I have this badass canker sore on the roof of my mouth near my back left molar. My tongue brushes against it when I talk or swallow. It's been there for days and isn't letting up. Getting tired of it. Real tired. Bitches don't know bout my tired.
Anyways.
Been listening to a lot of The Jefferson Hour lately. Basically, a fellow who is a Humanities scholar plays the character of Thomas Jefferson and answers questions from the host. It's interesting. I definitely consider Jefferson my favorite founding father (though only because Thomas Paine doesn't technically count) and it's... some strange combination of inspiring and depressing to hear how intelligent he was when comparing that to the standard politician of today. That said, Obama's a good step. Hey, a guy who put thought (like, real thought) into life's big questions, how novel.
Anyhow, if you've never heard the show and are at all interested, you ought to listen to this week's episode. He talks about Common Sense and its author, Thomas Paine. Paine's story is always inspiring and upsetting to hear. Inspiring because of his rise, upsetting because of his fall. For those who don't know, Paine wrote Common Sense in 1776, bringing the ideals of the Revolution to the average person and inciting the full blown rebellion. Then he went to France to aid in the French Revolution. Then, after some time there, he wrote The Age Of Reason, which was entirely consistent for his style - he applied logic and simple reasoning to demonstrate the unjust nature of a tyranny. It's just that this particular tyranny happened to be Christianity. The world wasn't ready, and they rejected him. He died a pariah.
Anyways.
Been listening to a lot of The Jefferson Hour lately. Basically, a fellow who is a Humanities scholar plays the character of Thomas Jefferson and answers questions from the host. It's interesting. I definitely consider Jefferson my favorite founding father (though only because Thomas Paine doesn't technically count) and it's... some strange combination of inspiring and depressing to hear how intelligent he was when comparing that to the standard politician of today. That said, Obama's a good step. Hey, a guy who put thought (like, real thought) into life's big questions, how novel.
Anyhow, if you've never heard the show and are at all interested, you ought to listen to this week's episode. He talks about Common Sense and its author, Thomas Paine. Paine's story is always inspiring and upsetting to hear. Inspiring because of his rise, upsetting because of his fall. For those who don't know, Paine wrote Common Sense in 1776, bringing the ideals of the Revolution to the average person and inciting the full blown rebellion. Then he went to France to aid in the French Revolution. Then, after some time there, he wrote The Age Of Reason, which was entirely consistent for his style - he applied logic and simple reasoning to demonstrate the unjust nature of a tyranny. It's just that this particular tyranny happened to be Christianity. The world wasn't ready, and they rejected him. He died a pariah.
Modern history is always interesting. Whether the 1770's counts as modern history, though, is probably a bit difficult to determine. I guess it is too early to tell.
As for me I have completely fallen for a series of radio documentaries about the Swedish current history, recounting its most famous events from the 1940's and forward. They must have made about thirty or forty by now, and it is fascinating how names, places and scandals you have previously only heard mentioned out of context, suddenly comes alive and literally spins a web all over the 80's and 90's, painting a whole new picture of the country I was born in.
History is fascinating, but sometimes I think you have to discover it yourself. Nothing is interesting unless you make it interesting, and most people simply are not able to do that.
I would send you a couple of those documentaries, but I doubt you'd have much joy out of them.
Thank you. I don't expect much else than an "I hope it works out" because that is really all one can say. People have been giving me good advice, and most of it have been facts I have already gone over again and again. What I need now is mainly somebody who can sit quietly with me, listen to all my whining and give me a pat on the back until I get it all out of my system.
That is the good thing about online friends, and blogs. They can't interrupt you, change the subject or slap you for being boring. They have no choice but to listen. Sometimes that is all you need.