Friday, October 14, 2016

Alexandra Guzeva — Does Russia’s literary elite think Bob Dylan deserves the Nobel Prize?

Interesting comments showing Dylan's global range and impact, and the best of America.
Bob Dylan didn’t win it this year; the solidly American tradition of sung poetry – with a global range – was the one that won it. — Konstantin Milchin, literary critic
I hope that Dylan won’t be the last. Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and even in our country Boris Grebenshchikov, Andrei Makarevich, Yury Shevchuk and other wonderful poets are all still very much alive and well. — Artemy Troitsky, music critic
Not all positive, though. Traditionalists don't like it.
Yet again here we have further defilement, the defilement of world culture. — Alexander Prokhanov, writer
Olga Vlasova

13 comments:

Ryan Harris said...

Can liberal values be absolute? Or is that a contradiction?

Tom Hickey said...

This is a paradox of liberalism. Given freedom, no criteria are absolute. Anyone can advocate for anything under free speech, for example. Of course, rules are made to limit this for various reasons, but that is being illiberal, since those reasons are imposition of arbitrary authority.

"If God does not exist, everything is permitted" — Ivan Karamazov in The Brothers Karamazov by Feodor Dostoevsky.

See Andrei I. Volkov, Dostoevsky Did Say It: A Response to David E. Cortesi (2011)

Enlightenment liberalism was based on "natural law" replacing divine law. However, there is no criteria for "natural law." So-called natural laws regulation g behavior that are not scientifically established laws of nature are just made up, as has been pointed out subsequently.

The bottom line of liberalism is that anything goes, and the problem with it is that everyone has red lines. So it becomes an argument over whose redlines without a decision criterion that is absolute rather than relative.

The usual situation is liberals ruling out what they regard as being "illiberal," which is itself illiberal under the assumptions of liberalism.

Andrew Anderson said...

"If God does not exist, everything is permitted"

Except for the possibility of this trap:

Psalm 92:5-7

How great are Your works, O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep.
A senseless man has no knowledge,
Nor does a stupid man understand this:
That when the wicked sprouted up like grass
And all who did iniquity flourished,
It was only that they might be destroyed forevermore.

Andy Blatchford said...

Why is it that Andrew that every religion seems to be a death cult?

I mean really "it was only that they might be destroyed forevermore" just rather depressing, why the destruction in everything? God doesn't seem very merciful if everything 'he' built that anything we do wrong going to f**k us.

Andrew Anderson said...

Well, Lucifer was created perfect yet he rebelled against God anyway so now God knows we must be tested.


God is dealing with the problem of evil and will end it one day - with as little permanent destruction as is possible.



Tom Hickey said...

A senseless man has no knowledge,
Nor does a stupid man understand this:
That when the wicked sprouted up like grass
And all who did iniquity flourished,
It was only that they might be destroyed forevermore.


This is what Orthodox Russia is now saying about the liberal West; after abandoning its Christian roots for liberalism, which the Orthodox view as beginning with the Great Schism, the West is inviting the wrath of God and its eventual destruction.

The West is still railing against atheistic communism in "Russia." or complaining that Pussy Riot was not allowed to desecrate the national cathedral, showing a rise in "nationalism."

Andrew Anderson said...

Well, the West does seems suicidal so Orthodox Russia may have a point.

Andy Blatchford said...

"Little permanent destruction"

Erm well if you were a victim it's pretty permanent to them. God is apparently forgiving apart from the little matter of not being very forgiving by slaughtering everyone and sending to hell anyone who disagrees with 'his' rules. Bit contradictory.

Andrew Anderson said...

Here's a little comfort from Solomon:

Ecclesiastes 7:16-17
Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself? Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?

Matt Franko said...

"and sending to hell anyone who disagrees with 'his' rules. Bit contradictory. "

That is not scriptural Andy... Hel is the Norse goddess of the underworld it's a pagan thing....

Paul taught the knowledge and truth of God's salvation (saving/keeping) of all of us thru His authorization of the death and His subsequent resurrection of His Son... thus establishing this new current administration of the grace of God (reset t=0)

Man is created in the image (simulation) of God, and mankind is out of the man, just as all is out of God... we see many of our fellow members of mankind saving/keeping everyday (morons call that "the deficit!" or "borrowin' from the Chi-neeese!")...

this act of saving is just simply some of our fellow members of mankind exhibiting this saving/keeping aspect of God... although that truth is currently being covered for most...

Matt Franko said...

AA,

Yeah all of that blather looks like it really worked out well for the Jews....

Matt Franko said...

Here Andy:

"I am entreating, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, pleadings, thanksgiving be made for all mankind,
2 for kings and all those being in a superior station, that we may be leading a mild and quiet life in all devoutness and gravity,
3 for this is ideal and welcome in the sight of our Saviour, God,
4 Who wills that all mankind be saved
and come into a realization of the truth." 1 Tim 2

'His will be done...'

Cant be made any clearer.. except for morons...

Andrew Anderson said...

Yeah all of that blather looks like it really worked out well for the Jews.... Franko

It did since those who heeded the Torah were the ones who believed Jesus when he came. Those who heeded human tradition more did not.