[MD] grmbl

[plattholden at gmail.com]

On 3 Jun 2010 at 13:08, Arlo Bensinger wrote:

[Platt]
Speaking of Nazis, check this recent news item right out of the pages 
of Goebbels propaganda playbook:

[Arlo]
Right. You have "nazi tourettes" as well. Big surprise.

When the shoe fits . . .

Platt]
Sounds like Einstein failed to understand the significance of the 
Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, although he 
beat a retreat from Europe to America when threatened by the National 
Socialist Workers party of Germany.

[Arlo]
Yeah, Einstein, that dummy. Actually, Einstein understood very well. 
Your inability to demonstrate any semblance of understanding this is 
due to your clinging to your ridiculous little "holy war", a "war" 
both Einstein and Pirsig talked above.

What "war?" Against tyranny? You betcha. Einstein understood he better get his 
butt out of Germany and that the U.S. was the best country to go to.   

[Platt]
A repeat -- needed to penetrate thick skulls:

[Arlo]
I don't think much can penetrate your skull, Platt, as again you 
comically use Pirsig to argue with Pirsig, instead of seeing the 
obvious that he was above your ideological "war".

Pirsig "above" the war against tyranny? Surely you jest.

[Platt]
Note the phrase "scientific, intellectual culture" -- further support 
of Bo's interpretation of the intellectual level as SOL.

[Arlo]
No, in support of Pirsig's formulation of the intellectual level as 
NOT SOL, as he is pointing to the specific instantiation of SOM in the West.

So Pirsig changes the meaning of "intellectual" depending on what you wish it 
to mean? I don't think so.  

[Platt]
In Lila Pirsig cites SOM as the cause of lost souls:

[Arlo]
And I agree. In ZMM he talks quite a bit at how the SOM underpinnings 
of the present western capitalist model was failing human souls. And 
that is exactly what Einstein was speaking to as well.

Are you kidding? SOM doesn't underpin the capitalist system. Human nature 
underpins the system, as Pirsig correctly states: "On the other hand the 
conservatives who keep trumpeting about the virtues of free enterprise are 
normally just supporting their own self-interest. They are just doing the usual 
cover-up for the rich in their age-old exploitation of the poor." (Lila, 17) He 
should have added the universal human desire to be free to chose one's own 
pursuits and keep the rewards of one's own efforts. Pirsig is also makes it 
clear that socialism is the darling of intellectuals.