I disagree with this analysis entirely. Sure western Civ. is on the decline, but not as a result of "lost transcendental values". As a result, I shall be formulating a formal response @ The cookbook over the next couple of days.
That the monastic orders saved much of Western Civilization is well documented. In How the Irish Saved Civilization details of how Irish monks kept civilization from crashing entirely after the fall of Rome in Britain and what is now France.
The final 3 paragraphs should give those enamored of the scenario of a restoration/improvement being a relatively straightforward thing pause for some VERY serious & egoless thought. An example of the popular mindset that'll surely cause some ugly problems for the aforementioned Constitutional 'romantics' can be seen in the comment section @ the end of the TV movie Skokie. Look for the statement by Danny Kaye/Max Feldman's daughter Janet, as it says a lot about the way things societally are today & gives insight on how deep the rot goes & also how far a 'resto/improv' movement will have to go to achieve their goals. Not pretty, or simple, but QUITE vicious & destructive if one truly wants to excise the causes of the disease afflicting America & permanently prevent its return.
Think long & hard about where you're going & what you want afterward BEFORE taking action, people, because once the party well & truly starts the 'genie' of unintended consequences will be out of its bottle & said container will be most assuredly be smashed beyond re-assembly. Don't give up & say "to hell w/ it", just honestly ponder the ramifications.
Formal monasteries as knowledge repositories/'sanctuaries' worked back then because of the enormous influence of the Catholic church & the reticence of domestic combatants to buck its authority by attacking them. 'Imported' forces, however, had NO compunction against doing so & Pat H's comment shows how close it got to Western civilization's candle being snuffed out by invaders. Given the semi-Luddite/quasi-religious politics of the Left/its allies, such an approach is likely to be self-defeating as such edifices would be prime targets & are unlikely to withstand assault from current weaponry. And thus why I raised the concept of 'posterity capsules' secreted around the country that contain various items which, IMO, would be needed to re-establish a society after a 'dark age'. Alexandria, the Dark Ages, the Mayan codexes, early Soviet Russia, & the Nazis show what happens when eggs are placed in a recognizable basket & there's little proof that the mentality of erasure has been eradicated once & for all.
One final drop of sunshine for your Saturday, courtesy of Malone Vandam.
Phenomenally well written and to the point. Good on Malone, and good on you for recognizing its wisdom and truth.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with this analysis entirely. Sure western Civ. is on the decline, but not as a result of "lost transcendental values". As a result, I shall be formulating a formal response @ The cookbook over the next couple of days.
ReplyDeleteRead "A Canticle for Leibowitz"?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/Canticle-Leibowitz-Walter-Miller-Jr/dp/0060892994/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275773100&sr=1-1
That the monastic orders saved much of Western Civilization is well documented. In How the Irish Saved Civilization details of how Irish monks kept civilization from crashing entirely after the fall of Rome in Britain and what is now France.
ReplyDeleteThe final 3 paragraphs should give those enamored of the scenario of a restoration/improvement being a relatively straightforward thing pause for some VERY serious & egoless thought. An example of the popular mindset that'll surely cause some ugly problems for the aforementioned Constitutional 'romantics' can be seen in the comment section @ the end of the TV movie Skokie. Look for the statement by Danny Kaye/Max Feldman's daughter Janet, as it says a lot about the way things societally are today & gives insight on how deep the rot goes & also how far a 'resto/improv' movement will have to go to achieve their goals. Not pretty, or simple, but QUITE vicious & destructive if one truly wants to excise the causes of the disease afflicting America & permanently prevent its return.
ReplyDeleteThink long & hard about where you're going & what you want afterward BEFORE taking action, people, because once the party well & truly starts the 'genie' of unintended consequences will be out of its bottle & said container will be most assuredly be smashed beyond re-assembly. Don't give up & say "to hell w/ it", just honestly ponder the ramifications.
Cassandra (of Troy)
CA,
ReplyDeleteFormal monasteries as knowledge repositories/'sanctuaries' worked back then because of the enormous influence of the Catholic church & the reticence of domestic combatants to buck its authority by attacking them. 'Imported' forces, however, had NO compunction against doing so & Pat H's comment shows how close it got to Western civilization's candle being snuffed out by invaders. Given the semi-Luddite/quasi-religious politics of the Left/its allies, such an approach is likely to be self-defeating as such edifices would be prime targets & are unlikely to withstand assault from current weaponry. And thus why I raised the concept of 'posterity capsules' secreted around the country that contain various items which, IMO, would be needed to re-establish a society after a 'dark age'. Alexandria, the Dark Ages, the Mayan codexes, early Soviet Russia, & the Nazis show what happens when eggs are placed in a recognizable basket & there's little proof that the mentality of erasure has been eradicated once & for all.
Cassandra (of Troy)