I like to think that I am an optimist. But when I look around the world, much of what I see is insanity, plain and simple. (Well, insanity may be a little imprecise, and a little too hyperbolic, but suffice it to say that billions of people on this planet--billions of them--lack what I would call good critical thinking skills.)
A significant part of my professional mission is to enable people to think better. But despite my best efforts, there's a tsunami of dogma and ignorance out there that's formidable, and I don't see us overcoming it in the next several decades--maybe the next couple of centuries.
Clearly the most formidable of all those forces is organized religion, which takes dubious thinking to new heights. Because virtually all religions regard their beliefs, and the things that underlie these beliefs, as immutable and inerrant, critical thinking goes right out the window. We're dealing with "Truth" with a capital "T," and no matter how ridiculous the notion (virgin births, 72 virgins in heaven, reincarnation of souls, etc. etc.) it has to be "true" because it's the Word of God. Well, that's just plain rubbish, and anyone with the proper education, including theology students, knows better. But most of the world just follows along as some guy in a funny outfit tells them that if they have impure thoughts, they're going to hell.
I realize that my posture is almost inherently "elitist." But it's really hard not to see the major belief systems of the world as arbitrary and illogical--and yes, even ignorant and stupid. And until we do, I just don't know how we bridge the gaps between people--all we do is perpetuate a bizarre world that is bisected into the "faithful" and the "unfaithful," the true believers and the infidels, the good and the bad.
When Christopher Hitchens says that "religion poisons everything," I regret to say that I think he's basically right. If only religion could be based on uncertainty--if it could, we could all, together, embrace the universe and its many mysteries.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Those "elitists" on the left
As I follow the general buzz going on in politics, and when I correspond with my friend "Kyle" (see previous posts), I have been struck of late by how often the word "elite" or "elitist" is attached to either "liberals" or "intellectuals," or anyone with whom the right wing disagrees. Apparently, conservatives and/or Republicans are guided by "common sense" and down-to-earth notions of right and wrong, whereas liberals (especially if they live on the East Coast--funny how that works) are "elitist" and somehow out of touch with ordinary folk, left only with their abstract and pointless theories.
To the extent that one thing which is implicit to elitism is feeling "superior" to the rest of the world, I find it ironic that conservatives should even consider using this word. If there are people who are more cock-sure of themselves and their thinking than the rest of us--i.e., elitist--it would have to be people like Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, and Coulter. Right-wing elitism is not an oxymoron or a contradiction in terms: these people make liberals and intellectuals look fair-minded and reasonable by comparison.
You wanna talk elitism? Bring it on! Liberals and academics may have their opinions, but they also have a better measure of doubt, perspective, and humility. And yes, once in a while (such as when Ms. Palin cannot explain why there are two Koreas or believes that Saddam Hussein was the mastermind of 9/11), the Contentious Introvert can indeed feel a little smug. Maybe even elitist. But for better reasons, I think!
To the extent that one thing which is implicit to elitism is feeling "superior" to the rest of the world, I find it ironic that conservatives should even consider using this word. If there are people who are more cock-sure of themselves and their thinking than the rest of us--i.e., elitist--it would have to be people like Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, and Coulter. Right-wing elitism is not an oxymoron or a contradiction in terms: these people make liberals and intellectuals look fair-minded and reasonable by comparison.
You wanna talk elitism? Bring it on! Liberals and academics may have their opinions, but they also have a better measure of doubt, perspective, and humility. And yes, once in a while (such as when Ms. Palin cannot explain why there are two Koreas or believes that Saddam Hussein was the mastermind of 9/11), the Contentious Introvert can indeed feel a little smug. Maybe even elitist. But for better reasons, I think!
Monday, January 4, 2010
The grimmest of times make me grimace
When the temperature in town starts heading below zero, yours truly begins to grimace. This is not a time of year when the spirit soars, and after a whole lot of winters in Minnesota, you'd think that I'd be used to this meteorological insanity. But, not so much.
Don't get me wrong--I try to embrace and overcome the elements. This past Saturday at 7:30 in the morning, my running group met as usual at the Lake Harriet bandshell, ready to head out for a jaunt at 16 below. And on both Saturday and Sunday, with proper attire, I guess I'd say that running was almost pleasant--although when I'm done, my beard, eyebrows, and eyelashes are a frosty white, caked with chunks of ice, and I resemble some sort of perverse-looking abominable snowman. Being a Finn, I summon up all the Finnish sisu that I can--that stubborn and determined mindset which is a part of Finnish culture and commands me to suck it up and head out the door.
Still, one is keenly aware that there are other options. I spent the winter of 1977-78 living in Los Angeles, and I can say that at the time I didn't miss a single thing about the Minnesota brand of winter. If we could somehow eliminate the period between December 15 and February 1--simply banish it from the calendar--I'd be a much happier camper. (In fact, I ain't no camper at all in these sorts of temperatures!) Occasionally, I think back to January of 1996--my son Tony and I had just gotten back from Malaysia, where it's always 88 and humid, and we encountered the Coldest Day Ever in Minnesota, a day when the actual air temperature (not the wind chill) reached -60 in Tower, MN. And it was on that weekend, with temperatures in the -30 range in the Twin Cities, when the boiler decided to go out in a fourplex that I was managing that was part of my mother's estate. Dealing with that was pure hell--including a bill for more than $20,000 to install a new boiler!
Best of all, consider this: some of our recent weather is so hostile to homo sapiens that one could quite literally DIE without proper planning. Yes, killed by cold air. It happens. And it's one of those times when being an animal outdoors must really suck. To all of my deer, squirrel, rabbit, and raccoon friends I say, take it easy out there! And if you need a warm place to sleep, scratch on our front door; we'll do what we can.
Don't get me wrong--I try to embrace and overcome the elements. This past Saturday at 7:30 in the morning, my running group met as usual at the Lake Harriet bandshell, ready to head out for a jaunt at 16 below. And on both Saturday and Sunday, with proper attire, I guess I'd say that running was almost pleasant--although when I'm done, my beard, eyebrows, and eyelashes are a frosty white, caked with chunks of ice, and I resemble some sort of perverse-looking abominable snowman. Being a Finn, I summon up all the Finnish sisu that I can--that stubborn and determined mindset which is a part of Finnish culture and commands me to suck it up and head out the door.
Still, one is keenly aware that there are other options. I spent the winter of 1977-78 living in Los Angeles, and I can say that at the time I didn't miss a single thing about the Minnesota brand of winter. If we could somehow eliminate the period between December 15 and February 1--simply banish it from the calendar--I'd be a much happier camper. (In fact, I ain't no camper at all in these sorts of temperatures!) Occasionally, I think back to January of 1996--my son Tony and I had just gotten back from Malaysia, where it's always 88 and humid, and we encountered the Coldest Day Ever in Minnesota, a day when the actual air temperature (not the wind chill) reached -60 in Tower, MN. And it was on that weekend, with temperatures in the -30 range in the Twin Cities, when the boiler decided to go out in a fourplex that I was managing that was part of my mother's estate. Dealing with that was pure hell--including a bill for more than $20,000 to install a new boiler!
Best of all, consider this: some of our recent weather is so hostile to homo sapiens that one could quite literally DIE without proper planning. Yes, killed by cold air. It happens. And it's one of those times when being an animal outdoors must really suck. To all of my deer, squirrel, rabbit, and raccoon friends I say, take it easy out there! And if you need a warm place to sleep, scratch on our front door; we'll do what we can.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
New Year's memories
Well, when you were born just after the end of World War II, the year 2010 seems pretty darn futuristic. There was a time when even the 1980s seemed a long way off. I can say that I read Orwell's 1984 when it did feel far enough away that it might as well have been titled 2084. But the years pass, and the Contentious One keeps chugging along, just waiting for his first big health crisis--which vital organ will grow the tumor? Ah, the joys of getting older.
Of all the days in the year, perhaps New Year's Eve has been the most eventful for me, in many ways. The fact that kissing at midnight is part of the New Year's ritual has led to a couple of memorable romances, one of which had a particularly significant impact on the path of my life. And then there was that New Year's Eve somewhere back in the 1970s when I was aggressively hustled and hit on (you can't make this stuff up) by a minister of a gay church from San Francisco, at a party in Mahtomedi. It was on that night that I learned how a woman might feel on the receiving end of untoward and unwelcome advances. The fact is that New Year's Eve, especially when you are young and single, invites a certain sort of debauchery--it is as if we are all in a time warp, willing to throw caution to the wind, in a state of suspended animation combined with a mild dose of inebriation. What happens on New Year's Eve stays on New Year's Eve--it's the calendar's equivalent to Las Vegas.
But now, as I grab my AARP membership card and hope for the Senior Discount at Jiffy Lube or some such place, I have to say that those days of debauchery are pretty much ancient history. You see, time projects both ways: in 1968, the year 2010 seemed like forever, and in 2010, 1968 now feels like a very distant but pleasant dream. Could it all have been THAT long ago?
Of all the days in the year, perhaps New Year's Eve has been the most eventful for me, in many ways. The fact that kissing at midnight is part of the New Year's ritual has led to a couple of memorable romances, one of which had a particularly significant impact on the path of my life. And then there was that New Year's Eve somewhere back in the 1970s when I was aggressively hustled and hit on (you can't make this stuff up) by a minister of a gay church from San Francisco, at a party in Mahtomedi. It was on that night that I learned how a woman might feel on the receiving end of untoward and unwelcome advances. The fact is that New Year's Eve, especially when you are young and single, invites a certain sort of debauchery--it is as if we are all in a time warp, willing to throw caution to the wind, in a state of suspended animation combined with a mild dose of inebriation. What happens on New Year's Eve stays on New Year's Eve--it's the calendar's equivalent to Las Vegas.
But now, as I grab my AARP membership card and hope for the Senior Discount at Jiffy Lube or some such place, I have to say that those days of debauchery are pretty much ancient history. You see, time projects both ways: in 1968, the year 2010 seemed like forever, and in 2010, 1968 now feels like a very distant but pleasant dream. Could it all have been THAT long ago?
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Christmas blues
I'd like to be able to say that Christmas is the happiest time of year for me, but the simple fact is that it's not. Unfortunately, it involves a perfect storm of several things that together make "the most wonderful time of the year" something quite less:
1. It's dark--the days are short.
2. It's cold--the snow is here and more is on the way.
3. It's overcommercialized--and so I must find a way to please the most important people in my life with various objects, always wondering if they are the right objects.
4. It's expensive--and I'm both poor and cheap.
5. It's illogical--the birth story has never made any sense to me. (Virgin mother indeed!) And it brings out some of the most nonsensical beliefs I have ever encountered.
6. It's a focal point for every family issue and old squabble. And it reminds many of better times and lost loved ones.
7. It's bound to be disappointing--because expectations are so darn high.
When Christmas is over, I invariably heave a big sigh of relief. No more trudging through crowded malls! No more 24/7 Christmas music on a couple of my normal radio stations! No more worry about "doing it wrong"! And no more reminders of how our lives fall short of the ideal. It's not that I'm a depressed person by nature--indeed, most of my water glasses at home are half-full. But Christmas is like a stress test on an icy treadmill. I'd rather take a leisurely walk around the lake on a warm spring afternoon.
1. It's dark--the days are short.
2. It's cold--the snow is here and more is on the way.
3. It's overcommercialized--and so I must find a way to please the most important people in my life with various objects, always wondering if they are the right objects.
4. It's expensive--and I'm both poor and cheap.
5. It's illogical--the birth story has never made any sense to me. (Virgin mother indeed!) And it brings out some of the most nonsensical beliefs I have ever encountered.
6. It's a focal point for every family issue and old squabble. And it reminds many of better times and lost loved ones.
7. It's bound to be disappointing--because expectations are so darn high.
When Christmas is over, I invariably heave a big sigh of relief. No more trudging through crowded malls! No more 24/7 Christmas music on a couple of my normal radio stations! No more worry about "doing it wrong"! And no more reminders of how our lives fall short of the ideal. It's not that I'm a depressed person by nature--indeed, most of my water glasses at home are half-full. But Christmas is like a stress test on an icy treadmill. I'd rather take a leisurely walk around the lake on a warm spring afternoon.
Monday, December 7, 2009
President Sarah Palin?
Today marked the tumultuous return of "Governor" Sarah Palin to Minnesota. At the Mall of America, she was greeted by throngs of devotees, all waiting in line for many, many hours to have her sign (no more than two) copies of her (ghostwritten) book, Going Rogue.
Let's start with the predictable disclaimers. Sarah Palin is a narrow-minded demagogue. She's about as deep as the Los Angeles River, and has about as much gravitas as an ostrich feather. Having said that, I must grit my teeth and say something that is anathema to liberals: Sarah Palin could indeed become our next President.
Heretofore, we have determined that Ms. Palin is simply too inexperienced and too much of an idiot to be elected to higher office. A colleague of mine at work would be pleased if Palin were nominated in 2012, for that very reason--i.e., in his mind, she simply doesn't have enough broad appeal from people with brains to be elected, so let the Republicans nominate her! But I had to remind my friend of one thing: this is America in the 21st century.
In this modern/postmodern age of media celebrities, Sarah Palin fits in pretty nicely. Many people like her, and many others simply adore her. She's down to earth and she makes sense, in their view--and she's not too bad on the eyes, either. In 2009, that's about all you need. There's a reason why both Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger were elected to be governors--they weren't "typical politicians" and people liked their style. We live in a Cult of Personality, and darn it, Sarah's got that in spades.
So, let's hope the Obama Presidency is reasonably successful. If it isn't, look out! Persistent economic problems and a losing effort in Afghanistan could propel people to once again look for "change." And if you think Sarah is unqualified, just give her a couple of years. In our media-saturated culture, exposure = credibility. Palin was regarded as unqualified because nobody had ever heard of her. But give her a couple of years on newscasts, talk shows, and magazines, and a little grooming from a few advisors, and voila!--suddenly she is way more legitimate than before.
Gosh but it pains me to say all this! I pray to all Higher Powers that I am dead wrong.
Let's start with the predictable disclaimers. Sarah Palin is a narrow-minded demagogue. She's about as deep as the Los Angeles River, and has about as much gravitas as an ostrich feather. Having said that, I must grit my teeth and say something that is anathema to liberals: Sarah Palin could indeed become our next President.
Heretofore, we have determined that Ms. Palin is simply too inexperienced and too much of an idiot to be elected to higher office. A colleague of mine at work would be pleased if Palin were nominated in 2012, for that very reason--i.e., in his mind, she simply doesn't have enough broad appeal from people with brains to be elected, so let the Republicans nominate her! But I had to remind my friend of one thing: this is America in the 21st century.
In this modern/postmodern age of media celebrities, Sarah Palin fits in pretty nicely. Many people like her, and many others simply adore her. She's down to earth and she makes sense, in their view--and she's not too bad on the eyes, either. In 2009, that's about all you need. There's a reason why both Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger were elected to be governors--they weren't "typical politicians" and people liked their style. We live in a Cult of Personality, and darn it, Sarah's got that in spades.
So, let's hope the Obama Presidency is reasonably successful. If it isn't, look out! Persistent economic problems and a losing effort in Afghanistan could propel people to once again look for "change." And if you think Sarah is unqualified, just give her a couple of years. In our media-saturated culture, exposure = credibility. Palin was regarded as unqualified because nobody had ever heard of her. But give her a couple of years on newscasts, talk shows, and magazines, and a little grooming from a few advisors, and voila!--suddenly she is way more legitimate than before.
Gosh but it pains me to say all this! I pray to all Higher Powers that I am dead wrong.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Suffocating in data smog
As the academic term ramps up for the Big Crunch at the end of the semester, I continue to marvel at the number of messages that are flying around through cyberspace and good 'ol paperspace. Sometimes I feel as if I am a member of the Borg Collective--you know, those strange creatures, all connected psychically, who lived in a humongous cube on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and always knew what all the others were thinking, in real time. As with the Borg, there are all these thoughts and all this information flying around and we are expected to attend to it, understand it, and respond to it. It's a wonder that anyone can keep up. And I must confess to a certain level of guilt if I fall down on the message-processing job, even if I only let it lapse for a day or two--sometimes even an hour or two!
As we move "forward" in this electronic, information-processing age, a huge challenge will be to find a way to be competent, conscientious, and effective--yet sane. I believe that this will, increasingly, become a quality of life issue as well as a mental health issue. Even if we don't have Borg-like implants in our heads, we are becoming every bit as connected. And I'm getting tired of all that connecting. Jean Luc--help me! Send a shuttle craft to take me away! I'm a cyberprisoner.
As we move "forward" in this electronic, information-processing age, a huge challenge will be to find a way to be competent, conscientious, and effective--yet sane. I believe that this will, increasingly, become a quality of life issue as well as a mental health issue. Even if we don't have Borg-like implants in our heads, we are becoming every bit as connected. And I'm getting tired of all that connecting. Jean Luc--help me! Send a shuttle craft to take me away! I'm a cyberprisoner.
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