as sanctimony is to religiosity, adherence to one's own views about social and political issues that insults brave people exercising their so-called right to free assembly and speech, be it for reasons of idealogical coherence or protest, has a flavour to my palate of 'i'm ok in my safe little world of numeracy and polymath(ology,ematics, i dunno where to land these last syllables!), and i snipe at those who aren't as knowledgeable as i, and who act in a manner i consider undignified'.

i find this as offensive as you find my defence of that which is 'sanctified' or sacrosanct, namely the protection of the species we are incarnate in.

basic darwin, really...

i have enjoyed your rapier wit, masterful command of english, mindblowingly assiduous dedication to the gentle art of blogging, brilliant timing, and unflagging devotion to making this et the consistently stimulating hangout it is, since its first days.

you are young, and freshly a parent. i have been there, and it is very stressful, as well as life-changingly miraculous.

there was an edge to your dismissal of the antinuke protestors that i found quite low, the kind of edge that i succumb to using when i am infuriated by the facts degondi reveals about italy, or when i react to much american domestic and foreign policy these days.

i feel somewhat sanctimonious on those occasions.

i know as little about so many things, as you know so much, migeru, and i love your presence here.

but just like i do, sometimes you lose the plot, imo, and i can defend myself, just as you can.

i don't have the kind of brain many of you guys here do, and i'm hungrily learning from your kind of wisdom.

however there is another kind of (crazy) wisdom that does hold some things sacred, and tries to reserve scorn and acrimony for those whose ideology seems life-threatening to us, who attack these views.

i will try to keep my sanctimony to a bare minimum, as i hate it in others!

sometimes i don't feel it taking me over till too late...

as for your question about my land;

i have 2.3 hectares, mixed forest and meadows, ranging from almost flat, to very steep.

there used to be about ten people living and working here, now i work it alone.

the people here grew a little wheat and fruits anad veggies, but mostly herded their pigs in the forest, grubbing acorns and chestnuts, and they also dried the chestnuts for milling into meal.

they used no chainsaws!

or bathroom...

it is poor land, suitable for sheep rather than growing crops. the good bottomland down on the valleyfloor is devoted to filling the coffers of rothman's and other tobacco companies.

as i am a vegan, and cityborn to boot, this lifechoice presents plenty of healthy challenge!

there are so many deserted, crumbling farms in italy....

villages that once held 2000, now down to 200.

many starved, many emigrated, many killed by the germans.

the best half of what they grew went to 'local government' (mezzadria), and the old farmers had to become expert at hiding things in order not to starve.

i've heard some very interesting stories from the old-timers who come up here to get some twigs for firestarters, mushrooms or wild chestnuts.

that is once i penetrated the dialect, as many of these folk are illiterate, and never learned to speak (tv) italian!

                                                     *

i spoke up for greenpeace, and i noticed shortly afterwards you started posting nice things about them.

maybe you'll have something happen to you that will cause you to use your human right to protest agin the powers-that-be, and i pray you use it, even if i am not in agreement with your (doubtless highly informed) reasoning.

and i hope no-one finds your sanctimony tiresome!

as for being tired, i am glad to say that one would never know that from your passionate commitment to making this site jump and crackle with energy!

thankyou again for your contributions


~Government budget deficits are not nearly as dangerous as the deficits we have created in vital and complex natural systems.~ Naomi Klein.