Happy birthday America ! Patriotic versus protest songs .

a reply to: Greathouse


A couple of contributions.

a reply to: Greathouse

Is my point taken about Einstein?

What point would that be? That he was a mortal man with human failings?

I said earlier that you probably haven't identified my true colours correctly. Your question suggests I was right.

Myself I learn who I speak of before I hold them in reverence.

Indeed. I found the quotation I posted in a well-known biography of Einstein by Walter Isaacson, which I am in the course of reading. It is by no means my first acquaintance with the story of his life -- or with his work, which I studied as a physics student at university.

The letter to Mileva is famous, or rather notorious. But you are probably not aware of the deal Einstein cut with her after they became estranged: that when he won the Nobel Prize (as was, they both agreed, inevitable), he would give her all the prize money, so long as she supported him and continued to play the role of his wife until he did so.

Wow. First you accuse me of being a country music 'neophyte', then you assume I'm ignorant about Einstein. Well, I never shoot my mouth off on subjects with which I am not acquainted. Bear that in mind when next we meet.

As for holding people in reverence, I just don't do that. Admiration and respect I will give ungrudgingly when and where it is deserved, but I revere nothing and nobody.

And that, I suspect, is the most salient difference between you and me.

a reply to: Astyanax

You really can't let this go can you ???

For a second I thought you were reasonable my mistake !!!

So I will go back to the same word I use when I find myself in a circular debate .


Potato

a reply to: Greathouse

You really can't let this go can you ???

You asked me a question. Didn't you want an answer?

But never mind. I'll stop now and spare you further discomfiture. No doubt we'll meet again sooner or later.

a reply to: Astyanax

No discomfort here. All I feel for you is pity .