Once again Limbaugh has put himself at the forefront of the political stage with his comments regarding his desire to see Obama's policies fail. And once again folks are eating this up, noting that this mentality is indicative of the "hate" and "racism" of the Republican party. Where is the unbridled support for the President that folks like Bill O'Reilly demanded while Bush was in office? Where is the "patriotism" defined by supporting your president?

Thankfully this gives us another opportunity to unmask the guest and to see that they are the wolf. As ridiculous as O'Reilly and Rush were when Bush was in office, with respect to their rants on patriotism and support, we now see the Democrats following the exact same path markings. Simply put, if you disagree with a policy based on it's presumed outcome you will want it to fail. Success of the policy does not equate to Success on a grand scale. If you successfully sleep in and get fired, what is gained from your success?

Racism, patriotism, ungoldy etc, are all great buzz words to keep the worshipers at the Party Church dancing in the aisles and throwing money into the offering plate. If you really want to see ignorance racing for the finish line then watch clips of yesterday's The View as the lot attack Rush's comments. What you will see is cherry picking and limited contextual reading of what actually was said.What we see here isn't a matter of saying "I disagree". It is more a matter of attacking the person and focusing in on words that are incidiary. As long as citizens of this country continue to react to comments, specifically as they are framed by people coming to you from the "idiot box" or the "talking box", rather than taking the time to evaluate the comments in context we will continue to be blindly giving up ourselves to the big government machine.

Your party will not save you. They are merely mortal men and women who want a job. What is your economic theory? What is your ethical position? To what degree do you actually understand political philosophy? International relations? Do you actually understand the consquences of the decisions being made or are you caught up in the person making them and the way the ideas make you feel? Just because someone's skin color is the same as yours, gender is the same as yours or defines themself by a religous label doesn't mean they actually "relate" to you or have anything in common with you.

The most thought-provoking thing in our thought-provoking time is that we are still not thinking.

Martin Heidegger

A Friend Fights Facebook

You can take me down
To show me your home
Not the place where you live
But the place where you belong
You can bend my ear
We can talk all day
Just make sure you're around
When I've finally got something to say

Toad the Wet Sprocket

I will refer to my friend as a variable: He is person (X). Nevermind, he is Chris. Though communication has failed us through the years their are great memories so that when we cross paths it is a gift to continue the friendship. He is eccentric, different than I, so though we share certain truths (small T) his foundation is appealing in its difference. We happened upon each other the night of the election and engaged in a virtual dialogue surrounding the historic event and the possible consequences for man and country. Subsequently Chris began to comment with a certain degree of unexpected frequency as to the word salad ramblings from my fingers. Personhood was a topic that was just getting good when Chris dropped off Facebook. His reason...the egoism and self-serving nature of the medium was just too much and he could not philosophically reconcile his participation on the application.

I was not taken aback by his comments as there was some virtual discussion in the not so distant past in which he raised the question of why people might care about others to the extent that so much his shared on the internet. Valid question. I have, for the most part, been a proponent of community and the joy the other takes in what you disclose to them. Although I would not agree in majority to a Hegelian view of man in society, I do agree to an extent that the self is further defined by society and hence our need for community. But mediums like Facebook raise the ante a bit and Chris forced my hand.

For example, why do folks use their "status" as a means to express opinion? I have done it so I can answer for myself: I do it to get my point across on a grand scale as it forces anyone who can see to become a part of my thinking. If I put it in a note or on my wall it might never get read. Chris is therefore right...egoism...selfishness. Why do I believe that anyone cares? My reaction is to turn the question back on him: why do I care if anyone cares? If my purpose is to share a part of me I am opening myself up in the hope of a response and hence dialogue. In turn my efforts at community are satisfied in that a specific relationship is better defined. I simply don't see it as a negative. At times it is an annoyance and surely there are those who have seen my "status" and wished I would, in a virtual sense, shut up.

Chris's sentiment did ?inspire? me to blank out my status though I haven't remained true to that agenda. To a greater extent it forced me to reconcile my cynicism with my hope once again, a contradiction and hypocrisy I accepted many years ago. Rather than be disgusted by the "look at me" perspective I could take with respect to Facebook I side with the perspective that there is a level of sincerity in my "friends". Rather than their sharing be a need for them to be affirmed or seen, I will accept that they are merely wanting to be known for the sake of community and the happiness found in friendship.

Surely there is a level of Truth (big T) in both positions that Chris and I take. However, Chris has (and for the last time he claims) deleted his Facebook account requiring that I now utilize email or phone as how we communicate. I'll miss the pictures and other updates to his life. I respect and understand why he had to do what he did. I hope he changes his mind...again.

Egoism is the very essence of a noble soul.
Friedrich Nietzsche

On Another Level

I think, therefore I am.

Oh Descartes.....

No this isn't going to lead into a treatise on the short comings or the wisdom of the quote. I thought it was a good lead into this long anticipated blog! ;)

I sat through the Jaguars\Bills game this past weekend and came to a realization that I didn't love football as much as I used to. Maybe it was the fact that our tailgating is limited due to friends who didn't renew season tickets or that the game was quite hot or that the Jags are losing. I dismiss all of those and defer to the realization that my time is limited.

I have roughly 5 more years of my son living in my house (assuming he leaves for college.) After that another 5 years of my daughter. Soon it will be only my wife and I...well, I'm sure a dog plays into the scene. There is nothing, I am reminded, that you can keep.

Maybe turning 40 did have a covert affect on my world view: I did recently re-discover Thoreau. Maybe it was my son's realization that he has an artistic side he wants to investigate. I found that the values I held tight to in my 20's and early 30's vanished but have now bloomed. The Utilitarianism has faded somewhat for the sake of Hedonism. To clarify, the sense of duty has taken a back seat to the pleasure of Being. The wanting to surround myself with friends and family in an effort to establish memories...possibly a means of literary immortality.

I still embrace my son's football and my daughter's cheerleading. It isn't the event itself that I'm averse to. The thought of who I enjoy the moment with has become quite important. Sitting with my wife and my friends, Vic and Chuck, struck a chord that vibrated the question "you paid how much for this to spend these 6 hours with mostly strangers?"

Soon my friends and I will buy Rosetta Stone and learn some new language. I will soon begin teaching my children basic lawn and home maintenance. I want to continue to progress as a human, but I want to do it in the company of those I love. Not being alone is a privilege that I believe many take for granted.