Friends,
My good friend and colleague Mark Laskowski posted an absorbing observation on his blog today about Robert D. Putnam's recent article (you SHOULD know Putnam from his important work, Bowling Alone, which revived the theory of social capital and placed it into a latter day context). The most interesting point (for me) of the blog was his report that a wide schism has grown between two different camps over the correctness--political or otherwise--of Putnam's somewhat controversial statements to the point that ethnic diversity temporarily "reduces social solidarity and social capital." Of particular interest is the fact that most of the rank and file have lined up either for or against Putman without having read his article.
Laskowski's blog points out the intellectual sluggishness of people who are all too willing to have avatars of their adopted beliefs (or shared delusional systems) mediate for them the philosophical constructs of their lives. It's far easier to listen to a pundit deride someone's writings than to engage in one's own critical inquiry.
Having just returned from an all-too-brief holiday in Spain, I found myself perplexed about how the EU is going to survive the low birthrate of its indigenous population while weathering the advancing growth of immigrants. Europe is far more grounded in historical values and grudges than the USA (where we're certainly dealing with our own debate over immigration) and each of its countries is struggling to define policy that conforms to EU multi-cultural standards while safeguarding the status quo. In my discussions with Europeans now and over the years, I have found that they are as prone as the rest of us to accept the views of their pundits than to seek their own meaning.
Mark's blog reminds me that my own writings can easily persuade and influence others. Obviously this is both desired and unavoidable. However, I hope that whatever else may come from this blog, readers will understand that my personal ethos is about independent thinking. While Dorothy Parker said "you can lead a whore to culture, but you can't make her think, " I'm less cynical and feel that the current tools of our trade promise more engagement and debate.
Talk to you soon!
Bob
