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Of course Lex had something to say about the Miramar crash this week. He does, after all, include "fighter pilot" in his resume, and an address in San Diego. Go there expecting wisdom and insight and you won't be disappointed. Each sentence I read made me think, "ah, that's the one I'll quote" - all the way from top to bottom. Thus I've quoted none of them here. Insightful commentary follows that post, as is so often the case, so don't stop scrolling too soon.
Then this follow up:
A number of years ago I noted this phenomenon: Go to the local 7-11 and you’d see a family of first generation immigrants - people from God-knows-where - working 12 on, 12 off shifts. Flying from the stultification of the old world’s expectations for them. Fully cognizant of the opportunity they’d earned, gratefully busting their butts. Their kids would go to state schools, get good jobs, contribute to society. Their grand kids would go to Harvard, maybe. Maybe Columbia.That one leaped off the page. I'd just last night viewed an episode of HBO's John Adams
. Part three, in fact, wherein Adams was attending a Salon in Paris. Not fluent in the language - either the spoken or the more subtle communiques employed in those environs - Adams' discomfort is obvious. He's surrounded by immaculately coiffed and heavily painted intellectuals (both male and female) whose good graces and influence may be crucial to his cause - convincing France to aid his new nation in the war for independence. In apologizing for his lack of command of the tongue they've mastered, he explains that his time must be devoted to study of politics and war, that his sons might in their turn study commerce so that their sons may in time persue learning the fine arts and other things that make French society the marvel he sees before him. His words earn their approval.
Though from slightly different context than the TV version, the original comes from a letter to his wife, written after a day of touring the gardens of Paris in 1780:
I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.I pray the gentle reader takes no offense at calling such men patriots. Surely none was e'r intended.
C'est la vie.
John Adams
Without date, 1780.
My Dear Portia, — The inclosed dialogue in the shades was written by Mr. Edmund Jennings, now residing at Brussels, a native of Maryland. I will send you the rest when I can get it. How I lament the loss of my packets by Austin ! There were, I suppose, letters from Congress of great importance to me. I know not what I shall do without them. I suppose there was authority to draw, etc. Mr. T.'s letter from his father hints that Mr. L. is coming here. This will be excellent.
Since my arrival this time, I have driven about Paris more than I did before. The rural scenes around this town are charming. The public walks, gardens, etc., are extremely beautiful. The gardens of the Palais Royal and the gardens of the Tuileries are very fine. The Place de Louis XV., the Place Vendome or Place de Louis XIV., the Place Victoire, the Place Royale, are fine squares, ornamented with very magnificent statues. I wish I had time to describe these objects to you, in a manner that I should have done twenty-five years ago ; but my head is too full of schemes, and my heart of anxiety, to use expressions borrowed from you know whom. To take a walk in the gardens of the palace of the Tuileries, and describe the statues there, all in marble, in which the ancient divinities and heroes are represented with exquisite art, would be a very pleasant amusement and instructive entertainment, improving in history, mythology, poetry, as well as in statuary. Another walk in the gardens of Versailles would be useful and agreeable. But to observe these objects with taste, and describe them so as to- be understood, would require more time and thought than I can possibly spare. It is not indeed the fine arts which our country requires; the useful, the mechanic arts are those which we have occasion for in a young country as yet simple and not far advanced in luxury, although perhaps much too far for her age and character. I could fill volumes with descriptions of temples and palaces, paintings, sculptures, tapestry, porcelain, etc., etc., etc., if I could have time ; but I could not do this without neglecting my duty. The science of government it is my duty to study, more than all other sciences; the arts of legislation and administration and negotiation ought to take place of, indeed to exclude, in a manner, all other arts. I must study politics and war, that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain. Adieu.
