Egalitarianism, Utopianism and Other Such Nonsense

This, that, - - - and the other thing

To profess an ideal of perfect equality or harmony is nonsensical.

Likewise so is professing an ideal of perfect free trade or pure capitalism.

Ideals are perfect goals. They will never be reached. They are simply an idea that must be perfected through trial and error. It is all in the ‘doing’ of the ideal, not in the ‘end result.’

Even scientists and mathematicians realize that by ‘approximating’ a formula and then ‘approximating’ it again and again will they ever approach the truth. That is the truth in science. That also is the truth of humanity. There is no end to discovery. It is all approximation. We believe that we can jump to the end but there is no end; we just discover another path ‘towards’ the end.

Those who preach that egalitarianism, utopianism, or pure free trade can be reached in one generation only fool themselves while they are trying…

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Adirondack Images and Tales Slideshow

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Adirondack Guide, Adirondacks, Blue Mountain Lake, Forest Pictures of the Adirondacks, History

Here are the people you have met, the places you have been and the books you have read while visiting Thomas Tahauwus in his cabin. Thomas thanks all of you for keeping him company and hopes that you have enjoyed hearing about his experiences in the Adirondack Mountains

 

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The Land of Akbar; Post #1 (an introduction)

waldotomosky

I must thank two uncertainties for the discovery of Akbar[1]; an echo and a philosophical dictionary.

The echo disturbs anyone who finds himself in a specific ancient dusty great-room which has the odor of yellowing print material. This great-room is located in the once grand summer lodge of Aiden Lair. Aiden Lair may be found with great difficulty (if at all) in the depths of the Adirondack Mountains. The    philosophical dictionary was possibly labeledThe Dictionnaire Philosophique, Voltaire, 1764. Itwas a literal but anachronistic reprint of the Philosophical Dictionary, Stanford, 1995. The event that I am about to describe to you took place a half century ago – therefore you must forgive my memory – for the ‘possibly labeled’ comment.

Ernest Hemingwayinvited me to an evening meal of trout and venison that he had prepared over a wood fire. He had gathered the wood from…

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HARMONY

waldotomosky

Remember when we were looking at the Starucca Viaduct; that manmade wonder of the world?

The small town of Harmony is a short walk from the viaduct.

When discussing the viaduct I mentioned Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon religion. There is a lot of common information about Joseph Smith in Palmyra, New York and Ohio and Missouri and his followers in Utah.

HOWEVER – – –

There is little common knowledge about his life in Harmony, Pennsylvania.

Oh – – – I don’t mean that the Mormons have little knowledge about their leader when he was in Harmony. What I mean is that most of us non-Mormons know little about this part of his life.

Like in Ohio and Missouri, Josesph Smith was under scrutiny and attack, jailed and not understood.

For example, here is some second hand and very aged information from a Christian minister.

The good reverend Peck…

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PAINTED FACES – PAINTED MEN

waldotomosky

I was out for a nice stroll in the neighborhood. We have no sidewalks here. Everyone walks in the road. I have no idea why. The neighborhood is almost sixty years old and they never bothered putting in sidewalks. Now, as you can imagine, the town has rules. First of all they claim to own or control the first eight feet of everyone’s lot; both front and side. They also have a rule that there can be no fences on that eight foot section between what I own and the curb; the sidewalk-less section in case I had to remind you.

But all that information is for naught. It has nothing to do with what I am about to tell you.

As I was walking – – – it was in the evening – – – I heard someone talking to me. Or so I thought. But why was he…

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A DEVINE TRAGEDY: 10. CREATION OF THE AUTOMATONS

waldotomosky

The Virtue of Fortitude; Brueghel the Elder, Pieter, c.1560

“Brothers and Sisters, take no fear when the natural is overcome with the artificial. It is simply the creation of the overman.”

Thus spoke Fred as he departed company with the Seven Somnambulists and entered a large hall.

Fred was walking amongst contradictions of steam and chilling waters.

And these were contained in machinations, non-beings, no hearts.

They opened and closed their maws with the force of dragons.

These un-beings, hoping also, but hardly ever successful,

at masticating man’s extremities; right and left.

These were creatures of the creators.

They were the product of producers.

They had no life of their own,

but were the life work,

of the gifted.

 

“Yea to those men of discovery.”

“Yea to those men of courage.”

“Yea to those men of talent.”

Fred uttered yea unto them three times.

 

Fred asked of the only…

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A DEVINE TRAGEDY: 9. VICTIMHOOD AND FAILURE

waldotomosky

The Virtue of Faith by Brueghel the Elder, Pieter, circa1559

AND FRED CONTINUED HIS CONVERSATION WITH THE REMAINING TWO SOMNAMBULISTS

“Next to last is you, sixth sleepwalker called ‘Victim.’

“Art thou only a victim of your own self-deception?”

“Doest not thou maketh thine own death bed?”

“You bed with short term concern for self.”

“He who deservith shall recieveth,

the true deserts he has earned.”

“Thou are the under man,

who has gone under,

with each rising,

of the moon.”

 

“Though are the victim of short vision and short days.”

“Thine melencholyness is won by thine own hand.”

“Doest thou wish to leap from the palisade?”

“Doest thou wish to leap from the boat?

“Thou hast not the courage to use,

thine own hand for the task.”

“You dream other hands,

attempt the wish.”

But when it fails,

thoust lay blame,

on them also.”

“Trust not,

“your fate,

to me!”

 

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A DEVINE TRAGEDY: 8. CAPITULATION

waldotomosky

The Virtue of Charity , by Pieter Brueghel the Elder, from The World of Seven Virtues

AND FRED CONTINUED HIS CONVERSATION WITH THE SEVEN SOMNAMBULISTS

“The fifth among you shall be named ‘Capitulation.’”

“Thine cloak takes on a multitude of shadows.”

“Amongst these are the hues of passiveness,

and a worried and feigned friendliness.”

“Thy forms are ‘The Flock,

and The Multitudes.”

 

“Thine shape is that of the serpent, or at best the chameleon.”

“Doest the oily slime of a dead oasis make you jealous?”

“Doest it nurture more spine in the slime than thou?”

“Then shed your cloak of capriciousness.”

“Or is it vacillation?”

 

“Doest thou vacillate to save your hide or your mind?”

“Doest thou croak like a frog when he vacillates,

his bloated chin to hide his fear of the dark?”

“Or is it fickleness? Art thou fickle,

like a young girl with choices?”

Doest…

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A DEVINE TRAGEDY: 7. NEPOTISM AND EDUCATION

waldotomosky

The Sin of SLOTH Pieter Bruegel the Elder Circa 1557

“Third amongst you is the most feared and despised,

yet thou are never spoken of in an open voice,

your six brethren nappers are very afraid,

aware of the poison of thine presence.”

that is you, pallid one – – – ‘Nepotism.”

 

“Thou steal honor and spirit from others.”

“Thou bow to that which is not earned.”

“Thine alter is built on the bones,

of your ancestors.”

 

“But this alter is not built of pride, its foundation – – -,

 the stiff necked haughtiness of rotting flesh,

inherited laurels bespeak of the smell,

of decaying ineptitude.”

 

“And you, fourth one with arms stiffly outstretched; O living zombie.”

“Thou shalt not hide behind the others. Thy name is ‘Education’,

and it shall forever be suspect and under watchful eye.”

“Do not saunter with the other seven diseases.”

“March…

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A DEVINE TRAGEDY: 6. ARROGANCE and SECRET SOCIETY

waldotomosky

The Sin of PRIDE by Dutch master Pieter Bruegel the Elder

“I speaketh to you Brothers and Sisters; forget not the seven somnambular plagues of Industry.”

 

And thus Fred then spoke to the first of the seven who walked as if in sleep:

 

“You, lead strides-man, thou are ‘Arrogance’,

from thine throat comes the roar of the lion,

yet yee knowest not the humility of time,

patience, perserverance and wisdom,

your roar finds itself covered,

as the moon covers the sun,

in full daylight,

the red corona,

of your roar,

is at once,

muted yet,

beautiful.”

 

“Therefore it will be remembered and practiced by the least amongst you; the under man.”

 

Fred then spoke thusly to the second somnambulist:

 

“You, second strident among the worst of plagues are ‘Secret Society.’”

“You walk behind hidden meanings and the pressing of the hand.”

“You meet in once…

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