A time to do what I meant long since & say Tanks! Christ, no, I
mean Thanks! to you, Rupert, & Mairead, for taking on this list and
keeping it
on, and even more belatedly to cris & Trevor for their previous stint of
stewardship (there was a point, long ago now, where I think Trevor
basically saved the list's life). And also Thanks, from a lurker mainly,
to all
active discussants here, who by writing out their thoughts and feelings
can
sometimes help shape the processes whereby others of us work out what we
think. I much appreciated Tim A's late post, referring to changing his
mind about the Rushdie fatwa, for
instance. Sometimes it can feel as though /debate/ consists of nothing
but
entrenched views grappling for the rhetorical upper hand, and
uncertainties are inadmissable. It is hopeful if on occasion unsettling
that understanding can change and develop, and that the
journey between even contrary positions can enlarge it. (Perhaps the
uncertain should be less scared to jump, then. Hm. Memo to self ...)
Anyway, somewhere around this idea, in this space, I do think it
possible
to maintain some optimism for the new year, even while we each try to
respond, in thought as well as deed, to a horrifying /natural/ disaster.
In west London today it's been dull as ditchwater, but now suddenly a
huge squall of wind. Off we go, out.
love,
elizabeth
>Oh well. It's all to do. Happy Year to you all. Rupert
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