Mine is a most peaceable disposition. My wishes are: a humble cottage with a thatched roof, but a good bed, good food, the freshest milk and butter, flowers before my window, and a few fine trees before my door; and if God wants to make my happiness complete, he will grant me the joy of seeing some six or seven of my enemies hanging from those trees. Before their death I shall, moved in my heart, forgive them all the wrong they did me in their lifetime. One must, it is true, forgive one's enemies - but not before they have been hanged. - Heine
Well that is not entirely true - I probably couldn't bring myself to actually hang a person, but I like the quote. At any rate, I am Dave your humble editor, and it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Currently, I am a graduate student in Kansas studying critical, political and persuasive communication. In my free time, I indulge in billiards (mostly 8 Ball) and read entirely too much for a decidedly handsome young man.
As you may have guessed, I also enjoy working on this blog. Originally, it started as a small course project, but I've found it far too interesting to let die. I am one of those people who would have you believe we are political beings, and I am also one of those people who prefer activism over everything; I consider it a unique human quality, and I do not think we use it frequently enough. Consider what Soren Kierkegaard wrote:
A Revolutionary Age is an age of action; ours is the age of advertisement and publicity. Nothing ever happens but there is instantaneous publicity everywhere. In the present age a rebellion is of all things the most unthinkable. Such a manifestation of strength would seem preposterous to the shrewd intelligence of our time. On the other hand, a political virtuoso might accomplish something nearly as extraordinary. He might write a manifesto proposing a general assembly at which people should resolve upon a rebellion, and it would be so prudently written that even the censor would let it pass. At the meetings itself he would be able to create the impression that his audience had rebelled, after which they would all go quietly home - having enjoyed a very pleasant evening. (The Present Age, 1846)He wrote this 164 years ago. I cannot but image how fast his head would be spinning should he had the opportunity to peek at our age.
So, what is this blog all about? As concerns your political and communicative endeavors, it's really whatever you need it for.
Personally, it is a way for me to vent my frustrations with our political system, society, to sort out my biconceptualism, discuss societal biconceptualism and to make contact with other people - like you - who may agree or disagree with my positions. I am not interested in cramming my point of view down your throat - I'll leave that to better men and women. Quiet the contrary, I want to tell you about my political positions; I want you to see the good that I do, and I want you to help me strengthen or abandon a position when necessary. You'll notice what really sets this blog apart from the myriad of aviable bullshit on the internets is that I spend a great deal of time trying to provide readers not just with my random bitching, but with posts containing scholarly information. I encourage you to peruse the comprehensive list of articles, studies and books referenced on this blog via the Resources page.
As a final note, one of the most important, though continually neglected, aspects of democratic citizenship is the need to communicate with one another. The posturing we see between congressmen and amongst pundits is not beneficial. How are we to create a "more perfect union" if we can hardly speak with one another? The answer: we can't and we won't. But it doesn't have to be that way.
We've some work to do, so let us get to it.
- Dave
People rarely make use of the freedom they have, for example, freedom of thought, instead they demand freedom of speech as compensation. - Soren Kierkegaard
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