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| “ | We
watch the never-ending broadcasts of modern incarnations of the
gladiators of the Coliseum in shows such as Survivor, Intervention, or
the great passions of soap operas; marvel at gizmo extravaganzas, or
any number of things that make our lives easier or filled with greater
status symbols, and base materialism. We focus our attention
purely on the business of getting – paying little or no attention to
what we are giving away in the process. [Panem et Circenses]
| ” |
In his introduction, Kim du Toit's assessment is that Gun Girl "has written an uncharacteristically-gloomy piece about how we are doomed and stuff."
Perhaps because I have long ago recognized what I feel are irreversible
forces in modern America that will ruin us, I see a good deal of positive
in her essay.
| “ | We
have to resign ourselves to the reality of it all, and find a reason to
go on, to find a purpose in our lives, and the lives of a precious few,
who we find among the muck, the misery, the pornography, and the
graffiti. That’s what we hold on to, and take it upon ourselves
to protect all that is good and worthy for the next generation.
For the next will need it to rebuild, too, so that their lives can be
focused on passing along the little bit of wisdom Man has acquired over
the millennia, all the beauty and purpose he has discovered, and each
generation then will have a handful of people who will take that baton
and protect it, as best they can, until such time as they find a
willing taker with whom they can share all that the baton holds.
If he cannot find someone to hand it to, he will bury it or hide it,
knowing that at some future point someone will find it, and will
understand its value, and it will go on. That, too, is a
certainty.
| ” |
That's pretty noble stuff. At least compared to the way Kim (and me too) feel about what's happening.
| “ | I don’t care. Either I can stop it in my own lifetime, or I’ll be dead and it won’t matter much.
| ” |
Come to think of it, that's positive thinking too.
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