[MD] Ham unlike you I will not create false idols

[Platt Holden]

Good morning Ham,

> Thanks for the complement, which gives me an opportunity to plug my Values
> Page.  This week's commentary explores "discrimination" -- the naughty word of
> the 21st millennium.  There's some info there about my personal culinary and
> musical tastes (op-ed piece -- always good for a laugh), as well as a
> perspective on what happens to values when we fail to exercise discrimination. 
> Check it out before Sunday at www.essentialism.net/balance.htm .

I checked it out and found it a tour de force -- excellent in all respects. The 
only thing I found hard to resolve was your rightful judgment that some things 
are better than others with your continued beating of the drums for the 
legitimacy of  relative morality, i.e., that morally speaking , no culture is 
better than any other.   

> I take it you've decided to back out on our values discussion.  I thought my
> explanation for an "uncreated" Creator was at least worth a rebuttal in your
> inimitable tradition.  Oh well, I've learned that metaphysics isn't for
> everybody, not even prominent contemporary philosophers.

Guess I missed that one because I don't recall reading the phrase, "uncreated 
Creator" which I think would have stuck in my head. That phrase reminds me of 
the cop out by science in explaining the Big Bang. To them, every event has a 
cause except the one that started the chain of causation rolling. Then they 
turn around and  tell us anyone who believes in a Creator is a fool. Methinks 
they speak with forked tongue.

Finally, with your continued emphasis on the value of values, you are 
practically in the same bed with our man Pirsig. (No sexual innuendo intended). 
If I could just get you to entertain the idea that morality and values are so 
close in meaning that they are interchangeable in expressing choice, we'd all 
be in the same bed together.  

Best regards,
Platt