tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11415684.post115407417052743329..comments2024-01-10T06:40:26.416-05:00Comments on Chesterton and Friends: The Death of UlyssesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11415684.post-86553339668706871232009-09-08T11:44:54.320-04:002009-09-08T11:44:54.320-04:00I loved your essay, Nick! It raises a question I t...I loved your essay, Nick! It raises a question I think must face all Chestertonians....to what extent should we denounce the dehumanising and alienating effects of modern society, and to what extent should we revel in the world as it is, since its the only world we have? I ask this because reading Chesterton actually cured me of a surly disdain for modern life, funnily enough. What innovations since Chesterton's time might he have embraced? Has the working life of the average man and woman has become rather less of a drudge since his day? There may be more people self-employed and working for small companies which might give them more opportunity to be involved in decisions. But which is more life-enhancing; a relatively straightforward job like that of a shop assistant (which could be very tough, but at least you can step out of every day) or a more demanding one that makes inroads onto your soul, without being in any way rewarding? Ulysses is one of my favourite poems but I wonder if Chesterton would have found its note of pagan fatalism rather joyless and unChristian? Hope you have better luck next year, Nick!Maolsheachlann, Irelandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11415684.post-1154306852894593602006-07-30T20:47:00.000-04:002006-07-30T20:47:00.000-04:00Thank you, everyone, for your kind words. If ther...Thank you, everyone, for your kind words. If there were any way to make a living off this sort of thing, as Gilbert did, you can rest assured I'd look into it.<BR/><BR/>For now, though, it's just a fun hobby.Nick Milnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15677481833245634421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11415684.post-1154306193030465162006-07-30T20:36:00.000-04:002006-07-30T20:36:00.000-04:00Nick,A very fine essay -- provocative and with ins...Nick,<BR/><BR/>A very fine essay -- provocative and with insight that belies your young age. Good job. I also followed the link over to your piece on intellectual honesty. That too was an illuminating article with important applications for a life well lived. I've printed it off to share with a few friends. Thanks.<BR/><BR/>Denny Hartford<BR/>Director, Vital Signs Ministries<BR/>Omaha, Nebraska<BR/>(Vital Signs Blog)<BR/>(The Book Den blog)DHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07053399301097508465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11415684.post-1154115517541596892006-07-28T15:38:00.000-04:002006-07-28T15:38:00.000-04:00He labours at work that does not require thought, ...<I>He labours at work that does not require thought, inspire the mind, or caress the soul...</I><BR/><BR/>One thing to keep in mind is that it is not possible to have only utopian-like jobs. There will always be the need to till the soil and reap the harvest, to clean the toilets and dust the furniture, to delivery an item long distances and file paperwork to make sure it doesn't get lost in the process, to assemble the widgets and inspect the dadoodles. Granted, there is waaaaay too much bureaucracy and unnecessary menial tasks, but it's something that to a certain degree will always be with us.<BR/><BR/><I>... In his limited leisure time, he has neither the energy nor the will to dare great things or forge links. He atrophies. And does the world help him fight against this slow death? No, it does not. It provides him with a surrogate life to keep him from the real one he is missing. It provides him with reality television to distract him from reality. It provides him with Internet worlds to keep him from the real world outside his very door. It provides him with celebrities in place of heroes, fads for traditions, and buzzwords for truths.</I><BR/><BR/>This is a powerful point, and I would suggest expounding on it!Trubadorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10490227689920361345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11415684.post-1154105561924687942006-07-28T12:52:00.000-04:002006-07-28T12:52:00.000-04:00Well, sorry! Maybe next time you should mention t...Well, sorry! Maybe next time you should mention the bribes in the application release. You can't expect the average citizen of the virgin, unsullied Internet to have such a dirty and lucre-driven mind, you know.<BR/><BR/>In any event, such is life.Nick Milnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15677481833245634421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11415684.post-1154105063819753452006-07-28T12:44:00.000-04:002006-07-28T12:44:00.000-04:00Nick, you know a case of pinot noir and some cigar...Nick, you know a case of pinot noir and some cigars -- surreptitiously placed by my front door -- would have helped get you your second win in a row. As no bribe was forthcoming, neither was the nod from the judges. ;-)Sean P. Daileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15601412713863673499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11415684.post-1154101617980852272006-07-28T11:46:00.000-04:002006-07-28T11:46:00.000-04:00Lovely article furor.This quote: "Think for a mome...Lovely article furor.<BR/><BR/>This quote: "Think for a moment of the long chain of thorns or flowers that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day" caught my attention as I was just reading Chesterton's essay "A Defence of Rash Vows" where he states:<BR/> "The man who makes a vow makes an appointment with himself at some distant time or place." <BR/>The taking of the vow is like the chain of either thorns or flowers ...if you vow for love you chain with flowers....<BR/>the vow going back to one "memorable day" (wedding) throws you into a meeting with yourself in the future as a faithful spouse of a fruitful life. I thought of this as I greeted my husband of 20 years with a smile this morning. <BR/><BR/>I can't wait to read the winning article because I can't imagine what would top this. :><BR/>LilyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11415684.post-1154086640901631592006-07-28T07:37:00.000-04:002006-07-28T07:37:00.000-04:00Man, you were robbed. I hear that Dale guy is a cr...Man, you were robbed. I hear that Dale guy is a crook (or maybe it was "crock; or maybe that he had croaked). <BR/><BR/>No matter. Very nice piece. <BR/><BR/>(For readers unacquainted with the players here: I consider Dale a friend (or at least a friendly acquaintance; or maybe an acquaintance that's friendly), so take the above with a smile.)Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07174820788066029353noreply@blogger.com