Vakil Smallen
Recent Activity
Vakil Smallen commented on Lisa Randall: What should be the big issues of the 2008 presidential election? on May 19, 2008, 10:59 AM
Seriously, we've been getting shafted in the name of freedom, partisan-ship and economic growth for a long time now, even before Bush came along. I wish the candidates would address these issues. I haven't heard a peep from any of them on relinquishing the powers Bush has taken.
Vakil Smallen commented on Richard Posner: Interpreting the Law on May 14, 2008, 11:05 AM
Nicely said. It seems as if, in our political world, it has become acceptable to determine that you know the truth before you see the facts. In the information age, there is so much information available that it is easy to pick and choose what supports one's own a priori position. I recently watched a talk by an author from (I believe) the American Enterprise Institute entitled "How Liberals Think". Although interesting to hear what a conservative thinks of me, it was hardly informative on how I arrived at my political position. It was more like an attempt to legitimize insulting the Left. We as culture no longer need to defend our positions. We simply state 'obvious' truisms like "Liberals are traitors" and "Conservatives are fascists". All Jon Stewart (as much as I love the Daily Show) has to do is say the word "Bush" and his audience claps and cheers. Its the ultimate in-joke.
Vakil Smallen commented on Who are we? on May 14, 2008, 10:14 AM
I like what you have to say about wanting to be treated as an individual, and I suppose that the aim of anti-racism initiatives is to treat people as individuals not as racial categories (the content of their character, if you would). As much as I understand the desire to stand by one's own, especially in the face of real injustice (from loans to voting to police behavior, racism against blacks is clearly still alive), it tells people who feel as if they have been living their lives ignoring racial differences that race does matter. I'm not claiming that either position is right or wrong, simply that defensiveness will make it very difficult for a solution, and since we all are going to continue living together, a solution is of mutual benefit.
Vakil Smallen commented on Richard Posner: Interpreting the Law on May 14, 2008, 7:05 AM
Nicely said. It seems as if, in our political world, it has become acceptable to determine that you know the truth before you see the facts. In the information age, there is so much information available that it is easy to pick and choose what supports one's own a priori position. I recently watched a talk by an author from (I believe) the American Enterprise Institute entitled "How Liberals Think". Although interesting to hear what a conservative thinks of me, it was hardly informative on how I arrived at my political position. It was more like an attempt to legitimize insulting the Left. We as culture no longer need to defend our positions. We simply state 'obvious' truisms like "Liberals are traitors" and "Conservatives are fascists". All Jon Stewart (as much as I love the Daily Show) has to do is say the word "Bush" and his audience claps and cheers. Its the ultimate in-joke.
Vakil Smallen commented on Lisa Randall: What should be the big issues of the 2008 presidential election? on May 19, 2008, 2:59 PM
Seriously, we've been getting shafted in the name of freedom, partisan-ship and economic growth for a long time now, even before Bush came along. I wish the candidates would address these issues. I haven't heard a peep from any of them on relinquishing the powers Bush has taken.