In one sense, and that the eternal sense, the thing is plain. The answer to the question “What is Wrong?” is, or should be, “I am wrong.” Until a man can give that answer his idealism is only a hobby.
From the Daily News, August 16, 1905
Sir,—I must warmly protest against people mistaking the uneasiness of “A Heretic” for a sort of pessimism. If he were a pessimist he would be sitting in an armchair with a cigar. It is only we optimists who can be angry.
One thing, of course, must be said to clear the ground. Political or economic reform will not make us good and happy, but until this odd period nobody ever expected that they would. Now, I know there is a feeling that Government can do anything. But if Government could do anything, nothing would exist except Government. Men have found the need of other forces. Religion, for instance, existed in order to do what law cannot do—to track crime to its primary sin, and the man to his back bedroom. The Church endeavoured to institute a machinery of pardon; the State has only a machinery of punishment. The State can only free society from the criminal; the Church sought to free the criminal from the crime. Abolish religion if you like. Throw everything on secular government if you like. But do not be surprised if a machinery that was never meant to do anything but secure external decency and order fails to secure internal honesty and peace. If you have some philosophic objection to brooms and brushes, throw them away. But do not be surprised if the use of the County Council water-cart is an awkward way of dusting the drawing-room.
Government will not solve the core problems of society. Your favored political candidate will not solve the root causes of the main problems in society. If you're voting for a savior you're doing it wrong.
Or as #Chesterton said,
“Political or economic reform will not make us good and happy, but until this odd period nobody ever expected that they would.”
More from GCK in the comments
Glad to see an open minded and informed public having such thoughtful and constructive dialog after the VP debate.
Phew, #qoto is back.
"America, on the other hand, still has plenty of fight left in her. Further than that, I genuinely believe America will be the last stand for the West - for Christendom. If America falls, we all fall. There is a lot riding on this upcoming election. What a time we are living through. "
Calvin Robinson on his move to accept a new role in #michigan
#anglican #uspol
My troubled teen is about to turn 18 years old. It's been a very long journey and there's so many unknowns ahead. But I'm very grateful that he's alive at 18.
It's strange that the #harris party, the guardians of #Democracy, are investing so much time and money to try to remove opponents from the ballot.
After they killed #Kennedy campaign, they're next going after Stein and the Green Party.
https://apnews.com/article/jill-stein-wisconsin-president-ballot-2024-e8cb52080dc7ba32997642e962dc0b06
"Not only has #Harris received 66% more airtime than former President Donald #Trump, but the spin of Harris's coverage has been more positive (84%) than any other major party nominee, even as Trump's coverage has been nearly entirely hostile (89% negative)."
Or as #Chesterton wrote in Orthodoxy, "We do not need a censorship of the press. We have a censorship by the press... It is not we who silence the press. It is the press who silences us."
A conversation today reminded me of something: I have come to see speaking badly about ones users as a sign of a bad programmer.
Disengagement, cynicism, callousness, suspicion… these things make bad software.
Simultaneously our industry has elevated these traits as signs of “rationality”.
Caring, empathy, curiosity, engagement, learning, compassion… these things make good software.
And they don’t get the hype they deserve.
Aside, but important: in my experience, disengagement especially, but also to some extent the others, are often an early warning sign of burnout. So if you feel you’re slipping into that, maybe get someone you can talk to, there might be more going on than you realize.
Have kids. Be happy.
I'm interested in being just not civil, but excellent in interacting with others of different viewpoints in an online world where we can so viciously defend our echo chambers and be so dismissive of other perspectives.
I'm a #Dad of several from toddler to teen, #Husband, #Christian, #Anglican, Unaffiliated #conservatarian, Software #Developer, #Coloradan, Reader of paper #books, Card and BoardGamer, #tea drinker, solving problems and helping millions escape extreme poverty as a #Salesforce #Architect at an amazing nonprofit.