Friday, April 08, 2005
(9:13 AM) | Adam Kotsko:
Friday Afternoon Confessional: Indecision 2005
I confess that I feel like the American public on the eve of the 2000 election: torn between, on the one hand, a boring but hard-working candidate, and a candidate who presents himself as moderate and sensible, but could secretly be plotting to destroy everything we hold dear. I suppose that since Al Gore went to Vanderbilt Divinity School -- not bad that one of their alums is in the top five popular vote-getters in presidential history -- Vanderbilt might be the Al Gore of this scenario. Some worries have been expressed that if I go to Vanderbilt, I'll become a neo-con, but we must not forget that Francis Fukayama is the son of a former president of Chicago Theological Seminary. (Of course, since we're now switching which school is which candidate, how much better is a "third way" neo-liberal than a neo-con? Extraordinary rendition began under Clinton! And John Kerry did say, in those debates that I watched so avidly, "We need the Patriot Act." But now we're switching elections, too, which may be appropriate given that CTS is now a known quantity. Plus, Democrats are more fiscally responsible. Is it acceptable to make decisions based on arbitrarily chosen and unconvincing metaphors?)
I confess that I'm creeped out by the cat who likes to nibble on toes whenever anyone is barefoot. I'm worried about how guests will react once it gets warmer and people start wearing sandals more frequently. So, see -- that's a factor. Do I want to put up with my toes being nibbled for another year?
I confess that I've been spending way too much time on the computer lately. It has kept me from my reading of Lacan and The Shepherd of Hermas. Since I brought it up, I also confess that the "Apostolic Fathers" stuff is really, really weird. Those who complain that the newer identitarian theologies are not very rigorous or convincing should read the Apostolic Fathers and get back to me. Or they should read the "catholic epistles" in the New Testament, for that matter.
I need a haircut. I am also working up some momentum toward shaving off the beard, but I'm worried that I will then lose the super strength that allows me to do fifty push-ups a day (sometimes in a row!). Well, most days. I confess, in the health area, that I eat too much processed food because I am lazy.
I have to make my decision over the weekend. I'm leaving fairly soon to talk to Ted Jennings. After that, I will probably continue to talk to everyone who will listen: Anthony, Hayley, the cats, the ferrets, the guinea pig, the mail lady, the clerk at the post office, the barista, the guy at the bus stop, the cashier at Walgreen's, whoever happens to be signed on Instant Messenger, everyone in my e-mail contact list, my parents, my grandparents (both sides), my parents' dog, my grandparents' dog....
