Something for us all to consider.

Universal Truths About the Citizen's Role in Great Governance: The Importance of Reason

I didn't go into reading this book expecting to get out of it what I did. And there's more to it than just valuable stuff about civic engagement. (For the record, it's a badly-edited effort lacking in focus...and too often an unseemly and overwrought polemic against President George W. Bush.)

But as I was reading it, I came across some powerful bits, and I want to share them with you, because what Town Halls Hamilton is all about is very much what this stuff is all about. 


So herein are some choice excerpts...with some comments from me, as suitable.

(Fair warning: In most instances, I've paraphrased Mr. Gore's words. As little as possible, retaining the intent and the flavour of the material, but mostly excising American references. The propositions' value certainly take up a space well above and beyond the borders of the US, so I've taken the liberty to revise as necessary.)

Something for us all to think about.

Observations En Route

"Most people arrive at tortured conclusions via blind and painful routes. They don't like it when someone shows up in a balloon. You can't expect anyone to trust revelation if they haven't experienced it themselves. Those who haven't, only know reason. And since revelation is a thing apart, and cannot be accounted for reasonably, they will never believe you. This is the great division of the world, and always has been. Now, when reason and revelation run together, why, then you have something, a great age. But in this city, now, reason is predominant. To argue from any other point of view or by any other means, is subversive."