nod and smile all opinions are equal

nod and smile all opinions are equal

fiction
edward w pritchard

On you tube an author I admire and like to read,  Paul Theroux,  a few years ago gave an interview expressing his opinion that the American south has been injured by globalism and that three states in particular Alabama, Mississippi and parts of South Carolina have pockets of poverty on a scale comparable to Africa. Mr. Theroux has years of experience traveling in all part of the world which qualifies him in my opinion to state his thoughts on globalism and poverty in America or elsewhere however I disagree with his assessment although I nod and smile in that all opinions are equal and add to the debate on what is the good life, what constitutes happiness and what is a just society. He has a valid point concerning globalism and job loss.

Lately in the news media the subject of poverty in America has grown more quiet because of the clamor of economists claiming we are at full employment which alleviates the need for any concern or discussion on poverty and fairness in America.

If I may weigh in on the subject- people are different- some cherish the American dream-some wish to take to the woods, refurbish an $1800 dollar trailer without running water, use a wood burning stove and composting toilet to save money and the environment and live their life as they choose to.
Sometimes such a property looks a bit rundown as do a lot of houses five miles out of an American city.

As for Paul Theroux's observations, first watch his interview and notice that the pockets of poverty shots in the film could be anywhere, and like Mr. Theroux I like to travel and and I often desire to be different and desire to be elsewhere [1]. I own about a dozen books written by Paul Theroux and have shared with him during my readings of his works his suffering during his divorce and the slights to his reputation he had to endure in Singapore and elsewhere. I know he always has a point of view which he is not afraid to state.

Nod and smile all opinions are equal and seldom does a  philosopher change his opinions based on reasonable arguments from the other side of the issue in question.

[1] attributed to Nietzsche

[2] this author has traveled in Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina