September 2011
In the late long ago a philosopher said: "Know thyself."
Was that the sum of his life's experience … know thyself?
After years of starvation and study is that the best he could come up with.
From my point of view, how could I not know myself. I've been hanging around with me for as long as I can remember.
Maybe what he meant was "know more about thyself,"because everything changes as you go along.
For instance, I have become a sceptic or as the Americans would say: a skeptic.
What can you expect from a country that spells colour without the U, nite for night and to listen to them speak you would think they lived in Merka.
"I'm Merkin from the soles of my cowboy boots to the top of my stetson, I'm Merkin born and bred and there ain't nothin' better 'n that."
I've just learned a bit more about myself, I'm a judgmental, sarcastic cynic.
I have been a sceptic since that famous phrase:"All the way with LBJ."
Yeah, right, who's paying the bus fare.
For those of you who don't know, LBJ was the real Merkin.
I think he was the original.
I will admit to being a climate change sceptic.
I have listened to the talk and the more I hear the more I realise that my scepticism is justified. They, those people up there, are not going to do anything about the climate apart from talk about it.
I am very sceptical about teaching ethics in school.
The students will study ethics from the time they are in Kindy to an exam in the HSC.
Then they leave school after studying ethics for twelve years, join the work force and the first thing they have to do is forget any ethics, especially if they get into banking.
Us old sceptics sit around and talk about the good old days.
Well, I am such a sceptic, I look at the state of the world and believe that the good old days was last Wednesday.
I can remember the real good old days, way back when crime in high places was getting mugged in Katoomba.
Way back, when industrial waste was the rubbish left over after the Comalco picnic.
Way back, when a corrupt copper was a bent penny.
Way back when a joint was the sunday roast.
That philosopher has a lot to answer for.
If he hadn't suggested that I know myself, I would have been happy in my ignorance, instead I am deeply confused in my scepticism.
The real philosopher in my life is the Leader of the Opposition.
She thinks...therefore I am.
Sean Kramer