[lit-ideas] Re: A Spirit of Intellectualism
- From: "Simon Ward" <sedward@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2006 17:24:10 +0100
If I can generalise, there are two types of Lawrentian post. The first seeks to
add to what Lawrence understands about fundamentlaist Islamic Ideology. The
second seeks to add to what Lawrence understands about the Leftist position he
has rejected. Typically then there are two types of replies. The first points
out that there are additional motivating factors other than ideology. The
second reacts to Lawrence's criticisms of the left.
Counter arguments against those who reply to these Lawrentian posts are often
restricted to the common complaint that the responder hasn't read as much as
Lawrence and is therefore in no position to reply.
Which of course begs the question: Why bother?
Simon
Bothering to bother
----- Original Message -----
From: Lawrence Helm
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 5:04 PM
Subject: [lit-ideas] A Spirit of Intellectualism
I wrote about what I was wrestling with and gave some indication of how
widely I was reading, but in the process indicated that I rejected a particular
position: the Leftist position. In the notes responding to my wrestling, there
was no interest in the issues I found interesting -- no interest in the matters
I was wrestling with. There was only a reaction from the Left, for theirs was
the position I had rejected. The reaction came across to me as extremely
uninformed, but how could it be otherwise when those on the Left hadn't read
the two seminal Leftist works on the modern development of their position:
Orientalism by Edward Said, and The Islamic Threat, Myth or Reality by John
Esposito.
I am regularly reminded of the debates I used to have with
Dispensationalists. They knew their position quite well, but they didn't know
where it came from. They didn't know its founder was John Nelson Darby. They
didn't know it was a relatively recent development in theology. They didn't
know its theological flaws or dangerous implications. So in the midst of their
righteous indignation, I would have to educate them about their own history --
and receive angry challenges along the way.
I had similar debates with Charismatics. I recall one woman who listened in
silence as I quoted the theological reasons, with references of course, as to
why her position didn't hold up. Her response was, "I sense a spirit of
intellectualism in this room." Of course intellectualism to her was a bad
thing and she didn't like it. Charismatics as well as Dispensationalists
weren't interesting in studying history. Why should they when the Lord was
going to return very soon and such studies prove a waste of time?
There is a strong element of anti-intellectualism amongst the Leftists here
on Lit-Ideas and I expect among Leftists at large. Of course they do have
their wizards, people like Chomsky and Churchill who provide them with things
to think about and let them know they are on the right (Left) track, but do
they study? Do they do what they accuse me of not doing: read widely? I see
no evidence of that. They accuse me of not reading widely because they fancy I
don't read their Leftist position, but as near as I can tell I read their
Leftist scholars more than they do. But I don't spend enough time reading the
latest party-line. I don't get out enough. I am too sheltered.
Consider the reflection of the Lit-Ideas Leftist Poet, Mike Geary, who wrote
to me: " . . . but I don't think we should kill a billion people just so that
you can feel vindicated for all the time you've wasted reading boring books
about Islam." This Leftist poet puts into words what "was often thought but
ne'er so well expressed." What a waste of time to read, to study, to
intellectualize about Islam, Western and Islamic history, War and Peace, the
nature of our enemy, the nature of defense, the best strategy to use against
our enemy, the best tactics, the dangers of misleading the enemy, the
strategies of our allies, etc., etc.. The poet senses a spirit of
intellectualism in the Lit-Ideas room and he doesn't like it.
Lawrence
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