One I guest may generality extends to the rest of the world - and I think that the logic of capital is punitive - or at least the Darwinistic version that has developed in the Protestant world - in which grace is measured by wealth
On Sat, Aug 18, 2012 at 3:10 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > In a message dated 8/18/12 1:25:45 PM, [email protected] writes: > > > > I would like to point out that we are not all created equal and that most > > of us are further penalized for not only race, gender, and class but also > > for education and ability - seemingly the deck is stacked against most of > > us > > > 'Penalized' is the wrong word. > > I'd suggest that 'restricted' might be better here, but even that is too > gloomy, too focussed on the morose possibilities in life. Freud had an > interesting phrase: "Anatomy is destiny." I won't try to grapple with what > he > had > in mind in the essay where the phrase appears, because he too focusses on > the > bleak. > > The fact is we can also be ADVANTAGED by anatomy. We see that regularly in > great athletes. We see the advantages of an attractive appearance, a strong > immune system, of stamina mental and physical. The many aspects of high > intelligence are the lucky advantages of anatomy within our skulls. > > Don't reply by pointing out that many athletes, entertainers, and smart, > healthy, rich folks have been "unhappy". That would trend toward saying > none > of us has a chance to be contented. And it would be as unconvincing a > response as asserting that no black female born into a poor family has ever > eventually led a satisfying "happy" life. > > The sweeping "seemingly the deck is stacked against most of us" is too > morbid a generalization. And, without qualification it's useless. It > becomes > useful for many when it's modified to something like "seemingly the deck > is > stacked against most of those who elect to forego higher education". There > are many things that are beyond our electing for ourselves -- being taller, > smarter, impervious to germs. But some things yield to effort, and to > abandon > effort because of a belief "the cards are stacked against me" is > self-confirming pessimism. > > -- S a u l O s t r o w *Critical Voices* 21STREETPROJECTS 162 West 21 St NYC, NY 10011 [email protected]
