Sorry for the late response, but I'm just catching up on your rather poetic and deeply honest expression of love for your sons.
The first I remember of Russiagate appearing in your blog was your post of Dec 12, 2016, "Read, Act, Circulate" which was a call to action based upon Professor Tobias Wolff's urgent alert, "...please share and circulate this post widely....a joint statement emphasizing the seriousness of the Russian espionage and interference... .it is time to start pushing very hard....This is vital."
Given Professor Tobias Wolff's identification with the leadership of the Democratic party (having written quite favorably of Obama and Booker, among others, for example) and given your incredible bond with him, I have often wondered if his political positions have constrained or shaped your own. Suppose, given his relationship to academic radicals in your circle not to mention your writings on anarchism and Marx, that his interpretation of the Trumpian crisis were closer to...say...Chris Hedges, would your points of view, positions be the same?
Jerry, thank you. To answer your question adequately would take a book, but let me say just a few things about Tobias. First, Tobias possesses, and indeed has always possessed, to an extraordinary degree, the quality of personality and moral character that the Romans called gravitas. I do not mean that he is sober sided, not at all. But he is the most deeply moral person I know. In this, he is, I am afraid, unlike me. Second, Tobias has committed himself to The Law, not merely as a profession [in which he is enormously distinguished in several fields, including the very technical field of Complex Litigation] but also as a social and moral orientation toward the world. It goes without saying that I have not made a similar life commitment. Third, and this really is important, he is thirty-six years younger than I am, at a different stage in the arc of life, and inevitably his stance differs from mine. All of that said, if he and I differed on a question of high moral importance, I think you would be well advised to take his opinion rather than mine.
1. As a father, I was very moved by Professor Wolff's "confession" and decessaro's response. There are more things in this world, Horatio, than are dreamed of in your philosophies.
2. My entry for a bumper sticker: NEVER AGAIN, maybe with a picture of a child peering through a chain-link fence. An organization I endorse, mostly Jewish, calls itself NEVER AGAIN. The reference may be lost on some, but that's okay; it's a conversation-stopper.
While I don't want to call into doubt your son Tobias's moral rectitude, from what I've read of his on your blog, I will take your political opinion rather than his on almost all issues. While there may be issues of high moral importance that have nothing to do with politics, many or maybe most political issues are of high moral importance.
I am reminded of a postcard I once saw. On the front was a cartoon type drawing of a huge auditorium. All the seats were empty except for two in the middle of auditorium, which were occupied by two rather bewildered looking kids. And a large banner strung across the front of the empty balcony said, words to the effect: "Annual Convention of Well Adjusted, Happy Children from Sane, Healthy, Loving Families."
Tobias and Patrick could have been those kids. Not a small accomplishment.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the late response, but I'm just catching up on your rather poetic and deeply honest expression of love for your sons.
ReplyDeleteThe first I remember of Russiagate appearing in your blog was your post of Dec 12, 2016, "Read, Act, Circulate" which was a call to action based upon Professor Tobias Wolff's urgent alert, "...please share and circulate this post widely....a joint statement emphasizing the seriousness of the Russian espionage and interference... .it is time to start pushing very hard....This is vital."
Given Professor Tobias Wolff's identification with the leadership of the Democratic party (having written quite favorably of Obama and Booker, among others, for example) and given your incredible bond with him, I have often wondered if his political positions have constrained or shaped your own. Suppose, given his relationship to academic radicals in your circle not to mention your writings on anarchism and Marx, that his interpretation of the Trumpian crisis were closer to...say...Chris Hedges, would your points of view, positions be the same?
Jerry, thank you. To answer your question adequately would take a book, but let me say just a few things about Tobias. First, Tobias possesses, and indeed has always possessed, to an extraordinary degree, the quality of personality and moral character that the Romans called gravitas. I do not mean that he is sober sided, not at all. But he is the most deeply moral person I know. In this, he is, I am afraid, unlike me. Second, Tobias has committed himself to The Law, not merely as a profession [in which he is enormously distinguished in several fields, including the very technical field of Complex Litigation] but also as a social and moral orientation toward the world. It goes without saying that I have not made a similar life commitment. Third, and this really is important, he is thirty-six years younger than I am, at a different stage in the arc of life, and inevitably his stance differs from mine. All of that said, if he and I differed on a question of high moral importance, I think you would be well advised to take his opinion rather than mine.
ReplyDelete2 thoughts, a day or 2 late:
ReplyDelete1. As a father, I was very moved by Professor Wolff's "confession" and decessaro's response. There are more things in this world, Horatio, than are dreamed of in your philosophies.
2. My entry for a bumper sticker: NEVER AGAIN, maybe with a picture of a child peering through a chain-link fence. An organization I endorse, mostly Jewish, calls itself NEVER AGAIN. The reference may be lost on some, but that's okay; it's a conversation-stopper.
While I don't want to call into doubt your son Tobias's moral rectitude, from what I've read of his on your blog, I will take your political opinion rather than his on almost all issues. While there may be issues of high moral importance that have nothing to do with politics, many or maybe most political issues are of high moral importance.
ReplyDeleteThank you for .your answer.
ReplyDeleteI am reminded of a postcard I once saw. On the front was a cartoon type drawing of a huge auditorium. All the seats were empty except for two in the middle of auditorium, which were occupied by two rather bewildered looking kids. And a large banner strung across the front of the empty balcony said, words to the effect: "Annual Convention of Well Adjusted, Happy Children from Sane, Healthy, Loving Families."
Tobias and Patrick could have been those kids. Not a small accomplishment.
I've only had cats and like Chris Hedges.