Home › Forum Online Discussion › General › Gore Vidal, True American Rebel
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November 1, 2015 at 2:18 pm #45062Michael WinnKeymaster
A good essay that lets this younger generation see what buffoonery American politics and elections have degenerated into.
November 1, 2015 at 3:52 pm #45063rideforeverParticipant“In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows. Nature says, he is my creature, and maugre all his impertinent griefs, he shall be glad with me. Not the sun or the summer alone, but every hour and season yields its tribute of delight; for every hour and change corresponds to and authorizes a different state of the mind, from breathless noon to grimmest midnight.”
That’s from Emerson.
Gore Vidal was a great talking / thinker from that era. But also very privileged, rich, famous, spending time in expensive mansions with famous personalities. Yes you can talk of rebellion when you are safe.
Has anyone got a solution for mankind ?
A practical solution ?
I think you would be surprised at the uptake if it actually worked.
Isn’t everyone just clinging on, hoping someone will come up with an answer ?There are a few rebels around, mostly shot dead or hunted by the state. Even Jesus was murdered. Best to be a rebel in secret. Who would understand.
As for Donald Trump … isn’t he a rebel? He says what he likes. It’s not pretty. He looks a fool, does that stop him ?
Perhaps he is freer that Vidal – he has no need of being seen to be intellectual. But, he is rich, successful, he has a young beautiful girlfriend. Isn’t this an American dream?
His policies are honest and direct. He hasn’t massaged his words or taken orders from focus groups. He is alive, in some way. There are worse things.
Perhaps he too would understand the value of standing in a forest, although he wouldn’t express it like Emerson.
Anyway, mankind awaits a solution. His energy is expended in every direction … is there one amongst us that can provide an answer ?
Even the dreaded Fox News, I have sympathy for. (I am a rebel too). I see those guys … they want to protect America. They are ready to fight for America, those anchors on Fox News. Crazy, but better than someone with no heart.
Once again … all human beings are just desperately waiting for someone to help them be good and do good. No-one seems to know how to make that happen.
November 1, 2015 at 3:54 pm #45065StevenModeratorExcept the younger generation isn’t going read any essays. The only things they read are text messages from friends and mindless social media postings on their smart phones.
But the buffoonery is self-evident if one even in passing catches some of the Republican primary debates. Anyone paying attention for even 5 minutes can realize the whole thing is a circus and all those candidates are bat-shit crazy.
November 1, 2015 at 8:17 pm #45067russellnParticipantInterview: Nicholas Wrathall discusses his intimate new film documentary called ‘Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia’
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/united-states-of-amnesia/5565784
(right click download audio, select ‘save target as’)
November 6, 2015 at 10:30 pm #45069Michael WinnKeymasterWell spoken, Rideforever.
The whole point of Tao is that it is not anyone’s responsibility to come up with a solution for others. Everyone self-created themselves, and must self-create their own life meaning or harmony (which is actually what I believe “solution” means in your context).
But as you say, most are not accepting that responsibility, and are looking to others to figure it out for them. Humanity will hopefully eventually recycle all of its inertia into something evolutionary.
-m
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