It is hard to feign indifference to the loveliness of fall, but
the point is well taken that our lives, like the seasons,
inexorably change. But unlike the seasons, our lives seek a
destination, not just another return.
At the end of another beautiful, heart-rending autumn, Advent
begins, drawing us from time into eternity, which is a thing not
to be missed.
G. Tracy Mehan, IIIserved at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the administrations of both Presidents Bush. He is a consultant in Arlington, Virginia, and an adjunct professor at George Mason University School of Law.
This is a really wonderful piece. Thanks Mr. Mehan. And, thanks
to the Spectator.
Alan Brooks| 11.26.08 @ 12:36PM
ditto.
By the by, the conservative loss wasn't Nov. 4th, it was when
William F. Buckley died last winter.
Autumn-winter reminds us of the loss of the patrimony.
David Govett| 11.28.08 @ 1:18AM
The irony is that the 21st century will see the death of death,
or at least its indefinite postponement. Contemplating the 137
million centuries of nothing that preceded me and the billions
that await, I murmur "Faster, biotechnologists, faster!"
BKR| 11.29.08 @ 11:22AM
Three words describe what is contained in this article: Truth,
Beauty, Wisdom.
Thank you.
Alan Brooks| 11.30.08 @ 9:24PM
Mr. Govett,
Transhumanism offers great peril too.
Messing with our genes is risky business, you'd better know what
you're doing
Alan Brooks| 11.30.08 @ 11:11PM
David Govett doesn't realize that brave new world wasn't just the
title of a book.
David Govett| 12.1.08 @ 1:36AM
Nature has given us both the desire and the brains to survive
beyond our design. We have done so for more than a century. Is
that wrong? Why deny nature's purpose? It's easy to speak of
accepting death in the abstract, when one is young and healthy.
When one lies abed in a hospital, saying final goodbyes to one's
children, it's another thing altogether. Who among you would not
wish for more time? Do I espy the hypocrite among you?
Alan Brooks| 12.1.08 @ 2:52AM
as a matter of fact I'm interested in transhumanism (let's give
it a name, Dave), uploading; even posthumanism. but H+ will give
us more to squabble about, you know, who lives longer and who
gets what resources to pay for those lifespans
oh just look at the teeth on those libertarian transhumanist
barracudas!
J.A. Davis| 11.26.08 @ 12:07PM
This is a really wonderful piece. Thanks Mr. Mehan. And, thanks to the Spectator.
Alan Brooks| 11.26.08 @ 12:36PM
ditto.
By the by, the conservative loss wasn't Nov. 4th, it was when William F. Buckley died last winter.
Autumn-winter reminds us of the loss of the patrimony.
David Govett| 11.28.08 @ 1:18AM
The irony is that the 21st century will see the death of death, or at least its indefinite postponement. Contemplating the 137 million centuries of nothing that preceded me and the billions that await, I murmur "Faster, biotechnologists, faster!"
BKR| 11.29.08 @ 11:22AM
Three words describe what is contained in this article: Truth, Beauty, Wisdom.
Thank you.
Alan Brooks| 11.30.08 @ 9:24PM
Mr. Govett,
Transhumanism offers great peril too.
Messing with our genes is risky business, you'd better know what you're doing
Alan Brooks| 11.30.08 @ 11:11PM
David Govett doesn't realize that brave new world wasn't just the title of a book.
David Govett| 12.1.08 @ 1:36AM
Nature has given us both the desire and the brains to survive beyond our design. We have done so for more than a century. Is that wrong? Why deny nature's purpose? It's easy to speak of accepting death in the abstract, when one is young and healthy. When one lies abed in a hospital, saying final goodbyes to one's children, it's another thing altogether. Who among you would not wish for more time? Do I espy the hypocrite among you?
Alan Brooks| 12.1.08 @ 2:52AM
as a matter of fact I'm interested in transhumanism (let's give it a name, Dave), uploading; even posthumanism. but H+ will give us more to squabble about, you know, who lives longer and who gets what resources to pay for those lifespans
oh just look at the teeth on those libertarian transhumanist barracudas!