Don McClanen, Christian activist, founder of Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Pleonexia is an insatiable need for more of what I already have, and it has penetrated our culture to the point where people are angry at the poor. Don McClanen, Christian activist, founder of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

I would like to learn more about this. I agree that pleonexia is epidemic in our society, but I would like to hear his thoughts about how it results in hatred of the poor.

Vic Gold

"The squeaking wheel doesn't always get the grease. Sometimes it gets replaced." -- Vic Gold

As it often should. Sometimes the wheel squeaks all the time because it's lost its bearings.

H. L. Mencken

"The trouble with fighting for human freedom is that one spends most of one's time defending scoundrels. For it is against scoundrels that oppressive laws are first aimed, and oppression must be stopped at the beginning if it is to be stopped at all." -- H. L. Mencken

The principle that we must follow is that the end doesn't justify the means. An oppressive law, meaning a truly unjust law, is not an acceptable weapon even against evil men.

Paul Sweeney

How can a society that exists on instant mashed potatoes, packaged cake mixes, frozen dinners, and instant cameras teach patience to its young? -Paul Sweeney

I'm afraid that the situation is worse even than this rhetorical question implies. My fear is that our society doesn't think that there is any need to teach the young patience. The general opinion, it seems to me, is "Who needs patience?"

Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. general and 34th president

Though force can protect in emergency, only justice, fairness, consideration and cooperation can finally lead men to the dawn of eternal peace. -Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. general and 34th president (1890-1969)

And only repentance and faith can enable fallen men, i.e., all men, to practice justice, fairness, consideration, and cooperation. And repentance and faith must be followed by discipleship and continual struggle against evil.

Aleister Crowley, author

The conscience of the world is so guilty that it always assumes that people who investigate heresies must be heretics; just as if a doctor who studies leprosy must be a leper. Indeed, it is only recently that science has been allowed to study anything without reproach. -Aleister Crowley, author (1875-1947)

I think that Crowley is mistaken on two counts. First, I don't believe that the world assumes that people who investigate heresies are heretics. I don't, and I haven't found that people in general do. In fact many would argue the opposite, that in general people are rather more gullible than cynical in regard to heresy-hunters. Secondly, I think that science has had a rather free hand for most of its relatively short life, although the current period seems increasingly marked by attempts by some scientists to quash certain lines of inquiry that threaten the accepted scientific orthodoxy.

---

Hugh Macleod, advertising executive

Anyone can be an idealist. Anyone can be a cynic. The hard part lies somewhere in the middle i.e. being human. -- Hugh Macleod, "How To Be Creative"

I agree that it is hard to find the right point of balance on that continuum, but I wouldn't equate that one point with being human. I would agree that the extremes are beyond what I would call human, but there is a large range that qualifies as human.

Henry David Thoreau, naturalist and author

Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. -Henry David Thoreau, naturalist and author (1817-1862)

I guess it reveals my prejudice against Thoreau that I agree with this aphorism but wonder about the writer's real commitment to truth. Love, money, and fame may not have had much attraction for him, but I suspect that his own opinions were more important to him than truth.

---

George Orwell

Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence. In other words, it is war minus the shooting. -George Orwell, writer (1903-1950)

Sad to say, I am afraid that Orwell is right, except that I don't think violence plays much part in some sports, like tennis.

---