Jay, This week I've been reading a great deal of Primo Levi, sparked by reading (devouring) a novel set during the early stages of the Holocaust by fellow Substacker Samuel Lopez-Barrantes.
In his "The Drowned And The Saved" Levi has a great essay about encroaching evil called The Gray Zone.
I thought about that as I read your essay.
I also thought about my favorite Graham Greene novel, The Heart Of The Matter, where the policeman protagonist Scobie, scrupulously honest, succumbs to a single dereliction of duty, motivated by empathy. But it breaks loose something inside of him that leads to disaster.
I hope as you do that this is your final entry in Samizdat! You have been an Upstanbder in calling out the Emperor's lack of clothes.
You've mentioned two favorite writers of mine, in Greene and Levi, both of whom see into the shades of the human heart and our behavior in ways that touch on the judgement I write about here. You further nudge me, too, into thinking I need to read Samuel's novel.
I have some very compelling artistic and historical material lined up to share here on AS through the election. I hope that will be the end of it. Thanks, David.
I laughed out loud when you wrote, of Peterson, "Maybe he should see a therapist." For those who don't know, he was a clinical psychologist at University of Toronto, where he got into a bit of trouble over his expression of various theories. He also has had a drug problem (benzos) that has caused him a great many health problems. I've watched quite a few of his presentations on YouTube - the range of his probings is huge; he's unafraid to venture into areas that are, let's say, beyond the scope of his expertise, and he has a manner (he "sounds" at times so common-sensical or logical) and intellect and shrewdness that give him appeal and credibility that I think he no longer deserves. He's gone off the rails any number of times more recently, engaging in a host of conspiracy theories and whatnot. He reminds me of "45" in that anything he disagrees with, he demonizes (e.g., read or listen to his views on gender identity, women, or even God and Satan). Also, like "45," he's a showman. He knows how to make the almighty dollar work to his advantage. In certain respects, he and, I would add, 45's vp choice are even more dangerous than 45.
I see you know Peterson well, Maureen. I completely agree. (And thanks for laughing at the punch line!) An odd phenomenon is how some people when they get onto these particular rails do proceed to go completely off them. I've witnessed the same development with Brett Weinstein, who gained fame as a very impressive faculty voice of liberal reason standing up to the little totalitarian Red Guards at Evergreen College in 2017. Then he became part of the intellectual clique that includes his brother and Peterson and several others, all of whom were championed by Bari Weiss, and he developed by now, after anti-vaxing, into a full-throated Trumper offering up (in reasoned tones) conspiracy thinking about the Trump assassination attempt. Peterson just did an hour-long video talk with that exemplar of fine judgment Elon Musk, in which he offered up Jesus as the archetypal male image, in contrast to the Madonna and child as the archetypal female symbol. Cue JD Vance and childless cat ladies.
Excellent read although disturbing. I am also reminded of Arendt’s dismissal of Fr. universal human rights. Also two texts you may be interested in-a history-Human Smoke by Nicholson Baker, and a novel - The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell.
Human Smoke is not an account to which I'm sympathetic. I just read up on The Kindly Ones and its production and reception. Quite the ambition and publication!
I realized several days ago I had the wrong “account” in my brain! It’s been years since I read that book, so maybe this winter I will take another look with a more critical view.
Superb, Jay. We will fail if we don't recognize this as the most important election of our lifetime. Trump is actually saying, as I'm sure you know, that, when he's elected, we won't ever have to vote again; thus, declaring his decision to become a dictator and not understanding that voting is a basic right of freedom, not a burden, but a privilege. I salute you for these detailed essays that are making a difference. I believe in you and in your commitment to freedom, to the fight for it and, in no small way, to your empathic soul that rides on your acuity and brilliant intelligence.
Thank you so much for these generous words, Mary, truly. They inspire my efforts. And how rightly you frame voting as a privilege. It's sad to consider the literal tens of millions of people in this country who don't understand that. But I'm feeling encouraged by our prospects now. We keep going until November without let up.
thought provoking, as usual, Prof Adler, but I have to remind to be sure to include the nuclear holocaust the good ol' USA committed against Japan...that is all!
Jay, This week I've been reading a great deal of Primo Levi, sparked by reading (devouring) a novel set during the early stages of the Holocaust by fellow Substacker Samuel Lopez-Barrantes.
In his "The Drowned And The Saved" Levi has a great essay about encroaching evil called The Gray Zone.
I thought about that as I read your essay.
I also thought about my favorite Graham Greene novel, The Heart Of The Matter, where the policeman protagonist Scobie, scrupulously honest, succumbs to a single dereliction of duty, motivated by empathy. But it breaks loose something inside of him that leads to disaster.
I hope as you do that this is your final entry in Samizdat! You have been an Upstanbder in calling out the Emperor's lack of clothes.
You've mentioned two favorite writers of mine, in Greene and Levi, both of whom see into the shades of the human heart and our behavior in ways that touch on the judgement I write about here. You further nudge me, too, into thinking I need to read Samuel's novel.
I have some very compelling artistic and historical material lined up to share here on AS through the election. I hope that will be the end of it. Thanks, David.
Excellent, as always, Jay.
I laughed out loud when you wrote, of Peterson, "Maybe he should see a therapist." For those who don't know, he was a clinical psychologist at University of Toronto, where he got into a bit of trouble over his expression of various theories. He also has had a drug problem (benzos) that has caused him a great many health problems. I've watched quite a few of his presentations on YouTube - the range of his probings is huge; he's unafraid to venture into areas that are, let's say, beyond the scope of his expertise, and he has a manner (he "sounds" at times so common-sensical or logical) and intellect and shrewdness that give him appeal and credibility that I think he no longer deserves. He's gone off the rails any number of times more recently, engaging in a host of conspiracy theories and whatnot. He reminds me of "45" in that anything he disagrees with, he demonizes (e.g., read or listen to his views on gender identity, women, or even God and Satan). Also, like "45," he's a showman. He knows how to make the almighty dollar work to his advantage. In certain respects, he and, I would add, 45's vp choice are even more dangerous than 45.
I see you know Peterson well, Maureen. I completely agree. (And thanks for laughing at the punch line!) An odd phenomenon is how some people when they get onto these particular rails do proceed to go completely off them. I've witnessed the same development with Brett Weinstein, who gained fame as a very impressive faculty voice of liberal reason standing up to the little totalitarian Red Guards at Evergreen College in 2017. Then he became part of the intellectual clique that includes his brother and Peterson and several others, all of whom were championed by Bari Weiss, and he developed by now, after anti-vaxing, into a full-throated Trumper offering up (in reasoned tones) conspiracy thinking about the Trump assassination attempt. Peterson just did an hour-long video talk with that exemplar of fine judgment Elon Musk, in which he offered up Jesus as the archetypal male image, in contrast to the Madonna and child as the archetypal female symbol. Cue JD Vance and childless cat ladies.
Excellent read although disturbing. I am also reminded of Arendt’s dismissal of Fr. universal human rights. Also two texts you may be interested in-a history-Human Smoke by Nicholson Baker, and a novel - The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell.
Human Smoke is not an account to which I'm sympathetic. I just read up on The Kindly Ones and its production and reception. Quite the ambition and publication!
I only know the book.
I realized several days ago I had the wrong “account” in my brain! It’s been years since I read that book, so maybe this winter I will take another look with a more critical view.
Superb, Jay. We will fail if we don't recognize this as the most important election of our lifetime. Trump is actually saying, as I'm sure you know, that, when he's elected, we won't ever have to vote again; thus, declaring his decision to become a dictator and not understanding that voting is a basic right of freedom, not a burden, but a privilege. I salute you for these detailed essays that are making a difference. I believe in you and in your commitment to freedom, to the fight for it and, in no small way, to your empathic soul that rides on your acuity and brilliant intelligence.
Thank you so much for these generous words, Mary, truly. They inspire my efforts. And how rightly you frame voting as a privilege. It's sad to consider the literal tens of millions of people in this country who don't understand that. But I'm feeling encouraged by our prospects now. We keep going until November without let up.
Indeed! dear sir! Indeed!
thought provoking, as usual, Prof Adler, but I have to remind to be sure to include the nuclear holocaust the good ol' USA committed against Japan...that is all!
Thank you kindly, Mr. Koton, but I cannot join that further commentary you offer. Horrific but different in kind from the others on my list.
I dont see it but youre the Boss!