X-Message-Number: 31461
From: "Robert Newport" <>
Subject:     #31453: Alex Doherty reprinted posting, refutation [RudiH...
Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 15:22:30 -0700

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Hi Rudy and all;   I,  being somewhat  "on the left" (progressive and
libertarian) do NOT want to own this particular 'loonie'. His hostility is
evident, and perhaps the best thing the 'left' has going for it, is its
compassion and sensitivity to nature. We on the left, hungering for
community as we are, are most decidedly NOT Luddites. Technologies, both
physical and psychological, smartly and rationally applied to solving the
problems of human suffering, are our only way out of the mess we have gotten
into. That most of human suffering is unnecessary and secondary to the
driving force of irrational and unconscious emotion (e.g. defensive
strategies), is but a testament to the inadequacy of our psychological and
philosophical (and should I say Religious?) technologies at this date. (That
we have (or have not) created an oncoming physical climate and ecological
catastrophe, is a testament to the inadequacy of our scientific prowess.) In
any case, lest we be too smug, part of the reason cryonics is so
undersubscribed, is because, we too,  are regarded as 'loonies' by a large
percentage of our fellows (not many of whom spend much time considering
whether or not we are politically  left or right). In my opinion, the reason
for this is primarily that there is NO precedent for the defeat of death, no
one can assure us from their own experience, that this is going to work and
it flies in the face of 'common sense'. That is a huge hurdle to overcome
and as it says in the Ching "perseverance furthers". 

 

Dr. Bob Newport

 



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