Poor David Brooks. He just can’t seem to let go of the past.
Here’s a link to his latest The New York Times mini-screed. In it, Brooks bemoans the individualistic times in which we live and years for a return, as Republicans these days are wont to do, to the 1950s.
Brooks longs for a return to “…commitments to family, God, craft and country.” Hm. Well, three out of four “ain’t bad.”
Family, craft and country one could understand. God? The anthropomorphic God of the “Book?” Really?
We should commit to the metaphors of people who lived hundreds and thousands of years ago? Who dealt with life-threatening natural conditions the likes of which we have come to understand and deal with them successfully? The metaphors which wouldn’t stand the scrutiny of a skeptical analyst? Ask the families who are survivors of religious sectarian killings; what would they say about commitment to God? (Other people keep getting in the way that commitment, and no one can rationally explain why.)
Change the metaphors; use metaphors which fit the intellectual evolution of the species.
Then talk about commitment.
Otherwise, Mr. B., deal with the status quo, not the status quo ante.
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