
56.4% of British employers are concerned that graduates lack leadership skills, literacy, the ability to communicate or manage their own lives, solve problems or motivate themselves. In my opinion leaders are born, not made. (I know whereof I speak, having been on three leadership courses, which only confirmed my firm opinion that I had sparse leadership potential). But lack of literacy? Communication? What are these kids doing in school? Catching butterflies?
No, it isn’t only in the United states that we are raising generations of idle, disorganized, semi-literarate and gormless youngsters. God help the world, if there is a God. If not then we are lost since it seems we cannot help ourselves.
07.19.08
Adam and Eve
I have a 89 year old relative whose chief occupation is watching Catholic TV, specifically at this moment the Pope in Australia. I told her my problem (or one problem) with the Pope is his opposition to family planning, something I personally find perverse. There are 9 billion people on Earth and there is insufficient food, water, fuel and raw materials to go round. The mohammedans as just as bad.
Ah, says she, it is the fault of Adam and Eve. They broke God’s law and had sex/ate of the fruit of the tree of life or something. (dear, dear). If it wasn’t for Adam and Eve we wouldn’t have so many people ( and we would presumably have only two people on Earth, rather old it has to be said thinks I).
Says I, but the pope is encouraging unprotected sex, just like Adam and Eve. Is he in contravention of God’s laws?
The answer wasn’t clear, but generally I find that if you call someone on the Old Testament they will tell you that that is unsatisfactory anyway owing to the merciless cruelty and violence, and that is why we have the New Testament. I wish they would make up their minds and scrap the O.T if it is out of date. And why cannot my elderly relative not admit that Adam and Eve is just a myth made up by ancient and ignorant people, not to be confused with modern and ignorant people.