Interesting…
How to you defeat an idea? Shall we put two ideas in a ring together and see which one is victorious after a number of rounds? The two ideas can slug it out for the amusement of punters and the financial benefit of the promoter.
But the metaphor is inadequate since a defeated idea can simply go away to lick its wounds and come back another day. No, defeating an idea is not that easy, if it was a lot of human history might never have happened.
Carl’s article is the war on terror Version 2. The enemy is now within, no one can be trusted. Who is thinking what ideas? Perhaps there is a terrorist in the minds of people already, maybe our teaching system is exposing children to the risk of an unwanted idea. And how shall we defeat these ideas? With money and public policy?
Part of the liberal western tradition is founded on plurality of free ideas as opposed to say a more doctrinarian approach. Supposedly the liberal approach to ideas creates a more flexible and more durable society which is evidenced by the dominance of the west so it is strange to see anyone in the west advocating a more tyrannical approach to what can be thought. Frankly it seems to indicate a faltering of the western liberal tradition to be discussing how to kill any idea.
In the contest of ideas it isn’t the worst ideas that are killed off, rather it is that better ideas prosper. The failure of the war on terror and what could become the war on ideas is they have not defeated bad ideas with better ones. The extreme questions the terrorist have posed to the west have not been answered with superior ideas and until they are, the idea of terrorism and its actions will continue to prosper. Spending money and devising policy might be a response but it’s never going to address the heart of the matter.
To beat terror, defeat its ideas | The Australian.
Posted 6 months, 1 week ago at 11:02 am. Add a comment
Trawling thru the tubes I once came upon this natty little blog called Culturazi which provided sanctuary for the endangered species of radical wordsmiths who despite the trials and tribulations of these times continue to practise their craft for the illumination and edification of those who take the time and trouble to absorb their musings. Over the years many have been and gone on Culturazi but one voice has consistently stumped up week in and week out to provide sustenance for the hungry masses whose lives are often blighted by the hard times we live in. That voice is Gertrude.
Therefore I am saddened by the announcement by Gertrude that she is retiring from her position of most talented writer and spokesperson for the vaguely annoyed and somewhat leftish bohemiatic travelling circus that populates the good pages of Culturazi. However since I have also come to personally be acquainted with the real life Gertrude I am confident that this break represents a mere hiatus in her literary efforts and that her obvious talents will find another rewarding outlet and so, whilst it is with much sadness that I note Gertrudes imminent departure from the blogshpere I am nonetheless grateful for her highly enjoyable posts and the efforts she has expended in bringing some small rays of sunshine into our otherwise unhappy little lives.
One thing is for certain, Gertrude in some form will always be with us. In this crazy mixed up world the act of speaking your mind and making the place more humane might seem less impressive than the concrete steel jungles we are building or the whiz bang technology that is enslaving us but it remains the most human of characteristics and one that deserves far more recognition than it gets.
But Gertude isn’t quite done yet so there is still time to enjoy her writing seasoned with all the goodly freshness that a respectable blog brings to our reading enjoyment. It could end in a whimper or cataclysm of orgastic wordplay but only the readers of Gertrudes Diary will ever know.
Posted 6 months, 1 week ago at 7:54 am. Add a comment
Ms Devine has a habit of penning some enticing lines, I mean the topic of Gen Y and politics seems enticing as does her exploration of the Green Police ad that screened during the US Super Bowl but her article simply fail to deliver anything new.
When Labor came to power in 2007 only the supremely optimistic could possibly believe that a new government was going to achieve anything worthwhile on the question of climate change and the environment and such optimism rapidly becomes unsustainable in the face of our daily experiences. Miranda asserts that it is only Gen Y that smells a rat when its obvious that any thinking person is capable of perceiving the folly of mainstream politics.
If Gen Y’s are giving voice to their scepticism and doubts then I expect to see revolution in the streets sometime soon but a different picture emerges if we consider the forces trying to influence the mindshare of Gen Y. South Park and the Simpsons might be entertaining as is a clever car ad that pokes fun at the notion of a green police but they are hardly inspiring people to achieve better.
You can sum up the contribution of such mindnumbing mediocrity in a simple motto – social consensus is undesirable so look out for yourself. A message brought to you by Rupert Murdoch (owner of the Simpsons) or a car maker (Audi) is hardly a source of “real answers”.
A greater moral challenge isn’t invoked by the consideration of a new “green diesel” powered car, nor is it invoked by a carefully orchestrated TV meeting with the PM. When the serious and savvy people decide that the institutions which used to serve a purpose are no longer suitable for these times, then Miranda might be able to claim the future is in good hands. Until then it seems like we are just witnessing the ongoing sublimation of dissent through the time honoured practice of sophisticated rhetoric and amusing time killers.
Miranda Devine.
Posted 6 months, 3 weeks ago at 9:05 am. Add a comment
