I lament for my generation . . . . . . . .

[Barnabas]

This thread reminds me of kaak vs adam smith

[Spec]

Originally posted by LordShiva
The point is, that over the course of a year,

True.



Spec.

[aneeshm]

Re: Re: I lament for my generation . . . . . . . .

Originally posted by Cort Haus


Seeing as the social class you are lamenting is to a large extent westernised, I would suggest that what you are witnessing is a malaise and lack of self-confidence in the western world generally.

For example, people are de-politicised to the extent of cynicism, and of those remaining interested, so few have the sanitised, squeeky-clean personal lives that are demanded, that they dare not run for office because of fear of some scandal.

I can't speak for India, but I see too many people who measure achievement by a sign on the door, or a job title, or a salary level, rather than actually doing something that made a genuine difference. People feel entitled to the esteem of success as if it was some kind of 'human right' rather than something to actually work for and earn.

I do worry that these days there's a tendancy to quit a difficult task at the first sign of getting "stressed out" by it. I wonder if that is the lack of backbone you are referring to.

Very true .

Nobody wants to think any longer , if thinking takes them into uncomfortable territory . At the first sign of intellectual discomfort or the first time your instinctive values are questioned , you quit . And this quitting is endemic . And people dislike others who think or force them to think .


A sea of apathy , that's what it is .

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by LordShiva
I'm interested in finding those examples of wonderful infrastructure that aneeshm thinks our older generation built for us (the ones we're taking apart bit by bit).

On the whole , you're right - they didn't build much , but neither are we building .

As for the example you want - The Golden Quadrilateral ?

[aneeshm]

Oh , and about this thread : Pure gold . I'm saving this one for eternity when it dies down .

[Eli]

Is this thread for real?

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Not if it's underground

Blast! Foiled again!

[Spec]

Originally posted by aneeshm
Oh , and about this thread : Pure gold . I'm saving this one for eternity when it dies down .

And I made it happen!



























Spec.

[Lorizael]

Spec, we get fringe benefits, not french benefits.

[pchang]

if she's hot

then french benefits are definitely more desirable.

[Flip McWho]

Ill waste a couple of minutes to prove to you Im right even though you could find the info your sefl but are to lazy to do so.

It's not really up to him to prove you right though. That's up to you, if you assert something and want it taken like seriously serious then you have to back it up unless it's bloody obvious.

[Spec]

Hey, its innocent until proven guilty, not guilty until proven innocent.

Spec.

[molly bloom]

Lamenting is so several millennia ago, man:

37 There were corpses floating in the Euphrates,
brigands roamed the roads.

The father turned away from his wife
without saying "O my wife!"

The mother turned away from her child
without saying "O my child!"

He who had a productive estate neglected his estate
without saying "O my estate!"

The rich man took an unfamiliar path away from his possessions.

In those days the kingship of the Land was defiled.

The tiara and crown that had been on the king's head
were both spoiled.

The lands that had followed the same path were split into disunity.


38 As the day grew dark, the eye of the sun was eclipsing, the people experienced hunger.

There was no beer in the beer-hall, there was no more malt for it.

There was no food for him in his palace, it was unsuitable to live in.

Grain did not fill his lofty storehouse, he could not save his life.

The grain-piles and granaries of Nanna held no grain.



39 Wine and syrup ceased to flow in the great dining hall.

The butcher's knife that used to slay oxen and sheep lay hungry in the grass.

Its mighty oven no longer cooked oxen and sheep, it no longer emitted the aroma of roasting meat.



40 The mortar, pestle and grinding stone lay idle; no one bent down over them.



41 The Shining Quay of Nanna was silted up.

The sound of water against the boat's prow ceased, there was no rejoicing.



42 The rushes grew, the rushes grew, the mourning reeds grew.

Boats and barges ceased docking at the Shining Quay.

Nothing moved on your watercourse which was fit for barges.



43 Its watercourse was empty, barges could not travel.



44 There were no paths on either of its banks, long grass grew there.



45 The reed huts were overrun, their walls were breached.

The cows and their young were captured and carried off to enemy territory.

The munzer-fed cows took an unfamiliar path in an open country that they did not know.

Gayau, who loves cows, dropped his weapon in the dung.

Cuni-dug, who stores butter and cheese, did not store butter and cheese.

Those who are unfamiliar with butter were churning the butter.

Those who are unfamiliar with milk were curdling the milk.

The sound of the churning vat did not resound in the cattle-pen.

'Lament For Sumer and Urim'

The lament for the downfall of Sumer and Urim records the disastrous fall of the gifted Third Dynasty of Sumer before the people of Elam and Sua, who invaded Sumer from mountainous regions to the north. Ur itself fell after a long and bloody siege, which is described within the lament.

http://www.humanistictexts.org/sumer.htm

Life is hard, aneeshm, then we all die.


Slightly more up to date:

William Dunbar. 1465–1520?

Lament for the Makers

I THAT in heill was and gladnèss
Am trublit now with great sickness
And feblit with infirmitie:—
Timor Mortis conturbat me.

Our plesance here is all vain glory,
This fals world is but transitory,
The flesh is bruckle, the Feynd is slee:—
Timor Mortis conturbat me.

The state of man does change and vary,
Now sound, now sick, now blyth, now sary,
Now dansand mirry, now like to die:—
Timor Mortis conturbat me.

No state in Erd here standis sicker;
As with the wynd wavis the wicker
So wannis this world's vanitie:—
Timor Mortis conturbat me.

and

Adieu, farewell earth's bliss,
This world uncertain is,
Fond are life's lustful joys,
Death proves them all but toys,
None from his darts can fly;
I am sick, I must die:

Lord, have mercy on us. ...

http://www.elizabethanauthors.com/summ2.htm

[Wycoff]

Indian women

[Spec]

Sure, if she's clean...