Timoleon: November 1863 Archives
Or, one of the things surfers have in common with every mature, experienced person.
I find everything about surfing a blast. I like riding the wave the best. Next best I like getting outside. Next best I like wipeouts. They can be as cool as a marble in a shoe box, or better still, a sock in the washer. And best of all wipeouts, a sock in the drier, going round and round and round. Of course, if you hit something it could mess you up, and sometimes it seems as if the Ocean will never let you up; I only like these wipeouts when reminiscing.
The overriding lesson surfers learn, is that the Ocean always wins. If you fight her, she will win. Always. You've just got to learn to live with her under her rules. When she has you, many ordinary things become impossible, like breathing for instance. If you don't recognize or accept her omnipotence, you'll get into trouble. You'll get into trouble anyway, but if you learn the things she'll let you do, and learn to do them the way she likes, you'll hardly be powerless.
So in the surfer's world, there is this group of things that are just impossible to do; they know this group intimately. There is also this other group of things that can be done, but only if you do them 'just so'; they know this group intimately also.
It is in the acceptance of the world the way it is; it is in the letting go of the impossible; it is in the learning what can be done and how to do it; it is in these that the surfer is the same as the conservative.
When a conservative looks at society, she sees lots that's impossible to do; and puts those things away until they become possible. Then she gets busy learning what can be done and how to do it. Then she does it and it works.
In a speech early in his campaign, Sen. Obama said "We will end poverty in America". Even though this is a common theme for liberals, I still wondered why he would say such a thing, Here's my best guesses:
Maybe he's an idiot?
The word "poverty" is defined as the financial condition of those having the lowest values along a range of wealth. It's like the word "cold". "Cold" is not a temperature, like 42 degrees Fahrenheit; it's a range of temperatures that are lower than those temperatures which are called "Hot", or warm or cool, etc... To a person, 32OF is cold, but to a Penguin maybe it's only cool; or even warm? Maybe Sen. Obama doesn't know this; that poverty is relative? That would certainly make him a idiot.
Maybe he's a Communist?
If Sen. Obama set it up so that everyone had the same amount of wealth, there would be no range of wealth at all ,and so no poverty. We all know what communist societies are like. I suppose it's possible that some folks actually want to live under tyranny. I personally know some folks who would love to be a tyrant. And if George Washington, or even Timoleon, were the tyrant, life probably would be better.
Maybe he's a Child?
'From each according to their ability, to each according to their need.' This promise of Marxism is certainly attractive to many of us; even compelling. Such a society might be a Utopia, and who wouldn't want to live in Utopia? Unfortunately, history teaches us that Utopia is currently an unattainable ideal. Only children believe in such things.
Maybe he's using a sophism?
This would get my vote as the most likely reason Sen. Obama said "We will end poverty in America". He's lying through his teeth; shoveling it out by the truck full to secure the support of those who fall for such tricks..
If one isn't liberal while they're young they probably have no heart. And if one isn't conservative when they're grown up they probably have no brain. Or they don't use it. Or they're tyrants. Or I don't really know as I've spent decades searching, futilely, for a liberal willing or able to explain it to me.
From the Merriam-Webster online dictionary at www.m-w.com/dictionary:
Pronunciation: \ˈi-dē-ət\
Function: noun
2: a foolish or stupid person
Pronunciation: \ˈpä-vər-tē\
Function: noun
1 a: the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions
Pronunciation: \ˈsä-ˌfi-zəm\
Function: noun
1: an argument apparently correct in form but actually invalid; especially : such an argument used to deceive
Quotes:
"Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good."
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
"When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained."
Mark Twain
Bumper stickers that caught my eye:
"My mind is like a steel trap; rusty and illegal in most states."
"Don't believe everything you think".
Fun Facts to Know and Share:
Gold is so dense that where a cubic foot of water weighs 64 lbs, and a cubic foot of iron weighs 500 lbs., a cubic foot of gold weighs 1,200 lbs. If that gallon of milk you buy were gold, it would weigh 150 lbs.
