I also have a reasonable respect for the military and for religious devotion……. I realize if I’m a real Christian, I’ll have to be prepared to die for what I believe sooner or later……. I also realize Jerry Garcia was simultaneously a genius and an over indulgent fool…….
Gary, just like when I first read this 4 years ago, I agree with about 85% of your points and assessment……I admit to wasting too much time instead of getting more college education and I got married too soon and fathered my two children too soon but I had a reasonable amount of respect for my family and the rule of law and the sanctity of education…….. I wasn’t that rebellious cause I was spoiled and received much love and support from my family…….. I was lucky and naive but I’m sentimental about my childhood including the period between say 1966’ and and 1976’ especially……that’s just me……..and the music was absolutely tremendous
As always, thanks for your thoughtful comments! That piece is a cautionary tale about the insidious effects of creeping incrementalism. It reminds me of the parable about the camel which is allowed to get its nose under the edge of its master's tent--and gradually manages to squeeze its whole body in and displace the master. (It's the same story as the difference between throwing a frog into a pan of boiling water as opposed to putting it in lukewarm water and turning up the heat gradually until it's cooked.) Moral: do something gradually, and you can often get away with it before anybody notices. Obviously, my essay is about having already gone "full camel"; and now I'm not sure what we can do to get the damned thing out of the tent again! G.
I also have a reasonable respect for the military and for religious devotion……. I realize if I’m a real Christian, I’ll have to be prepared to die for what I believe sooner or later……. I also realize Jerry Garcia was simultaneously a genius and an over indulgent fool…….
Gary, just like when I first read this 4 years ago, I agree with about 85% of your points and assessment……I admit to wasting too much time instead of getting more college education and I got married too soon and fathered my two children too soon but I had a reasonable amount of respect for my family and the rule of law and the sanctity of education…….. I wasn’t that rebellious cause I was spoiled and received much love and support from my family…….. I was lucky and naive but I’m sentimental about my childhood including the period between say 1966’ and and 1976’ especially……that’s just me……..and the music was absolutely tremendous
Hey, David:
As always, thanks for your thoughtful comments! That piece is a cautionary tale about the insidious effects of creeping incrementalism. It reminds me of the parable about the camel which is allowed to get its nose under the edge of its master's tent--and gradually manages to squeeze its whole body in and displace the master. (It's the same story as the difference between throwing a frog into a pan of boiling water as opposed to putting it in lukewarm water and turning up the heat gradually until it's cooked.) Moral: do something gradually, and you can often get away with it before anybody notices. Obviously, my essay is about having already gone "full camel"; and now I'm not sure what we can do to get the damned thing out of the tent again! G.