It Doesn't Even Shock Me Anymore
I was at the regional conference of the Mont Pelerin Society this morning in Istanbul. Mont Pelerin is a remarkable institution:
After World War II, in 1947, when many of the values of Western civilization were imperiled, 36 scholars, mostly economists, with some historians and philosophers, were invited by Professor Friedrich von Hayek to meet at Mont Pelerin, near Montreux, Switzerland, to discuss the state and the possible fate of liberalism (in its classical sense) in thinking and practice.
The group described itself as the Mont Pelerin Society, after the place of the first meeting. It emphasised that it did not intend to create an orthodoxy, to form or align itself with any political party or parties, or to conduct propaganda. Its sole objective was to facilitate an exchange of ideas between like-minded scholars in the hope of strengthening the principles and practice of a free society and to study the workings, virtues, and defects of market-oriented economic systems.
As I sat through the morning's lecture, a sense of the scene's complete surreality washed over me. Today was the opening of the Turkish parliament in Ankara. There is, apparently, only one foreign journalist reporting from this--a Dutch freelancer, Frederike Geerdink. You can follow her on Twitter.
I spoke over lunch with another American journalist whose work I admire greatly. I'm sure you know and admire her too. We went for a walk together after lunch. I'll ask her at dinner if I can say that I met her and write about our conversation. She was trying to make the case for enjoying oneself despite sensing that the enemies of freedom are going to win. I think she was trying to persuade herself as much as me.
Oddly, it cheered me up. It's speaking to people who don't see how big the problem is that depresses me the most.
Actually, no. What depresses me the most is that while I write this, Mustafa Akyol is addressing the Mont Pelerin society.
Turkey and a Fundamental Confusion About Press Freedom
The Free Speech Debate: Mustafa Akyol responds
I put this out there, over and over. But it's like shouting into a wind tunnel.
The journalist I met advised me to read something besides the news before going to sleep. Fiction, she suggested. Or poetry.
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Sep '10
Re: It Doesn't Even Shock Me Anymore
Professor Mustafa Erdogan (Turkey)
Interesting name on the organizing committee. And interesting name on the Executive Committee
Executive Committee
President
Kenneth Minogue, United Kingdom
Sep '10
Re: It Doesn't Even Shock Me Anymore
When I'm depressed about such things, I reread Lewis's Learning in War Time. Another Oxford grad, of course.
Sep '10
Re: It Doesn't Even Shock Me Anymore
Every feeling I have causes me to believe the opposite and I think I have a much bleaker view of things than you. Things will get much more depressing before the glimmers of a dawn appear, but they will appear. Your perspective of how big, "the problem" is may be more realistic than most, but your perspective on how effective you are is not.
Mar '11
Re: It Doesn't Even Shock Me Anymore
I'm afraid I am with liberal jim - things are not looking good at the moment.
But I agree that we should enjoy ourselves while we can :-)
Oct '10
Re: It Doesn't Even Shock Me Anymore
"The group described itself as the Mont Pelerin Society, after the place of the first meeting. It emphasised that it did not intend to create an orthodoxy, to form or align itself with any political party or parties, or to conduct propaganda. Its sole objective was to facilitate an exchange of ideas between like-minded scholars in the hope of strengthening the principles and practice of a free society and to study the workings, virtues, and defects of market-oriented economic systems."
I perceive that your father is seeking to do something similar for science. I pray his efforts develop the legs of the Mount Pelerin Society.
The idea of the Mount Pelerin society meeting in Turkey at this moment in history is, indeed, surreal in itself. Your post captures the irony. Keep it up!
Aug '10
Re: It Doesn't Even Shock Me Anymore
Right after 9/11, I got a phone call from my Aunt. She was upset, frightened and worried that terrorists would be coming after people in rural America next (she lived 50 miles away from a nuclear power plant.)
The thing is, she could not accept that while the threat of terrorism is real, the likelihood of it affecting her directly was miniscule. She obsessed over the possibility endlessly - despite the factors being entirely out of her control. She fell off the wagon and died not two years later (ironically I found out right after I finished my last combat mission over Iraq.)
The thing is Claire - got it, Turkey is becoming more authoritarian. Yes it is happening all over. No, Europe does not appear to have either the will or capability to stop the slide.
Standing on the side of the road screaming, pulling out your hair, lamenting that people don't get it, losing sleep, obsessing over it - doesn't help in the least. That is what your friend is telling you.
Find something you can do and do it - don't invest the core of your being into each little thing. The sun will come up tomorrow.
Jul '10
Re: It Doesn't Even Shock Me Anymore
Buck up, Claire. It looks like Karzai gets it, for today anyway.
Afghan President Says Talks with Taliban Useless
Jun '10
Re: It Doesn't Even Shock Me Anymore
This assertion without proof can be dismissed without proof…
May '10
Re: It Doesn't Even Shock Me Anymore
Instugator: Standing on the side of the road screaming, pulling out your hair, lamenting that people don't get it, losing sleep, obsessing over it - doesn't help in the least. That is what your friend is telling you.
Find something you can do and do it - don't invest the core of your being into each little thing. The sun will come up tomorrow.
Amen.
Apr '11
Re: It Doesn't Even Shock Me Anymore
As a 23 year old college student (white male at that!), I often find myself stressed about the state of freedom, the world, the economy, etc. It started to physically and mentally depress me. I too feel like I am alone in my understanding of how bad things are. Being on a college campus daily, as a poli sci student with professors who still think the EU is a good idea, and friends who still (frantically I might add) defend the Big O (as the young dems affectionately called him in 08) all started to add up. But I have been fortunate enough to realize that the World is out of our hands, and all we can do is accomplish the tasks that have been set before us each day. Our efforts should be towards cherishing the ones we love. They are the ones who deserve our attention.
However, we do need to be intelligently informed. Towards that end, your work is really appreciated Claire. Remember that your posts do a world of good to keeping us updated on such a misunderstood topic and region.
Feb '11
Re: It Doesn't Even Shock Me Anymore
Funny light fiction is the key to not becoming more upset by reality than practical. I recommend PG Wodehouse. A lot.