From: b645zaw@utarlg.uta.edu (General Ignorance)
Subject: Re: ...Psst. Ya wanta Merry Christmas??  Just ignore Washington DC!
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Keywords:  euphuism
Organization: The University of Texas at Arlington
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 07:10:00 GMT

In article <PATRICK.92Dec23175712@rio-grande.is.rice.edu>, 
patrick@rio-grande.is.rice.edu (Patrick L Humphrey) writes...

>In article <23DEC199214511743@utarlg.uta.edu> 
>b645zaw@utarlg.uta.edu (General Ignorance) writes:
> 
>   In article <PATRICK.92Dec23090603@rio-grande.is.rice.edu>, 
>   patrick@rio-grande.is.rice.edu (Patrick L Humphrey) writes...
> 
>   Thus taking us beyond-the-bubble.
> 
>Would you mind translating that for those of us who don't speak your
>particular dialect?                          ^^

"Beyond-the-bubble" -- a euphemism used by media talking-heads and
 other political-pundits to refer to the unreal world in which 
 national politicians dwell. Used here to direct attention from 
 political seelf-delusions, (and to the more common concerns sugges-
 ted by the title -- Christmas).

 As an example, "political mentality" is usually easy to spot, for 
 instance the use of the royal "We" used when lord or sovereign
 refers to themselves. In more democratic nations, the representa-
 tional "us" is used instead, (especially within the sterile world
 inside the bubble).

>   >In article <23DEC199205384755@utarlg.uta.edu> 
>   >b645zaw@utarlg.uta.edu (General Ignorance) writes:
>   > 
>   >   There is only one true reality.
>   > 
>   >   (hint: tain't media)
>   > 
>   >Could well be, Mr. Tice.  Let us know if you ever find it.
>   > 
>   >--PLH, it ain't on N. Collins, either
> 
> 
>   Simple Mr. Humphrey: I-Thou.
> 			 ^^^
> 
>Well, if you could enlighten us with just what you're talking about, I'd
>have a better idea of how to respond.  

I'll pass on "enlightening us." 

One-on-one though, I might succeed, if you're willing.

Or as Martin Buber wrote,
(in _A Believing Humanism_ '67, p.134_)...

	From the [coming together] one can, one may, one must speak.
	And that is then the genuine speech. Its criterion is: it
	does not stream out of one independent province of the inner
	life but out of totality: it does not withold itself. In 
	other words, one can only speak on the foundation of confes-
	sing, not confessing religion, confessing oneself! Philo-
	sophical thinking is the self-contemplation of the human
	spirit. It assures the connection of thought of man, assures
	that men understand one another in conceptual speech. But
	in conceptual speech lies the tension of falling away from
	one another: we do not mean the same things by our concepts,
	and so basically we do not understand one another. Therefore
	philosophy too is incapable of forming community. But it is
	inexorably necessary as a phenomenon belonging to the way of
	redemption.

	The "vision" is the first disengagement from the I-Thou 
	relationship. The man in I-Thou "beholds" nothing else
	than what he sees with his senses: the world in God, not 
	the face of God. But because he is taken into the duty 
	of knowing, he passes through a condition in which the
	relationship of I-Thou is still illuminated but at the
	same time the detachment begins: no longer I-Thou knowing,
	not yet subject-object knowing.

	The false autonomy is the absolute life of man in self-
	enjoyment, in concerning himself with himself. The con-
	sequence of this is becoming independent of the spiritual
	spheres. It is then held, for example, that aethestics
	has nothing to do with ethics, politics nothing to do
	with religion; the politician can be a pious man and yet
	engage in immoral politics, etc. But there also exists a
	genuine, God-willed autonomy: the life in all seriousness
	of man, from the human to God: an act that works in the
	sense of obedience and proves itself obedient. 

Because you asked, Mr. Humphrey, I've responded with some of the
best conceptions I know. Buber really says it better, but in summary
I'll add this: government as a non-entity, and all to often merely a 
word, can provide only frustration. Only in discourse here, (since its
all we share in this medium), and moreso personally, (in intimate direct 
relationships), can our needs be satisfied -- including the need to give.

Thank You, for the opportunity to convey the spirit.

   |
-- J -- 
   |
   |  Stephen Tice     -= Merry Christmas =-