Janet Collins
Billy MWe've learnt a lot from one man, whose highway we drive to PHILISOPHICAL ENLIGHTENMENT !!
February 23rd 2007 04:38
David Hume
"Hume is our Politics, Hume is our Trade, Hume is our Philosophy, Hume is our Religion."
Such an endearing speech. I thought, however, that someone should edit it and add "Hume is our highway" at the end. For in many ways, David Hume - a writer, philosopher and 17th Century citzen - is very much our highway. He is our highway to love, to joy, to pain and to suffering. May we remember him as...
Enough. There is a sick kind of satire, isn't there, about memorialising a man with such dreaded finality? How it is possible that we may attribute the combined efforts of the human race to one man's musings of other's efforts? It seems a gross injustice to the community (both past and present) of literary artists who have earned and shared perspective.
Nevertheless, he must be recognised for his efforts. Can we appreciate, forever immortalise someone with tender words without adding "s/he was the best... whatever". In death, we find a need to extract the core of emotion and voice it appropriately - yet we struggle with the syntax of social expectation. Can we simply say "she'll be missed" ? Or can we feel apologetic for being without the emotion others expect of us. Can we cite the trespasses of the deceased, as well as celebrate their achievements?
Have a think, and get to back me.
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Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
I don't quite get our tendency to place the dearly departed on a pedestal. I don't mean that we have to tear the newly departed to shreds, but surely we should remember them for their shortcomings as well as their strengths......often it's our shortcomings that really define us. Nobody is perfect and I like to think it's our imperfections that make us human and loveable.
At my funeral, I don't want people carrying on about how I was the best....whatever.....well, unless they're saying I had the best shoe and handbag collection (cos that could probably be true!). I'll be giving everyone permission to be honest about me!! ; )
Hmm....you've given me an idea for a post of my own. Thanks!!!
Comment by AnthonyB
Are you a bit of a barbie girl ? I would never have thought... Do you shop at Supre and Sportsgirl ?
Thanks for the comments, I'll have to check out that Anthony-inspired post !!
- Anthony
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
I still haven't written my Anthony-inspired post. Perhaps next week - I'm having my wisdom teeth pulled tomorrow........ouch!!!