"The key was that the initial planting of the vineyard involved a delicate balance," wrote Victor Davis Hanson in The Other Greeks: The Family Farm and Agrarian Roots of Western Civilization. "The farmer had to be careful not to opt for either extreme, and instead to be aware that conditions adverse to full production ironically prove hospitable. So the growing practice of viticulture in the early polis —much more so than livestock raising or grain growing — must have reordered Greek values and contributed to the peculiar Greek notion of harmony and moderation … Hard work, not natural bounty was to be lionized."
"Should be required reading for all Pauline-Kael-bubble residents, from President Obama on up or down. Somebody should make a movie of it. Get Roger L. Simon on the phone at once!!! This could be box-office gold," we wrote (only half in jest) in the comments of Victor Davis Hanson's "Obama Versus the Way of the Universe," an eye-opening "farmer's tale" of the military historian's own mugging by reality at age 26, when — in a reversal of the "How 'Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm?" narrative — the gentleman farmer realized that trying to make nice to a neighbor willing to take advantage of a young man's naiveté was a loser's game. A few snippets to whet your appetite, and then be sure to read the whole thing:
Only someone who has not been in the real world, but only marketed rhetoric without consequences (e.g., if Obama had a bad day organizing, or legislating, was he fired?) could believe such things.
In short, Obama reminds me a little of myself — at 26. I had left the farm for 9 years to get a BA in classics, PhD in classical philology, and live in Athens for two years of archaeological study — all on scholarships … I had forgotten much of the culture of the farm where I spent years 1-18.
Then after the requisite degrees I left academia, and returned to farm 180 acres with my brother and cousin — and sadly was quickly disabused of the world of the faculty lounge.
Then follows the coming-of-age drama of internalizing the tragic view of human nature and a word of warning to the starry-eyed Utopianists currently at the wheel of the ship of state:
A sojourn at an elite university, you see, can sometimes become a very dangerous thing indeed.
"This is one of your finest articles to date as it deftly sums up the incredible hubris of 'The One' and illustrates that credible deterrence — not good intentions and empty blather — indeed keeps one's 'neighbors' honest and leads to a tolerable existence," writes Scott in the first of dozens and dozens (128 as of this writing) of insightful comments to VDHs post. We'll quote a couple for you to savor and then urge you — and especially President Obama & Company! — to read 'em all:
Ron Kean: I’ve learned that those who raise their voice usually expect the same from you or see the obsequiousness as a license to continue rude domination.
Allison Aller: From when I first started reading your blog, it was your experience in agriculture that gave you baseline credibility to me. All your classical study was very important icing on the cake (and it sure enabled you to write well!) … but it is the dealing with the world as God made it — in nature and in human nature — that brings wisdom and perspective.
Great dramatic potential. What do you say, Roger L? Maybe self-avowed "no longer brain dead liberal" playwright David Mamet would be interested.
Update: Maggie's links.
As I posted in comments on Mr. Hanson's column,I think the wrong person is accused of naivety. Mr. Obama was reared in Muslim Indonesia by a parent and grandparents who are avowed socialists. He has no delusions about the middle east.
It is Mr. Hanson who is being naive when he assumes that his own desire for a flourishing and prospering farm is shared by President Obama. The president has made it very clear in statement after statement, from: the world will not allow us to drive our suv's and keep the thermostat at 72, to apologizing for America around the world, that he wishes to reduce our nation in wealth, stature, influence and military strength.
His mission is to remove the U.S. as a threat to the people he admires, including Chavez, Ahmadinejad and every other socicialist, communist or totalitarian nation, and to withdraw our protection and support from traditional allies like the U.K. which he has snubbed and insulted repeatedly.
He is under no illusion that appearing weak before these people will lead to peace, security or prosperity.
Best wishes,
Gail S
Posted by: Gail | June 07, 2009 at 12:45 PM
"Only someone who has not been in the real world, but only marketed rhetoric without consequences..."
Indeed.
The pandering, equating, appeasing of dictatorships and despots in one of the most oppressive Regions on the Planet was simply sophomoric, embarrassing, and truly misguided.
Mr. Obama just tossed Freedom, including women's liberty, civil rights, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, etc., under a bus to appease, with evidence it was all related to his own personal aggrandizement.
It is sad and stunning to see from a US President.
The contradictions grow, as one day we are not supposed to 'impose' values of freedom upon others, the next we are supposed to 'confront evil'.
If Mr. Obama were sincere about confronting evil, it means Iraq was indeed a sound, admirable endeavor.
But this is what is to be expected from the Democratic Party, who for years has drifted into a very baseless existence in reality. Nancy Pelosi as Speaker is a fine example. So lost in partisan garbage, so deeply addicted to peddling bigotry - class warfare - racial divide, they no longer seem to care about sound policy.
Taxing, spending, appeasing, to the point where it becomes disastrous for all, failing to pay any attention to reality.
Posted by: HNAV | June 07, 2009 at 01:43 PM
You have drawn the picture of the liberal establishment. A world of people who deny the unchangeable nature of human nature due to their absence of living in the real world as exemplified by the first great civilization of the Greek farmers.
Posted by: goomp | June 07, 2009 at 03:27 PM
I believe that mankind's nature when left free to exploit its talents and only curtailed when it intrudes on the rights of others is the key to the "Shining City" which we have enjoyed for over two centuries. Long may our land be bright with freedom's light.
Posted by: goomp | June 07, 2009 at 03:37 PM
Sorta off topic: Jimmy Carter never got it. I never got Jimmy Carter. In fact, he kinda turns my stomach. But I read not too long ago that he may soon be largely responsible for the eradication of guinea worm disease. To that at least I have to take my hat off. Pretty useful for a useful idiot!
Posted by: amba | June 07, 2009 at 11:14 PM
Great post, Sissy, and looking forward to reading the book. Brilliant linking of the virtues of the yeoman farmer and conservative politics.
But definitely no romanticising rural life or the inevitable good fences make good neighbors jostling of each other. Jean de Fleurette is an extreme fictional depiction of this.
My late father in law's battles over the beavers flooding his neighbor's property, neighbor wanting to get rid of them, my father in law defending them (taking my kids to see the dam). More and more rancor. Then someone poisoned the beavers. My father in law never spoke to the neighbor again.
We are just back from that property now after only a weekend of backbreaking work just hewing out one family vegetable garden there, and trying to figure out a way to make a living up there should circumstances change here. Lumber trees every so often. Blueberries. But hilly rocky soil. Perhaps goats?
People worry that their neighbors will sell off parcels (unzoned) for development that will result in more families with kids moving in and taxes going sky high. So retired, childless and rich people are welcomed as they infuse cash into the community, but they cheered at the town meeting a few years ago when a local minister moved away (his kid was expensive for the school because Special Ed).
Posted by: retriever | June 08, 2009 at 07:52 PM