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November 18, 2004
I really am very unhappy
Okay, here's the thing about what I posted yesterday.
It generated quite a bit of discussion.
First of all, I never meant to offend or imply that I am not duly miserable.
And I didn't mean to imply that any homeless people should be joyous about being homeless. What I got from the quote was that the homeless are there because they are allowed to be there on purpose, and serve a convenient and unacknowledged reinforcing function. Call it a conspiracy theory.
Plus, I, as a marginally employed person, at times consider that I could find myself in that very same not very joyous position.
I would be pleased to knit scarves and hand them out to any and all homeless people, and have on occasion been known to hand them change, if that makes anybody feel any better.
Truly, one of these days I intend to justify my existence.
Until I increase my productivity I promise to limit my intake of happiness so as not to be a burden on the system.
But I can only speak for myself! Marcel, on the other hand, I'm sure will continue in his joyful ways as an utterly unrepentant useless eater..
Posted by pippypippy at November 18, 2004 07:30 AM
Comments
If you give me a scarf I will, tooth-fairy-like, leave it with the homeless guy I see sleeping by the road every morning. Just to make it worth your while i'll give him $50 with the scarf. He'll never know where the stuff came from, and you will never know when some decrepit man will come strolling by with a beautiful, hand-made scarf. Much more fun than voting Democrat or arguing foreign policy with a Republican't.
Also, I apologize if your feelings were hurt. Your weblog is very enjoyable and always brightens my day. My beef was with the source you quoted, not you.
Posted by: Juan Jorges Jesus at November 18, 2004 08:54 AM
In the Dialectic of Enlightenment (1946), Adorno and Horkheimer argue that, with the rise of capitalism, the experience of time in Western civilisation became 'spatialised'. That is, what was once experienced as the subjective flow of life, with its sundry moods and sensations, was now but a container, to be filled up like any other. 'Work' presented itself as the preferred filler, and this became laden with some sort of heavy moral quality. Certainly, human beings have always seen to the satisfaction of their earthly needs through some sort of labour, but they were not always lashed on by the terror of 'empty' time.
No one perceives what an unfortunate shift this has been better than Amy Madden. Of course, we all wish she could perceive this and at the same time see to her earthly needs. But her perception is compelling, and, I must add, correct. I continue to think that she is performing a valuable service to the world in unceasingly reminding whoever will lend an ear that it doesn't have to be this way.
I'd keep going with the praise, but I have to run to a meeting now... JS
Posted by: Professor Egg Head at November 18, 2004 10:06 AM
Certainly, professor, you are correct. That Ms. Madden walks the globe in a fashion her own is quite wonderful. I will petition for her sainthood along with the others when the time comes.
Posted by: Juan Jorges Jesus at November 18, 2004 12:07 PM
"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?" -- Kahlil Gibran
Posted by: Thomas at November 18, 2004 04:13 PM