Why this weblog?
1. 'How can I know what I think until I see what I say?'
2. Arthur Koestler, in "The Ghost in the Machine" attributes these words to "Alice in Wonderland". This is on page 39-40 of the edition published by The Macmillan Co., NY 1967 for those who to care to check it out. It turns out in checking things out in "Alice in Wonderland" I cannot find the quote in the text available on-line via Project Gutenberg. The best I can do is to suppose that Koestler had in mind Alice's conversation with the Mad Hatter and March Hare at the tea party when she was admonished by the March Hare: 'Then you should say what you mean'. Alice replied '...I mean what I say--that's the same thing, you know'. I suppose Koestler found his rendition more to his point. But I am only supposing.
Koestler's rendition is more to my point, but still inaccurate compared to the original document. If this were about a matter of fact, Koestler's credibility would be in question. Of course, if I had no access to the original, then I would not know what Alice really said. That is one troubling point about the current situation for the US regarding Iraq and the absence of weapons of mass destruction. What did we really know and how did we interpret it?
3.Truth matters. But truth is a destination and the road is full of twists and turns and paved with controversy.
4. When moral issues are involved the road often becomes impassable. In the end each one of us must individually decide what is right for ourselves. Collectively, as the most powerful nation ever on earth, our decisions and actions will have consequences not easily reversed. We all rely too heavily on our own limited experiences, biases, passions, and prejudices. Maybe this provides a mechanism to overcome individual limitations and generate thoughtful contributions to right action.
11:03:58 PM 
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