Posted by John Nichols on August 12, 2003 at 19:33:34 from 165.91.199.202 user Mcneacail.
In Reply to: Re: Marxist Nonsense - I apologise posted by Katharine Edgar on August 12, 2003 at 18:22:06:
Well I missed the posting on the Marxist nonsense as it was before the messages I can easily get to on the list and I refuse to go hunting for it. But I would appreciate a copy off list, if you do not mind please Laurence.
I find that the world breaks nicely into groups that are at odds with one another. I believe this phenomena was studied nicely on a group of Boy Scouts in 1948 by a bunch of shrink type people. (Working from memory of a class in 1975 - so if I err I apologize.) I also believe to some extent humans enjoy the conflict that arises as long as it is non-violent. SW is a classic example and WDMTGS is the classic battle of human against the greatest force - nature. We can go to sea but nothing says we have to come back.
If we feel we belong somewhere then often it makes us much happier human beings. I know, though I have never met most of the people on this list and never will, that I am a much happier human being for having them in my life.
It is interesting but the other area where AR did not stray at all was into Church and yet in the 1930's that was a big side of kids life, and still is in a lot of places. I think he left it to ones' own imagination to fill in the blanks rather than alienate a group of readers.
Having grown up a Congregationist and still belonging to that small distinct Church as it now exists and there were only 3 members of my family, back to great - grandparents, cousins Aunts Uncles etc, in the Church, I know what it is like to feel a bit different particularly to some of my cousins.
When I joined this Church in Texas the Minister talked of doing missionary work in Texas amoungst the people of the same persuasion as my cousins. It is interesting to watch the dilemna in the Anglican Church over the NH Bishop compared to Congragationists response to these issues.
Finally - one of my students looked at me recently and said "We have worked out that you are a Democratic - they meant a US Democrat which is really centre of everything ."
I almost replied that "Worse - I was in a Union and I was an Aussie Democrat" which is worse in some peoples' opinions than being an honest Leftie.
I believe Heinlein expressed it the best when he said as I paraphrase "look after the kids first........" Lazarus Long was the character I believe, the rest is fun but nonsense really in the long run except where it is violent. Speaking of kids, I have a friend in Australia who is 10 and is sick. Ten times in hospital this year. She is an avid reader and I was hoping to send her some AR books. I bought her one when I was in OZ recently for her birthday. Anyone got a spare AR book they could let a very sick kid have, if so let me know off list and I will organize postage.
Thanks John