"You see, Sir, that in this enlightened age I am bold enough to confess that we are generally men of untaught feelings, that, instead of casting away all our old prejudices, we cherish them to a very considerable degree, and, to take more shame to our- selves, we cherish them because they are prejudices; and the longer they have lasted and the more generally they have pre- vailed, the more we cherish them. We are afraid to put men to live and trade each on his own private stock of reason, because we suspect that this stock in each man is small, and that the individuals would do better to avail themselves of the general bank and capital of nations and of ages. Many of our men of speculation, instead of exploding general prejudices, employ their sagacity to discover the latent wisdom which prevails in them. If they find what they seek, and they seldom fail, they think it more wise to continue the prejudice with the reason involved, than to cast away the coat of prejudice and to leave nothing but the naked reason; because prejudice, with its reason, has a motive to give action to that reason, and an affection which will give it permanence. Prejudice is of ready application in the emergency; it previously engages the mind in a steady course of wisdom and virtue and does not leave the man hesitating in the moment of decision skeptical, puzzled, and unresolved. Prejudice renders a man's virtue his habit, and not a series of unconnected acts. Through just prejudice, his duty becomes a part of his nature.
*-TO CONSIDER ANOTHER RELEVANT QUOTE OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY BRITISH STATESMAN THAT APPEARED IN A NUMBER OF PAST REPORTS TO THE INVOLVED AUTHORITIES--IRONICALLY, IN A STATEMENT TO THE THREE CANADIAN FEDERAL POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS OF THE TIME A WEEK BEFORE THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DISENTITLEMENT AGAINST MY "INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC WORK...ON A DIRECT BASIS" FOR THE WORLD'S CHILDREN WAS LEVIED--TAKE A BRIEF SIDESTEP HERE.
THERE IS A RELATED VIEW ON THIS SUBJECT OF NOTE AS I COMPLETE THE AUGUST, 2000 UPDATES.
WHETHER IT IS ONLY PRACTICAL IN A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE OR IF IT CAN BE RECONCILED AS A PRACTICE ON A BROADER BASIS, IN THIS "CONTEXT", REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
BUT ON THE SUBJECT OF "MEMORY," PLEASE NOTE THAT SUSAN SONTAG, THE AMERICAN AUTHOR AND ESSAYIST, OBSERVED (AS NOTED AT: http://www.cybernation.com/victory/quotations/authors/quotes_sontag_susan.html ) THAT:
" it's a pleasure to share one's memories. everything remembered is dear, endearing, touching, precious. at least the past is safe--though we didn't know it at the time. we know it now. because it's in the past; because we have survived."
ALSO OF NOTE AT MY AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE ABOUT MS. SONTAG IS WHAT YOU FIND IF YOU TAKE A BRIEF SIDESTEP HERE...WHICH LINKS TO SOMETHING ACTUALLY WRITTEN BY HER.
COINCIDENTALLY--OR AT LEAST THE TIMING WAS NOT ARRANGED BY ME--IN THAT SAME AUGUST 19, 2000 EDITION OF THE NEW YORK TIMES THAT CONTAINED MS. SONTAG'S PLEA FOR HER IMPRISONED FRIEND I FOUND THIS, WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE SEEM UNRELATED:
To the Editor:
Why do some people think that certain cruel practices--like whale-hunting and -eating--are justified simply because they're traditional (letter, Aug. 15)?
Given this convoluted line of thought, we should condone child labor, the oppression of women and slavery--all customary in some societies.
SIMON CHAITOWITZ
Washington, Aug. 15, 2000
FOR A COPY OF THE AUGUST 11, 1982 'UMPIRE'S DECISION' BY
JUSTICE J. JEROME SEE:
'Decisions Of The Umpire CUB 7900-7999 1982-83'
AVAILABLE IN THE CENTRAL LIBRARIES OF EVERY SIGNIFICANT POPULATION CENTRE IN CANADA.
AND, I FOUND OUT (FROM A VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY LIBRARIAN) IN THE FIRST SPRING OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM, THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT HAS NOW POSTED THE 'Decisions Of The Umpire' ON THE INTERNET.
I HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO FIND THE DECISION RENDERED IN MY CASE, BUT IF INDUSTRIOUS PEOPLE WITH INVESTIGATIVE MINDS WANT TO SPEND THE TIME, GO TO:
http://www.ei-ae.gc/umpire/Utheact_e.shtml
INCIDENTALLY, THE FIRST TWO LINES OF THAT COURT DECISION ARE:
"Mr. Gordon Wong did not appear.*
Ms. Roslyn Levine appeared for the Department of Justice."
...YOU'RE WONDERING WHO THE JUSTICE MINISTER WAS ON AUGUST 11,
1982?
FROM 'CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY GUIDE 1990 EDITION':
CHRETIEN,HON. JOSEPH JACQUES JEAN, P.C., Q.C., B.A., LL.L.
B. Shawinigan, Que., S. of Wellie Chretien and Marie Boisvert,
Ed. at Laval Univ. Hon. LL.D.: Laurentian Univ., Wilfred Laurier
Univ., Univ. of Alta., York Univer. and Lakehead Univ. M. Sept.
10, 1957 to Aline dau. of Albert Chaine (Shawinigan). Three
children: France, Hubert and Michel. A lawyer. Legislative
Career: First elected to the H. of C. g.e. 1963. Re-elected
g.e. 1965, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1979, 1980, and 1984. Resigned
from the H. of C. Feb. 27, 1986. Sworn to the Privy Council
Apr. 4, 1967 (R. Hon. L. Pearson). Apptd.: Parl. Sec. to Prime
Min. July 17, 1965 and to Min. of Finance, Jan. 9, 1966. Apptd.:
Mem. of the Admin., Apr. 4, 1967; Min. of National Revenue, Jan.
18, to July 6, 1968; Min. of Indian Affairs and Northern Devel-
opment, July 6, 1968 to Aug. 8, 1974; Pres. of the Treasury
Bd., Aug. 8, 1974; Min. of Industry, Trade and Commerce, Sept.
14, 1976; Min. of Finance, Sept. 16, 1977; Min. of Justice and
Attorney Gen. of Can. and Min. of State for Social Devel., Mar.
3, 1980; Min. of Energy, Mines and Resources, Sept. 10, 1982 and
Deputy Prime Min. and Sec. of State for External Affairs, July
1, 1984. Apptd. Official Opposition Critic for External Affairs,
Sept. 1984. Vice pres. Lib. Students of Can., 1957-58. Cand.
for Leadership of Lib. Party of Can. June 1984 and def. Leader-
ship cand., June 1990. Private career: Mem. Ont., Que. and Man.
Bars. Dir. Bar of Trois-Rivieres, Que., 1962-63. Mem.: C. of C.
(Junior and Senior), Shawinigan Golf Club and Rotary. Party:
Lib. Relig.: R.C. Address: 1 Bower, Ottawa, Ont.
TO SEE HOW A PERSON'S PAST CARRIES FORWARD INTO THE PRESENT AND FUTURE
AFFECTING "ALL OF US", TAKE A BRIEF SIDESTEP HERE.