I am not a good person.
I know that.
I took entirely too much glee in the Kansas win over Ohio State. Entirely too much.
I loathe Ohio State. It is not “THE” anything.
I loathe it because I am from MSU. I loathe U of M too. I dance on their graves.
I would root for satan in a match between them.
I am thrilled to squash their little heads in my hands until their brains squirt out.
I am not a good person.
But we all have our little quirks don’t we? 🙂
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I believe in God. I have a worked out theology that I’m comfortable with. I fit in pretty well in most of the mainline Catholic, Protestant theologies. We quibble around the fringes. I consider myself sane and reasonable, and frankly normal.
Much as I admire the intelligence of Richard Dawkins, he would not return the favor. He thinks I’m nuts, and I frankly don’t appreciate it. I saw him on Chris Hayes Up a week ago, and found him as I usually do, just a bit too insufferably arrogant. The problem was put in a nutshell by Quinn O’Neill from 3quarksdaily—the man cares more about eradicating religion than he does in keeping vacuous “creationism” out of school curriculums. And that is simply wrong in my opinion.
Dawkins actually now advocates outright, in-your-face ridicule of believers. He doesn’t differentiate between the knuckle-dragging fundies who believe the earth is flat and only 6,000 + years old and those who believe that the universe is the creation of a greater mind who nurtures life and encourages connection to a fuller life.
On the other hand, there are folks like Robert Wright, whose book I reviewed here, who take a very different tack. In his article at The Atlantic, Wright argues that such an approach is needlessly confrontational and creates enemies where none need be.
While I agree and have argued here, that the far far Right is unreachable by reason, that is simply not the case with a great many who hold anti-science opinions, simply because that is what they were taught at home and they’ve never had the need or reason to confront an alternative explanation. These people can be persuaded by real evidence, and that opportunity is missed when you come at them like a Rottweiler.
Both are worth reading.
¶
Which brings me to art. Now, I am not what you call art savvy. I know what I like and what I don’t like, and I’m not impressed with experts on this issue, because I think a piece either speaks to you, or it doesn’t and that is the point is it not? It says something about life, the human condition or you simply love the colors and it matches the sofa. I am thusly a live and let live woman when it comes to what makes you swoon artfully speaking.
That said, I saw a segment on 60 Minutes about the pop art of the day, and the unbelievable prices for which the stuff goes. Some of it is crap, and I wouldn’t want it sitting at the end of my drive way awaiting the trash collector. Other stuff I thought “wow, I’d love to have that!”
Except that I can’t. These art fairs are singularly held in the playgrounds of the rich and famous, and while you make look, you may not touch, unless you have at least $250,000 to plunk down for that rusty faucet dripping water, or that hoe with an entangled bunch of hose and some flamingo boas entwined in what can only be described as “I found a way to make a million exercising only 1/10 of my brain cells” chic.
Yes, I’m well aware that there are little known “local fairs” with a bunch of local artist wannabes and a few genuine original geniuses possibly to be found, but I can learn to throw a pot too ya know. So my question is still valid.
My question?
Yes. Is there no morality to art?
Meaning–where are the artists who so love their work that they want the little guy to have a chance to own a piece? Where are the artists who refuse to let their pieces initially sell for more than say $50 or at least no more than 20% over the cost of materials? Am I whacked for even suggesting it? Is art only the play toy of the rich and famous?
You tell me.
¶
On a final note, a little help.
We are not looking for you to vote and decide for us.
But, we are entirely conflicted regarding our dog Bear. Some days we feel we should have him put down and bury him with Brandy, and at other times, he seems good to go. We don’t trust ourselves any more. It would be vastly easier to not take him. How much is this truth likely to push us in the wrong direction?
Here are the facts.
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He is incontinent either through dementia or just not giving a rat’s ass any more. We have to cut him off from water by 8 pm or face a clean up the next day.
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He is increasingly hard of hearing.
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He has some difficulty on some days getting up and down the porch steps (he had his leg badly broken as a youngster).
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He gags some days all day, a bit between gagging and coughing (which can be a sign of heart trouble or at least some growth)
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He is in his 14th year and that is really old for a border collie.
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He took Brandy’s death very badly and it took weeks before he pulled himself out of it. The trip would be disorienting and confining. He would be on a harness and leash for months.
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He’s always been free to roam and this meadow has been his home for 12 years.
On the other hand:
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He eats fine.
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He seems to eliminate fine.
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He seems in no major pain, though we suspect he aches (he paces some nights)
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He still likes to go for a ride, and experiences some interest in sniffing around, if only for a short time now.
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He still seeks pets and affection.
We are thinking of taking him to the vet and having him checked out and let the vet guide us. Any other ideas we have missed ?
Related articles
- Robert Wright promotes accommodationism, disses Dawkins (whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com)
- In Defense of Dawkins’s Reason Rally Speech – Daniel Fincke – Camels With Hammers (richarddawkins.net)
- Christopher Hitchens: In Defense of Richard Dawkins (alwaysquestionauthority.wordpress.com)
- Kansas claws back to stun Ohio State, will face Kentucky for national title (cbssports.com)
Existential Ennui 
well, about the dog. My Brother-in-law’s family kept a farm on the outside of town where resided a very old, like, really old dog of uncertain heritage, named Freckles. He was ancient, cold hardly move, couldn’t see well. The same dialogue took place. Then, one day the farmer about a mile down the road came to complain of his dog having a litter of puppies that looked “just like Freckles”. Maybe Bear just needs some sex therapy. Just saying.
nice story. Bear got fixed when he was a pup. All our animals are neutered. Unfortunately to talk to anyone around here is to get the obvious answer. Farm animals are expendable when they are no longer up to the task. Bear of course was not a working dog, so they really offer us no help here. We are walking that fine line between, he’s a dog, not a person, and he’s our beloved guy. People do give up on life and waste away by choice. And he can’t talk. Hence our dilemma. Regardless of what we decide, we have concluded we will not be sure it’s the right one. But we have agreed not to second guess ourselves once we do.
I find such atheists as Dawkins annoying, because they lump all Christians into the fundamental category, thus believing literally scripture while I opine that much is myth and story. That’s definitely not falling into the “fundy” category!
Yes I agree Jan, but I have little luck in getting this point across. I’m in the midst of that now at a professor of evolutionary biology’s blog who argues that Dawkins is right and Wright, wrong. lol…I continue to wonder why you make enemies out of allies. There are more rational believers than there are the other kind.
You might ask the vet how hard the move will be on your pet and the vet’s opinion about all that. The vet will hopefully be objective and have your pet’s best interest at heart.
That is what we are hoping, but then again, this is a farm community, and animals are looked at differently. We can only trust and know that the animals well-being is first.
You wouldn’t put your grandparents down if they had those issues, would you? If the dog is in no pain, then why why give him the pity-shot?
I wouldn’t trust the gagging though.. talking to a vet would be the best way about it, if you ask me. I wouldn’t do anything else with my own two tomcats. I’m loathing the day I’ll be facing these sort of dilemma’s for them and I’m sorry you’re in that position =/
No I agree, you wouldn’t think of such a thing with people, but animals aren’t people. You can’t reason with them, explain change and so forth. We are desperately afraid that this will fracture what’s left of his reasoning capacity. He literally took on Brandy’s persona and still does “her stuff” as best he can. You can’t make them understand. It may be more cruel to ask them to adapt to a whole new lifestyle at this age. That is our dilemma. Thanks for offering your ideas.
Good luck.
It’s one of the most awful decisions to be faced with. I had to go through it with my beloved Beanie. I realized that she was only facing more discomfort with her failing heart, that she couldn’t enjoy the things she used to. But I’m still not over her and never will be. There is no easy way unless they pass in their sleep. I think you have to ask the vet – what’s the best thing for Bear now? It might not be the best or easiest thing for you.
It does seem that that’s the only answer we can come to. Yet it seems somehow that we are being murderers. I look in his eyes and still see him in there, you know. Sigh.. thanks for your thoughts.
All I can say is, there’s little to no morality in MY art 🙂
HAHAHA, well at least you are truthful.
“We are thinking of taking him to the vet and having him checked out and let the vet guide us. “
I think you’ve given yourself the best advice here Sherry. Just be prepared for the worse.
Yes, we are pretty much resigned to the end of all of our pets. The idea of getting them down there in one piece and without spending thousands, seems now illusory.
I read your post a couple of days ago, told Craige about it and we just sat and looked at each other. Obviously, we aren’t you and the Contrarian — we’re not farm people, though Craige was raised on a ranch:-) If your vet is someone that you respect as a human being, following his advice would be something we could probably do. You have an incredible mind and a good loving heart and you will make the best decision. In the quiet, see if you can hear that little voice that lives in your heart’s head. Keeping you, the Contrarian and Bear in prayer.
It’s probably the hardest decision we have been called upon to make. If we were not facing this very difficult move it would be so simple. Just keep taking care of him as long as he was pain-free. But things are not like that. We are facing a long drive of several days, and living in a very confined environment for weeks, something he’s never experienced. But I do admit, that I am the one who is more emotional. As much as the Contrarian loves Bear, he is more clear about life in general and the quality of it. Nothing makes him more unhappy and determined to “do something” than to see a creature that is suffering. He’s taken the shotgun out more than once to end the misery of some creature. If he can he does. And frankly I am proud that he has the strength to do that. I’m not sure if I could.