“Generally speaking, what I complain of in the historical philosophy of Mr. Wells is that it is always jam to-morrow and never jam to-day.”
G.K. Chesterton quoted in “Chesterton University” “An Introduction to the Writings of G.K. Chesterton by Dale Ahlquist” “G.K.’s Weekly, Volume 8 ■ September, 1928 – March, 1929” in Gilbert The Magazine of the Society of G.K. Chesterton Vol. 26 #1 (9-10/22)
In my latest Epoch Times column I say the mercifully now reversed decision by Moncton city council to ditch their traditional Hanukkah acknowledgement (and a nativity scene) reflects a dangerously mistaken understanding of the place of religion in a free society.
“GKC: Suppose, for the sake of argument, that I say that to take away a poor man’s pot of beer is to take away a poor man’s personal liberty, it is very vital to note what is the usual or almost universal reply. People hardly ever do reply, for some reason or other, by saying that a man’s liberty consists of such and such things, but that beer is an exception that cannot be classed among them, for such and such reasons. What they almost invariably do say is something like this. ‘After all, what is liberty? Man must live as a member of a society, and must obey those laws which, etc., etc.’ In other words, they collapse into a complete confession that they are attacking all liberty and any liberty; that they do deny the very existence or the very possibility of liberty. In the very form of the answer they admit the full scope of the accusation against them. In trying to rebut the smaller accusation, they plead guilty to the larger one. This distinction is very important, as can be seen from any practical parallel. Suppose we wake up in the middle of the night and find that a neighbour has entered the house not by the front-door but by the skylight; we may suspect that he has come after the fine old family jewellery. We may be reassured if he can refer it to a really exceptional event; as that he fell on to the roof out of an aeroplane, or climbed on to the roof to escape from a mad dog. Short of the incredible, the stranger the story the better the excuse; for an extraordinary event requires an extraordinary excuse. But we shall hardly be reassured if he merely gazes at us in a dreamy and wistful fashion and says, ‘After all, what is property? Why should material objects be thus artificially attached, etc., etc.?’ We shall merely realize that his attitude allows of his taking the jewellery and everything else. Or if the neighbour approaches us carrying a large knife dripping with blood, we may be convinced by his story that he killed another neighbour in self-defence, that the quiet gentleman next door was really a homicidal maniac. We shall know that homicidal mania is exceptional and that we ourselves are so happy as not to suffer from it, and being free from the disease may be free from the danger. But it will not soothe us for the man with the gory knife to say softly and pensively, ‘After all, what is human life? Why should we cling to it? Brief at the best, sad at the brightest, it is itself but a disease from which, etc., etc.’ We shall perceive that the sceptic is in a mood not only to murder us but to massacre everybody in the street. Exactly the same effect which would be produced by the questions of ‘What is property?’ and ‘What is life?’ is produced by the question of ‘What is liberty?’ It leaves the questioner free to disregard any liberty, or in other words to take any liberties. The very thing he says is an anticipatory excuse for anything he may choose to do. If he gags a man to prevent him from indulging in profane swearing, or locks him in the coal cellar to guard against his going on the spree, he can still be satisfied with saying ‘After all, what is liberty? Man is a member of, etc., etc.’”
“News With Views” compiled by Mark Pilon in Gilbert: The Magazine of the Society of G.K. Chesterton Vol. 25 #6 (July/August 2022) p. 37 [with the comment afterward “Justin Trudeau is rumored to be taking notes”].
In my latest Loonie Politics column I note the ominous apparent paradox in which as the federal government spends and hires ever more recklessly, the national police force totally fails to attend to its core duty of protecting that government and its citizens from subversion, espionage and so on.
“Bitesized analysis, curated daily/ Busy schedule? The Economist app offers fast, digestible insights in a range of formats to suit you. Head to the Home section for a daily selection of our best analysis – all curated by senior editors.”
Email teaser from The Economist January 13, 2023 [prompting a cry of “Et tu, Economist?” not only over the pandering dumbing down/speeding up busy-lifestyle but also that pretentious “curated” – there was a time when that publication eschewed dumbing down and trendy fatuities].
“COMPETITION/ Your chance to win a stylish LG InstaView Objet Collection® Fridge, valued at $5,999/ LG Electronics Australia brings a pop of colour into the kitchen with the release of its new LG Objet Collection® Fridge, which sports a sleek design and a range of colour panels that lets users curate their kitchen space to express their own unique style. With customisable colour panels available in various colours and finishes including Silver, Green or Black stainless steel or Beige, Silver, Pink or Mint mist glass, the latest LG Objet Collection® allows consumers to set the mood and style of their kitchen. On top of its stylistic flair, the LG Objet Collection® also delivers on functionality with innovative features that work together to maximise food freshness. For your chance to win a LG InstaView Objet Collection® French Door Fridge, enter by 2 April. Customisation subject to availability. The default colour panels of the prize are Green & Silver Stainless Steel.”
Substantive portion of email from “The Australian Plus” [TheAustralian@e.newscorpaus.com.au] February 9, 2023 [whereas my actual fridge (a) did not cost six grand (b) keeps food cool rather than curating my space and (c) would not express my unique style even if I had one]
“Gabor Maté For mainstreaming the notion that there’s no such thing as normal”
#2 on Maclean’s “The Power List: 2023” in the health care category, in Maclean’s March 16, 2023 [totally, and predictably, missing the paradox that he made it normal to think there’s no normal... plus how could you treat a condition if you didn’t know how it normally worked and to what it normally responded?].
In my latest Loonie Politics column I say we need to face the fact, and the implications, of large-scale pro-Hamas demonstrations in Canada and other Western nations by recent immigrants from places where horrific anti-Semitism is routine.