I like that Desideratum very much, as well. I actually think of it as quite miraculous that it was found and that it is anonymous. If you have a digital copy, it would certainly make a great post here.
And, it is also the case for me that people will differ, sometimes quite bitterly in their political policies, their opinions of people and their opinions of humanity. Richard Hofsteader descirbes many of the founders as having a distinctly Hobbesian view of human beings in his American Political Tradition, i.e., a very Darwinian view that people are basically rough and untrustworthy (beyond a small circle--labelled The Circle of Trust by diNiro in the hysterical, Meet the Parents). An alternative view of human being emphasizes their propensity for generosity and concern, expressed on a daily basis virtually everywhere. While this is just an example of fairly stark differences in perception, they do lead to significantly distinct politics. So, I belive that we should "go placidly amidst the noise", but just how placidly, I'm not sure. |
