"A powerful antidote to contemporary arrogance"

"We shall not grow wiser before we learn that much that we have done was very foolish," wrote Friedrich A. Hayek in The Road to Serfdom in one of Thomas Sowell's "Favorite Quotations." Baby Cakes (above left) is reminded by his sister Sweet Tiny Pea of the folly of getting too close to his sibling in the countdown to supper. Note kabuki-like body language of his crunched-back head and upper torso in response to her taunting, three-quarters stance with ears on high alert as she beams the evil eye on her brother. As all of us forever are, whether we like it or not, they are engaged in a Darwinian battle of "shedding shame and capturing honor."

"The study of history is a powerful antidote to contemporary arrogance," wrote the great historian Paul Johnson in a bit of wisdom Thomas Sowell chose to list among his "Favorite Quotations":

It is humbling to discover how many of our glib assumptions, which seem to us novel and plausible, have been tested before, not once but many times and in innumerable guises; and discovered to be, at great human cost, wholly false.

No chance of any such introspection during the current silly season, where propagators of the faith of the Clinton Legacy are on message to leave no good Bush deed unbashed 24/7. Kim Jong-Il claims to have set off a new-Q-lar bomb? Bush's fault. Our own treasured Dr. Sowell himself -- as always -- gets it  just right in his latest column, "Frivolous politics":

With a war going on in Iraq and with Iran next door moving steadily toward a nuclear bomb that could change the course of world history in the hands of international terrorists, the question for this year's elections is not whether you or your candidate is a Democrat or a Republican but whether you are serious or frivolous . . .

Even when serious issues are addressed, they can be addressed either seriously or frivolously. If you are content to see life and death issues of war and peace addressed with catch phrases like "chicken hawk" or to see a coalition of nations around the world fighting terrorism referred to as "unilateral" U.S. action because France does not go along, then you are content with frivolity.

Only ten, fifteen minutes till suppertime . . .

We've been there and done that forever in these pages. "The reason we can't get serious about this war is because this country now seems to prefer 'freedom lite," writes Dr. Sanity, likewise citing Thomas Sowell:

. . . meaning that there are many in the MSM and in certain political parties, who have forgotten -- if they ever knew -- what it means to be free. They want all the perks; they want to get elected; but they don't want the responsibility of making hard decisions and difficult choices.

We're hoping with all our heart that our fellow Republicans won't sit this mid-term election out for spite. Just give "Stand and FIght" a chance.

Update: Quotation of the day from the normally unspeakable John McCain:

"Now we are facing the consequences of the failed Clinton policies."

Update II: Cutie pies Harley and Tinker of Curiouser and Curiouser are hosting this week's Carnival of the Cats #133.

Update III: This just in from Captain Ed, who gives the floor to the above-mentioned John McCain:

I would remind Senator Hillary Clinton and other Democrats critical of Bush Administration policies that the framework agreement her husband’s administration negotiated was a failure. The Koreans received millions in energy assistance. They diverted millions in food assistance to their military. And what did they do? They secretly enriched uranium.

How sweet it is.

Update: Pajamas Media links.

Comments

[goomp]

If our citizens fail to see that the issue is "The Decline and Fall of Western Civilization," the future looks bleak to me. We may give thanks to the many such as yourself who bring the insight of those such as Tom Sowell to our attention.

[hnav]

"kabuki-like body language"

LOL

wonderful...

the glow in those eyes !

it is truly ironic, the North Korean problem reminds everyone again, of the failed Clinton Experience...

(or should one say 'negligence'?)

i feel the Clinton past is essential, because liberal Democrats wish to return to the inept, appeasing, weak, denial.

you must see the fun 'David Zucker's Election 2006 Video'...

it says it all, perfect timing for Hillary's desperate attempt to spin reality.

[Teresa]

I love Thomas Sowell - one of the clearest thinkers we have today and articulate to boot. It would be wonderful if our leaders had even a smidge of his ability to communicate clearly and concisely on events.

As for McCain - the man has 2 distinct personalities... sometimes he makes sense, other times he sounds like an idiot. The second part always makes me leary of the first part. Should I admire him for the occasional burst of intelligence? Or do the idiocies cancel out the better half?

But best of all are the kitty stand offs. Showing everyone how to hold their turf and keep it from being overrun by the enemy. *grin*