April 13, 2009

• The Interview

  Northernskylights was kind enough to ask me some questions, which I now shall answer.

  There are rules: but I'll wait to the end to explain them.

  1. If you have your own factory, what would it make?
  It would make machines that dig wells, because having a well in your backyard can make a huge quality of life difference for someone who has to walk down the road to get water (then carry it back). Either that or carpet.

  2.If you could invite one special guest of honor to your birthday party, who would it be?
  Paulo Coelho. I've been wanting to talk to him anyway, so it would be a convenient time to do it. He is a Brazilian author who wrote The Alchemist and some other books; I consider him to be the world's greatest modern Romantic (in a philosophical sense): he has brought mysticism into the modern age. Speaking seriously, shouldn't I be the guest of honor at my birthday party?

  3. Name one person who had a profound influence in your life. State his/her influence.
  I want to put myself, since I somehow realized at a young age that I a person has to make their own way in life. On the other hand, I do learn from almost everyone I meet. Since you did not ask the person who influenced me the most, I will put down Thomas Huxley, a 19th century scientist who realized the connection between Christian, childlike humility and science. He said you must face truth and "sit down before fact as a little child, be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, follow humbly wherever or whatever abysses nature leads, or you will learn nothing."
  That sort of intellectual honesty is an essential part of science and knowledge. There was a time I really related to that strongly, and reading him saying that encouraged me.

  4.What is your favorite book? Why?
  Les Miserables. I perhaps could have put Jean Valjean as someone who had a profound influence on my life. He was true to himself, he did what he knew was right, even though it meant giving up his own life. Watching how hard he tried, against every setback to go take the place of the condemned man gave me courage. I used to tell myself things like, "if he can do that, surely I can follow him and do my homework!"
  Also it taught me to have compassion, and came back to me later when someone was telling me "criminals must be punished!" NO, the whole story is about people who were criminals, and wretched miserables, because they saw no other way. Once they saw another way, they changed. I think this book should be required reading for every lawyer and politician.

  5.If could go back and live in another era, what era would that be? And why?
  No, I wouldn't. Sure it would be fun to be a knight in shining armor fighting dragons or a vaquero on the Argentine steppes, but I'd probably just die of dysentery or a toe infection. Romantic stories of the past are fine, but I'll live my own exciting adventure in our modern day with penicillin and carpet, thankyou.

  Thankyou to NorthernSkyLights, visit her blog to learn about anthropology, society, and other interesting social issues!

  And if you would like to be interviewed by me, leave a comment! Do!

  Here are the rules:
  Rules:
  1 -- Leave a comment, saying you want to be interviewed.
  2 -- I will respond - I'll ask you five questions.
  3 -- You'll update your journal with my five questions, and your five answers.
  Remember to tag me so I can read it. (Actually, tag me or message me.)
  4 -- You'll include this explanation.
  5 -- You'll ask other people who want to be interviewed 5 questions.

  • 7:07 pm
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