As he turns 90, Ray Bradbury doesn't care what the critics -- or
the liberals -- think.
Ray Bradbury, perhaps America's most popular and prolific
short-story writer, turns ninety on Sunday. As a twentysomething
wannabe writer in the 1940s, Bradbury cared too much about what
critics thought of him. As he approaches his tenth decade, Bradbury
clearly could not care any less.
"I think our country is in need of a revolution," Bradbury
told the Los Angeles Times earlier this week. "There is
too much government today. We've got to remember the government
should be by the people, of the people and for the people."
Bradbury's short-story broadsides against modern gadgets, the
all-intrusive state, and political correctness foreshadowed his
current outlook. Calling Bill Clinton a "sh--head" and Michael
Moore an "a--hole" have been less subtle indications.
Cell phones, virtual reality, and the Walkman lived in
Bradbury's science fiction before they became our science fact. But
where he has proven a true prophet is in his cautionary tales about
parenthood by proxy. In "Zero Hour" (1947), parents, happy to have
their kids out of their hair, reap what they sow when their
out-of-site-out-of-mind children aid and abet an alien invasion. In
"The Veldt" (1950), a couple farms out their parental duties to a
nursery that projects the imagination of the children onto
three-dimensional walls. When the parents seek to shut off the
hi-tech playroom, the children imagine their parents dead -- a wish
their African Veldt fantasyland enthusiastically grants. The
"nothing's too good for our children" refrain of the parents in
"The Veldt" foreshadowed the generational rebellion of the
following decade that witnessed spoiled kids turning on befuddled
parents.
As with the god technology, Bradbury plays apostate to the
omniscient state. The state criminalizes night strolls in "The
Pedestrian" (1951), erases the past in "To the Chicago Abyss"
(1963), conscripts for perpetual nuclear war in "To the Future"
(1950), and burns books in Fahrenheit 451 (1953).
Compounding Bradbury's sins against state and science is his love
for small-town America, immortalized in the books Dandelion
Wine (1957) and Something Wicked This Way Comes
(1962). Nothing could appear more uncouth to the hipsters and urban
denizens reviewing his books than a writer wanting to return to,
rather than escape from, his hometown.
Before Bradbury's political epiphany transformed the World
War II pacifist and Cold War anti-McCarthyite into a stalwart
Republican, Russell Kirk picked up on the storyteller's abilities
to impart moral truths through parables. Arguing in the late 1960s
that Bradbury should wear the literati's scorn as a mark of honor,
Kirk explained that critics "perceived that Bradbury is a moralist,
which they could not abide; that he has no truck with the obscene,
which omission they found unpardonable; that he is no complacent
liberal, because he knows the Spirit of the Age to be monstrous --
for which let him be anathema; that he is one of the last surviving
masters of eloquence and glowing description, which ought to be
prohibited; that, with Pascal, he understands how the Heart has
reasons which the Reason cannot know -- so to the Logicalist
lamp-post with him."
But the literati were not always dismissive of the man
Time magazine dubbed "the poet of the pulps." When
Bradbury flattered their ideology, or allowed them to project their
politics upon his stories, they lavished praise upon him.
Bradbury's only story accepted among what he claims were hundreds
submitted to the New Yorker is a certifiably substandard
effort about the deportation of an illegal alien. It is a glaring
peculiarity that of his four stories honored by inclusion in the
annual Best American Short Stories anthology, one
chronicles a black versus white baseball game in which sore loser
whites quit, another explores an African-American-populated Mars
faced with imposing Jim Crow laws on white settlers, and yet
another is the aforementioned tale of the deported Mexican. It was
as if the bard of tattooed carnies, Martian ghost towns, and
endless summer vacations merited recognition only for the tiny
fraction of his oeuvre addressing hot-button issues.
Bizarre.
One suspects that Bradbury knew of what he wrote when he
reflected in a coda to Fahrenheit 451, "For it is a mad
world and it will get madder if we allow the minorities, be they
dwarf or giant… pro-computerologist or Neo-Luddite, simpleton or
sage, to interfere with aesthetics." The special interests
rewarding "art as a weapon," and rejecting "art for art's sake,"
pose a greater threat to freedom of thought than any mythical book
burner.
Though his writings occasionally carry political
overtones, Bradbury has never been a particularly political writer.
But the Coors-drinking, Fox News-watching nonagenarian has been a
politically outspoken citizen as of late. For critics whose
political prejudices pass for aesthetic tastes, his recent
outspokenness may have knocked him down a few rungs in their
jaundiced eyes -- just as his few postwar racially-themed stories
may have once elevated him. But for readers in pursuit of a good
short story, Bradbury's politics don't impede them from finding
just that.
About the Author
Daniel J. Flynn is the author of Blue Collar Intellectuals: When the Enlightened and the Everyman Elevated America, forthcoming this fall from ISI Books. He blogs at www.flynnfiles.com.
Mr Bradbury has always been something of a "god" to me. As a
boy, no one touched my imagination like he. No one was able to
craft an atmosphere, be it on Mars or around the corner on a dark
summer night, like he. I could go on and on. He simply was the most
important literary influence in my life. I recently gave my son one
of his anthologies. Sadly, I'm not sure it will impact him like it
did me. I can only hope.
JP| 8.20.10 @ 8:04AM
There was another story teller who the Left for decades
attempted to co-opt: JRR Tolkien. The fact that so many Baby
Boomers who later became Progressives read not only The Ring
Trilogies, but also The Simirillion attest to the power of Tolkiens
prose and moral imagination. It was only later that it became clear
that Tolkien was not some latter-day eco-freak or Neo-Marxist that
the Left decided to ignore him. What became even more appalling to
Lefties was Tolkien's obvious Catholic imagery- which they missed
completely. Tolkien's love for Nature was in fact closely tied to
rural England and a way of life that was fast disappearing during
his career.
Bradbury had similar instincts. The life of an urbanite never
suited him. And whatever virtues he found in the US resided in our
rural areas. I will never forget the chapter in the Martian
Chronicles which depicted the homecoming of one of the Martian
astronauts. Bradbury piled on the small town kitsch in large
measure. And it was only at the very end did the astronaut realize
too late - that it was all an illusion perpetrated by the Martians.
I always thought that chapter was a cruel one. But years later I
realized that perhaps it was Bradbury's own way of mourning our
lost culture. While I outgrew sci-fi literature I still appreciate
Bradbury's skills.
Happy Birthday
Paul D| 8.20.10 @ 8:49AM
Good points JP.
I think one of the principal flaws of the Lord of the Rings
movies is that many of those positive elements were edited out of
the story. As a result, most of the lead male characters in the
movie are emasculated versions of their book characters.
Appleby| 8.20.10 @ 3:57PM
My objection to the first movie in the LOTR trilogy was the way
they turned Arwen Evenstar into an Amazon Warrior Princess, when in
the book she was no such thing, nor would any such character have
existed in that universe. This warped characterization not only
emasculated Aragorn, but rendered Eowyn completely irrelevant and
in fact turned her from a Viking princess throttled by her
perception of her role in life (which in the third book, but not at
all in the movie, was beautifully handled by Faramir -- I read this
book when I was a teenager and identified with her totally -- )
into a 12 year old sister with a crush on her brother's friend.
Tolkein understood women and their role in civilization from the
Catholic perspective, which apparently was too old-fashioned for
Peter Jackson et al.
Ray Bradbury's stories in The Illustrated Man still give me the
chills.
Margie| 8.22.10 @ 2:47PM
Catholic imagery? Nice try. Not a speck of it in his books.
Martin Treptow| 8.22.10 @ 3:45PM
Really? Not a speck? Are you sure you wouldn't want to go back
and actually read his books and then... ahem... revise and extend
your remarks? Tolkein is surpassed only by C.S. Lewis in how his
Christianity (Catholicism) informs his writings.
Margie| 8.22.10 @ 5:24PM
Christianity is not Catholicism. Catholicism is full of false
doctrine. You tell me where either of their writings spoke of
Catholic doctrine. Then, get back to me.
Do they talk about Popes?
Do they refer to praying to Mary?
Do they claim that that there is such a place as Purgatory?
Do they claim that everyone goes to Heaven?
Do they claim claim cannibalism in the case of receiving
Communion?
DDo they include bowing down to a man who wears robes and kiss his
hands or feet as if he were Christ?
I already know the answer to that. Apparently, you don't.
Tony in Central PA| 8.22.10 @ 9:11PM
If you hate the Church, why do you accept the Bible ? Where do
you think it came from ?
Margie| 8.23.10 @ 2:28PM
None of the above mentioned things are actually in the Bible. If
you love God, you would want to be Biblical and you would reject
it.
Truth is, to accuse of hate is a Leftist tactic. Why aren't you
rejecting the perverted doctrine, instead?
"Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take
refuge in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you
be found a liar." Prov. 30: 5 & 6.
Tony in Central PA| 8.23.10 @ 9:32PM
Margie, if you are really interested in solid answers about any
of the questions you brought up, a couple of good websites I can
mention to you would be Catholic Answers and Patrick Madrid's site.
You might not agree with the explanations, but I can guarantee
you'll understand to a much better extent why Catholics believe
what they believe than you do now. People will lisetn to you if you
approach them from a position of familiarity and understanding
instead of making some very provocative assertions that many would
find offensive.
I can provide a few New Testament passages to consider for some
of your questions. It goes without saying to obtain some context
and history to help understand these citations.
For the origins of the papacy - start at Matthew 16 : 16
For Purgatory, begin with 1 Corinthians 3 : 13
For the Eucharist, pretty much the entire chapter 6 of John's
Gospel.
I have spent a fair amount of time in Protestant and Evangelical
churches and never once heard any reference to any of the preceding
passages. While I certainly don't believe nonCatholics go to hell,
and the Church doesn't teach that, I do believe from many years of
investigation that the Catholic Church has the most historically
accurate presentation of the Faith.
How many people over the years do you think you have
successfully turned away from Catholicism using the approach you
posted in this thread ?
Margie| 8.23.10 @ 11:22PM
To answer your last assumption: I make Jesus known to people, He
does the rest.
Again I will say, there are no Popes in the Bible.
There is no Purgatory in the Bible.
One does not eat Christ's physical body when receiving
Communion.
It is not God's will to worship or bow to another man.
We do not all go to Heaven when we die.
Praying to Mary is not the will of God.
Either you are offended at the fact that these teachings are
unBiblical and false, or you are offended at those who dare to say
that they are.
But if you choose to be offended instead of wanting to be found
in agreement with the Bible and therefore Jesus Himself, that's
your "choice," but if you reject the Bible, you reject Him.
"He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word
which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me." Jn.
14:24.
Tony in Central PA| 8.24.10 @ 11:06PM
Margie, by what authority do you interpret Scripture ? What
happens when two believers who are well - familiarized with
Scripture disagree about any of the points ?
I'd like very much to have a chance to refute or address each one
of the points you brought up because I pretty sure I can, even
though I'm not a theologian. I don't think this is the best venue,
though.
I'll never forget a trip I made to Hawaii once. A stranger sitting
near me at a restaurant started a conversation that quickly veered
into religion. I eventually identified myself as a Catholic. It was
at that point that he told me I was a member of an apostate chuech
and was going to hell. Thankfully, something prevented me from
losing my temper. I told him we would agree to disagree and that
would be it. And so it is for us.
Margie| 8.23.10 @ 11:39PM
p.s. I don't talk to people about the Catholic church when
making Jesus known. In fact if it ever comes up I will tell them
that most of things that the Catholic church says you have to do
are unnecessary. Why? Because they aren't in the Bible. And I will
tell them to read their Bibles, and do what Jesus tells them to do.
If someone wants to go to a certain church, they will go.
Mark the Zealot| 8.24.10 @ 2:53PM
Margie, with all respect, in reply to your original comment
about Lord of the Rings not having Catholic imagery, may I gently
point out that J.R.R. Tolkein was a devout Roman Catholic. Although
Lord of the Rings was not an allegory (Tolkein did not care for
allegories, and that was one criticism he leveled against C.S.
Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe), there is Catholic
thought in The Lord of the Rings, particularly regarding the
treatment of virtue and mercy.
To be clear, I am not a Roman Catholic. I do find your charge of
cannibalism against Catholics to be interesting. Are you aware that
the ancient Roman pagans leveled exactly the same charge against
early Christians? May I suggest that you read the Sixth Chapter of
the Gospel of John.
Eric Cartman| 8.20.10 @ 8:11AM
Bradbury's stories - to me, anyway - have all centered around
the folly of government and technology and people's misuse of both.
Always thought he was a Classical Liberal by his writing - what is
now refereed to as a Conservative today (or a Right Wing Nazi
Fascist to the Scumbag Nutroot and MSNBC crowd).
Ken (Old Texican)| 8.20.10 @ 9:11AM
Here is a copy paste from a very "liberal" columnist.
Fascinating.
That Darn George Bush!!
Here's an opinion piece by Chuck Green who writes "Greener
Pastures" for the Denver Post Aurora Sentinel...one of the more
liberal papers in the country. Additionally, Mr. Green is a life
long Democrat...so this is rather a stunning piece...
Obama is victim of Bush's failed promises
Greener Pastures Column -- 5/ 15/10
Barack Obama is setting a record-setting number of records
during his first year in office.
Largest budget ever. Largest deficit ever. Largest number of broken
promises ever. Most self-serving speeches ever. Largest number of
agenda-setting failures ever. Fastest dive in popularity ever.
Wow! Talk about change.
Just one year ago, fresh from his inauguration celebrations,
President Obama was flying high. After one of the nation's most
inspiring political campaigns, the election of America 's first
black president had captured the hopes and dreams of millions. To
his devout followers, it was inconceivable that a year later his
administration would be gripped in self-imposed crisis.
Of course, they don't see it as self-imposed. It's all George
Bush's fault.
George Bush, who doesn't have a vote in congress and who no
longer occupies the White House, is to blame for it all.
He broke Obama's promise to put all bills on the White House web
site for five days before signing them.
He broke Obama's promise to have the congressional health care
negotiations broadcast live on C-SPAN.
He broke Obama's promise to end earmarks.
He broke Obama's promise to keep unemployment from rising above
8 percent.
He broke Obama's promise to close the detention center at
Guantanamo in the first year.
He broke Obama's promise to make peace with direct, no
precondition talks with America 's most hate-filled enemies during
his first year in office, ushering in a new era of global
cooperation.
He broke Obama's promise to end the hiring of former lobbyists
into high White House jobs.
He broke Obama's promise to end no-compete contracts with the
government.
He broke Obama's promise to disclose the names of all attendees
at closed White House meetings.
He broke Obama's promise for a new era of bipartisan cooperation
in all matters.
He broke Obama's promise to have chosen a home church to attend
Sunday services with his family by Easter of last year.
Yes, it's all George Bush's fault. President Obama is nothing
more than a puppet in the never-ending failed Bush
administration.
If only George Bush wasn't still in charge, all of President
Obama's problems would be solved. His promises would have been
kept, the economy would be back on track, Iran would have stopped
its work on developing a nuclear bomb and would be negotiating a
peace treaty with Israel . North Korea would have ended its
tyrannical regime, and integrity would have been restored to the
federal government.
Oh, and did I mention what it would be like if the Democrats,
under the leadership of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, didn't have
the heavy yoke of George Bush around their necks? There would be no
earmarks, no closed-door drafting of bills, no increase in deficit
spending, no special-interest influence (unions), no vote buying (
Nebraska , Louisiana ).
If only George Bush wasn't still in charge, we'd have real
change by now.
All the broken promises, all the failed legislation and delay
(health care reform, immigration reform) is not President Obama's
fault or the fault of the Democrat-controlled Congress. It's all
George Bush's fault.
Take for example the decision of Eric Holder, the president's
attorney general, to hold terrorists' trials in New York City . Or
his decision to try the Christmas Day underpants bomber as a
civilian.
Two disastrous decisions.
Certainly those were bad judgments based on poor advice from
George Bush.
Need more proof?
You might recall that when Scott Brown won the election to the
U.S. Senate from Massachusetts , capturing "the Ted Kennedy seat",
President Obama said that Brown's victory was the result of the
same voter anger that propelled Obama into office in 2008. People
were still angry about George Bush and the policies of the past 10
years. And they wanted change.
Yes, according to the president, the voter rebellion in
Massachusetts was George Bush's fault.
Therefore, in retaliation, they elected a Republican to the Ted
Kennedy seat, ending a half-century of domination by Democrats. It
is all George Bush's fault.
Will the failed administration of George Bush ever end, and the
time for hope and change ever arrive?
Will President Obama ever accept responsibility for something...
- anything?
(Chuck Green is a veteran Colorado journalist and former
editor-in-chief of The Denver Post.)
Nunya| 8.20.10 @ 12:23PM
Awesome. :-)
Akaky| 8.20.10 @ 1:56PM
"Will President Obama ever accept responsibility for
something... - anything?"
It is ncie to come back here and be around my (online or not)
friends and share some like minded feelings... even the awkward
moment with Alan is welcome.
What a deluxe piece!
I will definately circulate not only the OP but the post as
cited thru 'ken.
BTW, B.O. did live up to one promise: he did get that dog!
As far as taking care of it, well...
Have a great weekend my friends.
Margie| 8.22.10 @ 3:05PM
Ah yes, but to the Libertarians George Bush and his policies
(along with the Republicans) ARE what sloooowly brought us the
present day mess. And don't you know that by voting Republican you
are all traitors and selling out on America! And according to them
a vote for a Republican is ensuring the drift toward Socialsm but
just at a slower rate. The Lefty Libertarians despise Republicans
and have more hatred for them and GW than they do for the Left.
That is because like Barry Goldwater in his latter days wanted to
do away with social conservatism and conservatives. The battle cry
for these who share these same traits with the Left is: "We need
fiscal responsibility! But away with morality and the moral!"
In truth and in reality it's the policies of the immoral and
corrupt Left that has brought us to where we are now. And Barry
Goldwater Libertarianism~ godless and corrupt~ will not save us
from the current path we are on.
Petronius| 8.20.10 @ 9:33AM
To the Left, a mind uncontrolled by them is a terrible
thing.
Alas, poor Linda.
Hugo Campbell Verne| 8.20.10 @ 10:45AM
In my youth I was a fen. I was also a New Dealer. I find it
interesting that the great science fiction novelists e.g.
Heinline,Bradbury,for all their celebration of technology and
space-opera offered close to libertarian messages.
the permanent newbie| 8.20.10 @ 7:21PM
One exception: Isaac Asimov was a raving statist from start to
finish. Pity.
KyMouse| 8.20.10 @ 12:17PM
Thanks, Mr. Flynn, for giving me more reasons to love Ray
Bradbury's work.
By the way, do y'all remember these candidates for the world's
shortest sci-fi story?
My favorite is Frederic Brown's "Knock": "The last man on earth
sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door...."
Then there's Forry Ackerman's "Cosmic Report Card: Earth," the
text of which is only the letter "F."
And Anthony Burgess is said to have written a story that had
only this line: "That morning, the sun rose in the west."
Stoddard| 8.20.10 @ 3:28PM
Check out Burgess' "1985" for an eerily portentous look at
Islamic Britain.
Ed| 8.20.10 @ 12:55PM
Ray Bradbury is a national treasure. As previous writers have
noted, science fiction is one of the few genres in which
conservatives and libertarians are well represented. There are
liberal and left-wing sci-fi writers, but they are not as dominant
as they are in TV or film.
I chalk it up to the publishers. Ace, Tor, and Baen , among
others, consistently promote conservative and libertarian writers.
If you like military sci-fi, its hard to beat writers like Tom
Kratman, David Weber, and John Ringo.
Appleby| 8.20.10 @ 4:01PM
Or Gordon Dickson, at least his Dorsai stories. After he went
off on his Blaise Tangent, he lost me. But I love the Dorsai.
D-man| 8.20.10 @ 12:58PM
Happy birthday,Mr. Bradbury.....your writings will forever
remain dear in my heart....the mores presented are a part of my
being....you as many visionaries warned us over and over about the
great monster of Gov't. with too much power...indeed "something
wicked this way comes" is now upon us as the shadowy Obama creates
controlling groups without the Congress or people's approval ,but
with executive order.I do not say this lightly or with ill-will ,
but I pray that you pass quietly before the last vestige of America
as you knew it is gone.My father passed in 2000, and was saddened
more and more as the country he had fought for in WWII, was more
and more a shadow of its former self.
Matt| 8.20.10 @ 3:12PM
what a great writer! Mr. Bradbury--thank you for your
significant contributions to American literature!
KevinMn| 8.20.10 @ 5:46PM
The next revolution will be a bloodless coup called VOTING and
it begins November 2, 2010.
Dick Simmons| 8.20.10 @ 9:36PM
Every Bradbury fan has their favorite, but the short story that
most sticks in my mind to this day is "The Pillar of Fire", and odd
little tale of a predatory monster (Bradbury never really describes
him in total) that resurrects in the "modern" age of the near
future where everything distressing or tending to disturb people
has been banned. The concepts of evil and fear have been abolished
and the populace has no need of weapons to defend themselves or,
indeed, has any idea any longer what such things were are why they
were needed. The monster, on the other hand, in the words of
Bradbury felt "hatred burn in his heart like a pillar of flame--his
hatred of man and all of his works". When he begins his reign of
terror however he is befuddled and stunned to learn people aren't
even afraid of him. They have no idea of what evil is or why they
should fear it. He leaves a string of victims who look at him like
sheep; he gets no satisfaction as he consumes one after another.
With no terror and no fear, he becomes weaker and weaker until the
"security" forces of this brave new world corral him to be
destroyed in a crematorium, all the while mouthing placid nonsense
and phyco-babble. Bradbury staked out this pessimistic view of a
modern age bland and sterile in "451" where everyone was mandated
"to be the same" and nothing was allowed to "distress people". But
for my money, nothing beat this pithy little story with a monster
that quoted Poe.
catlady| 8.20.10 @ 11:34PM
Bradbury is a genius who truly understands the hearts of men,
individually and collectively. His characters are universal, but
never stereotypes. They are all of us. God bless him; his writings
have always been a joy, or an epiphany, for me.
Jack| 8.21.10 @ 5:43AM
Thank You Ray! You sparked my imagination as a kid living in a
rural community. I read all of your books I could get my hands on.
You made my life a better place and took me to a lot of different
worlds as only a good writer can.
JimH| 8.21.10 @ 10:34AM
While I recognize the skill, I could never truly warm up to
Bradbury's writing. Maybe a bit to literary for my taste. For hard
science fiction in a conservative/libertarian vein I would
recommend Heinlein, Pournelle and my favorite Poul Andersen. For
fantasy with real insight to human nature let me suggest Terry
Pratchett's Discworld novels.
Scot Cerullo| 8.21.10 @ 2:47PM
Wow. Excellent post! Well done my friend. Bradbury played a
large role in my early years insofar as his writings displayed many
optional realities, always based on the strengths and weaknesses of
man. Thx for such a solid post. You are and excellent writer.
Osamas Pajamas| 8.23.10 @ 12:41AM
No matter where they differ, you can't go wrong reading Ray
Bradbury, Ayn Rand, PG Wodehouse, and Tom Clancy; now there's a
feast.
Tenn Slim| 8.23.10 @ 9:55AM
Avid readers. I recc "Masters of Deceit" Circa 1953. J. Edgar
Hoover, Thats right, the old FBI dude.
Along with R. Bradbury, T. Clancy and Mark Twain, this text just
about covers the waterfront.
History is often prophesied in the authors mind. Today, we, the
Lurkers, Posters, Bloggers, carry the burden. Let us stagger
forth.
end
Semper Fi
PODBAYDOORS| 8.23.10 @ 1:58PM
The summer of 1970. Between eigth grade and freshman year.
Sterling, IL. Hammock in the back yard. Insects and birds providing
a pastoral symphony, punctuated by the shift whistle of
Northwestern Steel and Wire. Reading Dandelion Wine. A delightful
door into a soft shimmering world we only may know for a brief
moment, but will infuse our lives forever with it's sweet
music.
Mr. Bradbury is an amazing writer. Self-taught, self-thought
individual. A true American icon. I have read most all of his
stories, am still moved deeply by "Fahrenheit 451," a classic that
should be required reading of every high school student. Great
article!
Grace Kaehler| 9.12.10 @ 7:56AM
Thank you, Ray Bradbury, for your wonderful poem "America". It
brings tears to my eyes every time I read it.
The most obnoxiously self-conscious environmentalist president
ever stands dumb before America's worst environmental disaster.
Hillary Clinton's Led
Lighting campaign criticisms of Obama as a wimp and cocky
dullard hold up fairly well. It turns out that he is not very good
at taking tricky calls at 3 AM or 3 PM Led Display.
Robbins Mitchell| 8.20.10 @ 6:21AM
Mr Bradbury is simply saying now what he tried to tell us years ago...."Something Wicked This Way Comes"
Steve Calvert| 8.20.10 @ 7:59AM
"Something Wicked" is here now!
Tim*| 8.20.10 @ 8:09AM
Thankfully , so is The Revolution .
The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates .
Rise Up !
Eric Cartman| 8.20.10 @ 8:14AM
Poke it with a stick!
Ret. Marine| 8.20.10 @ 6:37AM
and his name is barackeh hussien oabam.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 12:15PM
"Something Wicked" is here now!
Now??
21 and a half years. Since Reagan left office America has been entirely without a moral compass.
Donduke| 8.20.10 @ 7:22AM
Mr Bradbury has always been something of a "god" to me. As a boy, no one touched my imagination like he. No one was able to craft an atmosphere, be it on Mars or around the corner on a dark summer night, like he. I could go on and on. He simply was the most important literary influence in my life. I recently gave my son one of his anthologies. Sadly, I'm not sure it will impact him like it did me. I can only hope.
JP| 8.20.10 @ 8:04AM
There was another story teller who the Left for decades attempted to co-opt: JRR Tolkien. The fact that so many Baby Boomers who later became Progressives read not only The Ring Trilogies, but also The Simirillion attest to the power of Tolkiens prose and moral imagination. It was only later that it became clear that Tolkien was not some latter-day eco-freak or Neo-Marxist that the Left decided to ignore him. What became even more appalling to Lefties was Tolkien's obvious Catholic imagery- which they missed completely. Tolkien's love for Nature was in fact closely tied to rural England and a way of life that was fast disappearing during his career.
Bradbury had similar instincts. The life of an urbanite never suited him. And whatever virtues he found in the US resided in our rural areas. I will never forget the chapter in the Martian Chronicles which depicted the homecoming of one of the Martian astronauts. Bradbury piled on the small town kitsch in large measure. And it was only at the very end did the astronaut realize too late - that it was all an illusion perpetrated by the Martians. I always thought that chapter was a cruel one. But years later I realized that perhaps it was Bradbury's own way of mourning our lost culture. While I outgrew sci-fi literature I still appreciate Bradbury's skills.
Happy Birthday
Paul D| 8.20.10 @ 8:49AM
Good points JP.
I think one of the principal flaws of the Lord of the Rings movies is that many of those positive elements were edited out of the story. As a result, most of the lead male characters in the movie are emasculated versions of their book characters.
Appleby| 8.20.10 @ 3:57PM
My objection to the first movie in the LOTR trilogy was the way they turned Arwen Evenstar into an Amazon Warrior Princess, when in the book she was no such thing, nor would any such character have existed in that universe. This warped characterization not only emasculated Aragorn, but rendered Eowyn completely irrelevant and in fact turned her from a Viking princess throttled by her perception of her role in life (which in the third book, but not at all in the movie, was beautifully handled by Faramir -- I read this book when I was a teenager and identified with her totally -- ) into a 12 year old sister with a crush on her brother's friend. Tolkein understood women and their role in civilization from the Catholic perspective, which apparently was too old-fashioned for Peter Jackson et al.
Ray Bradbury's stories in The Illustrated Man still give me the chills.
Margie| 8.22.10 @ 2:47PM
Catholic imagery? Nice try. Not a speck of it in his books.
Martin Treptow| 8.22.10 @ 3:45PM
Really? Not a speck? Are you sure you wouldn't want to go back and actually read his books and then... ahem... revise and extend your remarks? Tolkein is surpassed only by C.S. Lewis in how his Christianity (Catholicism) informs his writings.
Margie| 8.22.10 @ 5:24PM
Christianity is not Catholicism. Catholicism is full of false doctrine. You tell me where either of their writings spoke of Catholic doctrine. Then, get back to me.
Do they talk about Popes?
Do they refer to praying to Mary?
Do they claim that that there is such a place as Purgatory?
Do they claim that everyone goes to Heaven?
Do they claim claim cannibalism in the case of receiving Communion?
DDo they include bowing down to a man who wears robes and kiss his hands or feet as if he were Christ?
I already know the answer to that. Apparently, you don't.
Tony in Central PA| 8.22.10 @ 9:11PM
If you hate the Church, why do you accept the Bible ? Where do you think it came from ?
Margie| 8.23.10 @ 2:28PM
None of the above mentioned things are actually in the Bible. If you love God, you would want to be Biblical and you would reject it.
Truth is, to accuse of hate is a Leftist tactic. Why aren't you rejecting the perverted doctrine, instead?
"Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar." Prov. 30: 5 & 6.
Tony in Central PA| 8.23.10 @ 9:32PM
Margie, if you are really interested in solid answers about any of the questions you brought up, a couple of good websites I can mention to you would be Catholic Answers and Patrick Madrid's site. You might not agree with the explanations, but I can guarantee you'll understand to a much better extent why Catholics believe what they believe than you do now. People will lisetn to you if you approach them from a position of familiarity and understanding instead of making some very provocative assertions that many would find offensive.
I can provide a few New Testament passages to consider for some of your questions. It goes without saying to obtain some context and history to help understand these citations.
For the origins of the papacy - start at Matthew 16 : 16
For Purgatory, begin with 1 Corinthians 3 : 13
For the Eucharist, pretty much the entire chapter 6 of John's Gospel.
I have spent a fair amount of time in Protestant and Evangelical churches and never once heard any reference to any of the preceding passages. While I certainly don't believe nonCatholics go to hell, and the Church doesn't teach that, I do believe from many years of investigation that the Catholic Church has the most historically accurate presentation of the Faith.
How many people over the years do you think you have successfully turned away from Catholicism using the approach you posted in this thread ?
Margie| 8.23.10 @ 11:22PM
To answer your last assumption: I make Jesus known to people, He does the rest.
Again I will say, there are no Popes in the Bible.
There is no Purgatory in the Bible.
One does not eat Christ's physical body when receiving Communion.
It is not God's will to worship or bow to another man.
We do not all go to Heaven when we die.
Praying to Mary is not the will of God.
Either you are offended at the fact that these teachings are unBiblical and false, or you are offended at those who dare to say that they are.
But if you choose to be offended instead of wanting to be found in agreement with the Bible and therefore Jesus Himself, that's your "choice," but if you reject the Bible, you reject Him.
"He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me." Jn. 14:24.
Tony in Central PA| 8.24.10 @ 11:06PM
Margie, by what authority do you interpret Scripture ? What happens when two believers who are well - familiarized with Scripture disagree about any of the points ?
I'd like very much to have a chance to refute or address each one of the points you brought up because I pretty sure I can, even though I'm not a theologian. I don't think this is the best venue, though.
I'll never forget a trip I made to Hawaii once. A stranger sitting near me at a restaurant started a conversation that quickly veered into religion. I eventually identified myself as a Catholic. It was at that point that he told me I was a member of an apostate chuech and was going to hell. Thankfully, something prevented me from losing my temper. I told him we would agree to disagree and that would be it. And so it is for us.
Margie| 8.23.10 @ 11:39PM
p.s. I don't talk to people about the Catholic church when making Jesus known. In fact if it ever comes up I will tell them that most of things that the Catholic church says you have to do are unnecessary. Why? Because they aren't in the Bible. And I will tell them to read their Bibles, and do what Jesus tells them to do. If someone wants to go to a certain church, they will go.
Mark the Zealot| 8.24.10 @ 2:53PM
Margie, with all respect, in reply to your original comment about Lord of the Rings not having Catholic imagery, may I gently point out that J.R.R. Tolkein was a devout Roman Catholic. Although Lord of the Rings was not an allegory (Tolkein did not care for allegories, and that was one criticism he leveled against C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe), there is Catholic thought in The Lord of the Rings, particularly regarding the treatment of virtue and mercy.
To be clear, I am not a Roman Catholic. I do find your charge of cannibalism against Catholics to be interesting. Are you aware that the ancient Roman pagans leveled exactly the same charge against early Christians? May I suggest that you read the Sixth Chapter of the Gospel of John.
Eric Cartman| 8.20.10 @ 8:11AM
Bradbury's stories - to me, anyway - have all centered around the folly of government and technology and people's misuse of both. Always thought he was a Classical Liberal by his writing - what is now refereed to as a Conservative today (or a Right Wing Nazi Fascist to the Scumbag Nutroot and MSNBC crowd).
Ken (Old Texican)| 8.20.10 @ 9:11AM
Here is a copy paste from a very "liberal" columnist.
Fascinating.
That Darn George Bush!!
Here's an opinion piece by Chuck Green who writes "Greener Pastures" for the Denver Post Aurora Sentinel...one of the more liberal papers in the country. Additionally, Mr. Green is a life long Democrat...so this is rather a stunning piece...
Obama is victim of Bush's failed promises
Greener Pastures Column -- 5/ 15/10
Barack Obama is setting a record-setting number of records during his first year in office.
Largest budget ever. Largest deficit ever. Largest number of broken promises ever. Most self-serving speeches ever. Largest number of agenda-setting failures ever. Fastest dive in popularity ever.
Wow! Talk about change.
Just one year ago, fresh from his inauguration celebrations, President Obama was flying high. After one of the nation's most inspiring political campaigns, the election of America 's first black president had captured the hopes and dreams of millions. To his devout followers, it was inconceivable that a year later his administration would be gripped in self-imposed crisis.
Of course, they don't see it as self-imposed. It's all George Bush's fault.
George Bush, who doesn't have a vote in congress and who no longer occupies the White House, is to blame for it all.
He broke Obama's promise to put all bills on the White House web site for five days before signing them.
He broke Obama's promise to have the congressional health care negotiations broadcast live on C-SPAN.
He broke Obama's promise to end earmarks.
He broke Obama's promise to keep unemployment from rising above 8 percent.
He broke Obama's promise to close the detention center at Guantanamo in the first year.
He broke Obama's promise to make peace with direct, no precondition talks with America 's most hate-filled enemies during his first year in office, ushering in a new era of global cooperation.
He broke Obama's promise to end the hiring of former lobbyists into high White House jobs.
He broke Obama's promise to end no-compete contracts with the government.
He broke Obama's promise to disclose the names of all attendees at closed White House meetings.
He broke Obama's promise for a new era of bipartisan cooperation in all matters.
He broke Obama's promise to have chosen a home church to attend Sunday services with his family by Easter of last year.
Yes, it's all George Bush's fault. President Obama is nothing more than a puppet in the never-ending failed Bush administration.
If only George Bush wasn't still in charge, all of President Obama's problems would be solved. His promises would have been kept, the economy would be back on track, Iran would have stopped its work on developing a nuclear bomb and would be negotiating a peace treaty with Israel . North Korea would have ended its tyrannical regime, and integrity would have been restored to the federal government.
Oh, and did I mention what it would be like if the Democrats, under the leadership of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, didn't have the heavy yoke of George Bush around their necks? There would be no earmarks, no closed-door drafting of bills, no increase in deficit spending, no special-interest influence (unions), no vote buying ( Nebraska , Louisiana ).
If only George Bush wasn't still in charge, we'd have real change by now.
All the broken promises, all the failed legislation and delay (health care reform, immigration reform) is not President Obama's fault or the fault of the Democrat-controlled Congress. It's all George Bush's fault.
Take for example the decision of Eric Holder, the president's attorney general, to hold terrorists' trials in New York City . Or his decision to try the Christmas Day underpants bomber as a civilian.
Two disastrous decisions.
Certainly those were bad judgments based on poor advice from George Bush.
Need more proof?
You might recall that when Scott Brown won the election to the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts , capturing "the Ted Kennedy seat", President Obama said that Brown's victory was the result of the same voter anger that propelled Obama into office in 2008. People were still angry about George Bush and the policies of the past 10 years. And they wanted change.
Yes, according to the president, the voter rebellion in Massachusetts was George Bush's fault.
Therefore, in retaliation, they elected a Republican to the Ted Kennedy seat, ending a half-century of domination by Democrats. It is all George Bush's fault.
Will the failed administration of George Bush ever end, and the time for hope and change ever arrive?
Will President Obama ever accept responsibility for something... - anything?
(Chuck Green is a veteran Colorado journalist and former editor-in-chief of The Denver Post.)
Nunya| 8.20.10 @ 12:23PM
Awesome. :-)
Akaky| 8.20.10 @ 1:56PM
"Will President Obama ever accept responsibility for something... - anything?"
No.
SpiralArchitect| 8.20.10 @ 4:46PM
It is ncie to come back here and be around my (online or not) friends and share some like minded feelings... even the awkward moment with Alan is welcome.
What a deluxe piece!
I will definately circulate not only the OP but the post as cited thru 'ken.
BTW, B.O. did live up to one promise: he did get that dog!
As far as taking care of it, well...
Have a great weekend my friends.
Margie| 8.22.10 @ 3:05PM
Ah yes, but to the Libertarians George Bush and his policies (along with the Republicans) ARE what sloooowly brought us the present day mess. And don't you know that by voting Republican you are all traitors and selling out on America! And according to them a vote for a Republican is ensuring the drift toward Socialsm but just at a slower rate. The Lefty Libertarians despise Republicans and have more hatred for them and GW than they do for the Left. That is because like Barry Goldwater in his latter days wanted to do away with social conservatism and conservatives. The battle cry for these who share these same traits with the Left is: "We need fiscal responsibility! But away with morality and the moral!"
In truth and in reality it's the policies of the immoral and corrupt Left that has brought us to where we are now. And Barry Goldwater Libertarianism~ godless and corrupt~ will not save us from the current path we are on.
Petronius| 8.20.10 @ 9:33AM
To the Left, a mind uncontrolled by them is a terrible thing.
Alas, poor Linda.
Hugo Campbell Verne| 8.20.10 @ 10:45AM
In my youth I was a fen. I was also a New Dealer. I find it interesting that the great science fiction novelists e.g. Heinline,Bradbury,for all their celebration of technology and space-opera offered close to libertarian messages.
the permanent newbie| 8.20.10 @ 7:21PM
One exception: Isaac Asimov was a raving statist from start to finish. Pity.
KyMouse| 8.20.10 @ 12:17PM
Thanks, Mr. Flynn, for giving me more reasons to love Ray Bradbury's work.
By the way, do y'all remember these candidates for the world's shortest sci-fi story?
My favorite is Frederic Brown's "Knock": "The last man on earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door...."
Then there's Forry Ackerman's "Cosmic Report Card: Earth," the text of which is only the letter "F."
And Anthony Burgess is said to have written a story that had only this line: "That morning, the sun rose in the west."
Stoddard| 8.20.10 @ 3:28PM
Check out Burgess' "1985" for an eerily portentous look at Islamic Britain.
Ed| 8.20.10 @ 12:55PM
Ray Bradbury is a national treasure. As previous writers have noted, science fiction is one of the few genres in which conservatives and libertarians are well represented. There are liberal and left-wing sci-fi writers, but they are not as dominant as they are in TV or film.
I chalk it up to the publishers. Ace, Tor, and Baen , among others, consistently promote conservative and libertarian writers. If you like military sci-fi, its hard to beat writers like Tom Kratman, David Weber, and John Ringo.
Appleby| 8.20.10 @ 4:01PM
Or Gordon Dickson, at least his Dorsai stories. After he went off on his Blaise Tangent, he lost me. But I love the Dorsai.
D-man| 8.20.10 @ 12:58PM
Happy birthday,Mr. Bradbury.....your writings will forever remain dear in my heart....the mores presented are a part of my being....you as many visionaries warned us over and over about the great monster of Gov't. with too much power...indeed "something wicked this way comes" is now upon us as the shadowy Obama creates controlling groups without the Congress or people's approval ,but with executive order.I do not say this lightly or with ill-will , but I pray that you pass quietly before the last vestige of America as you knew it is gone.My father passed in 2000, and was saddened more and more as the country he had fought for in WWII, was more and more a shadow of its former self.
Matt| 8.20.10 @ 3:12PM
what a great writer! Mr. Bradbury--thank you for your significant contributions to American literature!
KevinMn| 8.20.10 @ 5:46PM
The next revolution will be a bloodless coup called VOTING and it begins November 2, 2010.
Dick Simmons| 8.20.10 @ 9:36PM
Every Bradbury fan has their favorite, but the short story that most sticks in my mind to this day is "The Pillar of Fire", and odd little tale of a predatory monster (Bradbury never really describes him in total) that resurrects in the "modern" age of the near future where everything distressing or tending to disturb people has been banned. The concepts of evil and fear have been abolished and the populace has no need of weapons to defend themselves or, indeed, has any idea any longer what such things were are why they were needed. The monster, on the other hand, in the words of Bradbury felt "hatred burn in his heart like a pillar of flame--his hatred of man and all of his works". When he begins his reign of terror however he is befuddled and stunned to learn people aren't even afraid of him. They have no idea of what evil is or why they should fear it. He leaves a string of victims who look at him like sheep; he gets no satisfaction as he consumes one after another. With no terror and no fear, he becomes weaker and weaker until the "security" forces of this brave new world corral him to be destroyed in a crematorium, all the while mouthing placid nonsense and phyco-babble. Bradbury staked out this pessimistic view of a modern age bland and sterile in "451" where everyone was mandated "to be the same" and nothing was allowed to "distress people". But for my money, nothing beat this pithy little story with a monster that quoted Poe.
catlady| 8.20.10 @ 11:34PM
Bradbury is a genius who truly understands the hearts of men, individually and collectively. His characters are universal, but never stereotypes. They are all of us. God bless him; his writings have always been a joy, or an epiphany, for me.
Jack| 8.21.10 @ 5:43AM
Thank You Ray! You sparked my imagination as a kid living in a rural community. I read all of your books I could get my hands on. You made my life a better place and took me to a lot of different worlds as only a good writer can.
JimH| 8.21.10 @ 10:34AM
While I recognize the skill, I could never truly warm up to Bradbury's writing. Maybe a bit to literary for my taste. For hard science fiction in a conservative/libertarian vein I would recommend Heinlein, Pournelle and my favorite Poul Andersen. For fantasy with real insight to human nature let me suggest Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels.
Scot Cerullo| 8.21.10 @ 2:47PM
Wow. Excellent post! Well done my friend. Bradbury played a large role in my early years insofar as his writings displayed many optional realities, always based on the strengths and weaknesses of man. Thx for such a solid post. You are and excellent writer.
Osamas Pajamas| 8.23.10 @ 12:41AM
No matter where they differ, you can't go wrong reading Ray Bradbury, Ayn Rand, PG Wodehouse, and Tom Clancy; now there's a feast.
Tenn Slim| 8.23.10 @ 9:55AM
Avid readers. I recc "Masters of Deceit" Circa 1953. J. Edgar Hoover, Thats right, the old FBI dude.
Along with R. Bradbury, T. Clancy and Mark Twain, this text just about covers the waterfront.
History is often prophesied in the authors mind. Today, we, the Lurkers, Posters, Bloggers, carry the burden. Let us stagger forth.
end
Semper Fi
PODBAYDOORS| 8.23.10 @ 1:58PM
The summer of 1970. Between eigth grade and freshman year. Sterling, IL. Hammock in the back yard. Insects and birds providing a pastoral symphony, punctuated by the shift whistle of Northwestern Steel and Wire. Reading Dandelion Wine. A delightful door into a soft shimmering world we only may know for a brief moment, but will infuse our lives forever with it's sweet music.
Steve| 8.23.10 @ 3:00PM
Mr. Bradbury is an amazing writer. Self-taught, self-thought individual. A true American icon. I have read most all of his stories, am still moved deeply by "Fahrenheit 451," a classic that should be required reading of every high school student. Great article!
Grace Kaehler| 9.12.10 @ 7:56AM
Thank you, Ray Bradbury, for your wonderful poem "America". It brings tears to my eyes every time I read it.
keshini| 12.21.10 @ 12:19AM
The most obnoxiously self-conscious environmentalist president ever stands dumb before America's worst environmental disaster. Hillary Clinton's Led Lighting campaign criticisms of Obama as a wimp and cocky dullard hold up fairly well. It turns out that he is not very good at taking tricky calls at 3 AM or 3 PM Led Display.
Joanna| 6.6.11 @ 4:40AM
What an interesting article- I hope to read more like this, thanks!UTI Treatment