The American Spectator

Reader Mail

(Page 2 of 2)

FOR MY OWN SAKE
Re: James Bowman's I Love You, Man:

Aristotle saw friendship as a good, or more precisely, a virtue; friendship was not based on feeling but on a means to bettering the people involved in the special relationship. The best of friendships were between two equals, two men (yes, by today’s standards, Aristotle was sexist) who engaged in exercises that lead to the perfection of their virtues. A much lesser form of friendship was one where both parties find utility in the other (or an as Erich Fromm called it "the marketing orientation" of love). To Aristotle, a genuine friendship is based on one man who loves another not as a means to an end but a end in itself; both parties want what is good for the sake of that person. Aristotle call this "good will" (eunoia). Mr. Bowman might call it honor. The friendship works for the betterment of the two men, and since the two, as part of a whole (society), are improved, the whole is also improved. 
When one is pursuing pleasure for the sake of pleasure, hedonism, taking any concern for the other is secondary, if not simply incidental. Aristotle in no way denied egoism; in fact, he believed strongly in one's self interests; but, unlike the hedonist, Aristotle postulated that pursuing the things that improve a person where truly the pleasurable and worthwhile pursuits. While leaving dog crap on a public walkway may give someone a sense of pleasure, it does not improve anyone. (In fact it is a determent to the public good, but that is another issue.)  The reason movies like I Love You, Man are now in vogue is that many people of both sexes, but especially men, have grown tired of doing what is in their long term interest. This thinking may actually be logical in a society where the government will save everyone (well, everyone who earns less that $250,000 a year) from their responsibilities. When Aristotle was doing his writing, if one could not be responsible, one did not live long. Growth, morally, spiritually and physically, was a necessity. Today, more so than any time since the post Reagan revolution, surviving does not depend on self-reliance or responsibility but on an ever growing nanny state. In such times, words like honor and friendship are punch lines, not virtues. Mr. Bowman, I love you, man. In a virtuous and honorable way.
-- Ira M. Kessel
Rochester, New York

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I HEAR MUGABE MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR A JOB SOON
Re: Quin Hillyer's Il Duce, Redux?

And another thing...let’s get rid of that silly requirement that the president be a "natural born citizen!"
-- Gretchen L. Chellson
Alexandria, VA

I grieve for my country. I hope all those, who I call the 'self-righteous,' that didn't vote in November so as to teach the Republican Party a lesson, are satisfied.

God help us!

Ooga booga,
-- Mike Showalter
Austin, Texas

CASTING THE FIRST STONE
Re: Paul Crowley's letter (under "Source Criticism") in Reader Mail's Vital Signs:

Having read Mr. Crowley's letter regarding Mr. Tucker's Three Mile Island piece, I took the time to reread Mr. Tucker's piece and am convinced that the only editorial error lies in publishing Mr. Crowley's disinformative letter.
-- Reid Bogie
Waterbury, Connecticut

SHARING TEA

Have a cup of tea with me,
And then send the tea bag’s tag
To your Congressmen and Senators.
They’ll know it’s not a gag.

Do it by April 15, if you can,
And no matter your political bent,
Join your fellow Americans
In making sure the message is sent:

We Are "Taxed Enough Already."
-- Mimi Evans Winship