tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15935045.post8351198035096086101..comments2024-01-19T02:23:51.665-06:00Comments on Journal Wunelle: In Search Of An Analytical Facultywstachourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12447198404608861357noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15935045.post-46165046596864753342011-11-08T22:49:55.547-06:002011-11-08T22:49:55.547-06:00I've been following Hedges's doings with t...I've been following Hedges's doings with the OWS crowd, including his recent arrest at Goldman Sachs (the fact that he was arrested for protesting--the most basic form of free speech--while the bankers themselves, who have ripped us off to the tune of billions of public dollars, were being "protected" inside tells you just about everything you need to know.<br /><br />He may be wrong on a lot of things (it's fascinating to hear him harp with great force and eloquence on the necessity of leaders to be reality-based and to pay heed to evidence, and then perform this peculiar little backflip and toss out those same virtues in his own thinking!) but he's demonstrably correct about a whole bunch of stuff. I guess we have to pick and choose, which is what a sensible person would always be doing anyway.<br /><br />(FWIW, I believe I read somewhere that he's on record as not even being a believer; he just thinks that everyone else's beliefs are crucial to leading a moral life. Or something like that.)<br /><br />I'll look forward to your thoughts on this book when you read it.wstachourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12447198404608861357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15935045.post-86950116188672840192011-11-08T22:21:18.072-06:002011-11-08T22:21:18.072-06:00I used to read a lot of political books in the hey...I used to read a lot of political books in the heyday of the 2nd Bush administration but moved away from that during early Obama administration. Partly from that feeling that you've reached the finish line (which of course we hadn't) and partly from pure burnout. Like you say, sometimes when you are reading about how we've given away our democracy, it can get a little depressing and you feel helpless.<br /><br />The last year or so, I read about politics more tangentially much in the way you do from authors that are not specifically talking about politics. For ex. Harris, Hitchens, and Dawkins. Because religion and the suppression of science and reason are undeniably tied into politics, it gives perspective. Even reading authors like Michael Pollan, who is ostensibly writing about food, informs one's political opinions. Food is tied into agriculture, food safety, big business and we all know the influence those have on politicians or are influenced by the same.<br /><br />The problem is that too many of our politicians don't read books about ideas and science. If they did, they would be better informed and would make better policy. <br /><br />Sorry to be getting a little off topic. Anyway, back on topic. Like you, I've always been torn on liberal authors that happen to be religious. Their faith informing their views is OK as long as it does not blind them. I've been a fan of Jim Wallis (God's Politics), who is considered a "progressive evangelical". I was turned on to him by my wife's Pastor. His religion informs his views on race and peace and poverty, I admire him because he doesn't overstep or overstate what influence that religion should have in other areas and specifically in the lives of people that doesn't share his religion. While I don't believe that Hedge's sometimes overstepping invalidates his astute views in other areas, I do believe that he risks people tuning him out. Regardless, I'm going to eventually read this book.dbackdadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10700991588554336491noreply@blogger.com