(Fwd) Re: Majorities Moral and Otherwise

[CLAY JONATHAN D]

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From:          Jonathan Clay <cj833.H.Student.PCET.HS.AH.gre>
To:            Peter Petto <ppetto at apk.net>
Subject:       Re: Majorities Moral and Otherwise
Date:          Sat, 12 Dec 1998 15:33:23 GMT


> At 10:17 AM 12/12/98 +1100, rj wrote:
> 
> > ...I think, lies Pynchon's critique of democracy (which is itself
> > the 'They' in Pynchon's fictions, or component thereof, imho.)
> 
> Wow, this is a surprise to me. I've never had the impression that They are
> The People.
> 
> Can you be a bit more particular as to what has led you to this conclusion?
> 
> 
Cf perhaps Heidegger's Das Man (The They) in this regard, as I said 
once before. 
Apart from that, democracy in a capitalist world is 
somewhat problematic IMHO and certainly flawed - 'the people' elected 
Thatcher and Reagan after all, and Blair for that matter. I often 
feel that 'the people' are not really ready for democracy (especially 
when I see them fawning over parasites like the British royal family, 
including Princess Diana), but that it's still better than any 
alternative. I do think that Pynchon's texts show an awareness of 
this and the political complexities and faultlines that occur as a 
result.

p.s. - apologies to Peter Petto, I meant to send this to the list the 
first time, rather than to you personally.

"Bewildering spring, and by the Auvezere
Poppies and day's eyes in the green email
Rose over us"      
              "Near Perigord", Ezra Pound

Jon Clay - [cj833 at greenwich.ac.uk]