Ghost of a flea: What we do in life echoes in Eternity

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December 23, 2006

What we do in life echoes in Eternity

It seems an appropriate time of year to call to mind the debt we owe to Robert Heinlein and some of the ways in which we might repay him; starting with a robust defense of Starship Troopers. Spider Robinson's thoughts on the subject are always worth re-reading (via InstaPundit).

Simply put, we can all do the best we personally can to assure that the country Robert Heinlein lives in is not ruined. I think he would take it kindly if we were all to refrain from abandoning civilization as a failed experiment that requires too much hard work. (I think he'll make out okay even if we don't—but he'd be a lot less comfortable.) I think he would be pleased if we abandoned the silly delusion that there are any passengers on Starship Earth, and took up our responsibilities as crewmen—as he has.

Which occasionally involves giving the Admiral your respectful attention. Even when the old fart's informed opinions conflict with your own ignorant prejudices.

The only real fear I have lies in the apparent abandonment of civilization I hear whenever I, for example, listen to the BBC. They have taken a great deal of time to perfect their elocution when it comes to Orcish names and the Black Speech (yes, I stray from Heinlein) and yet still manage to mispronounce Wolfowitz; one suspects intent rather than error. Flea-readers might consider this fine, animated History of Religion in 90 seconds. Go blue team!

Posted by Ghost of a flea at December 23, 2006 11:11 AM

Comments

I like how in that religion map everybody peacefully spreads out, all "live and let live" for thousands of years. Then all the sudden Muslim Conquest! Muslim Conquest! Muslim Conquest!

Posted by: chaika at December 23, 2006 10:02 PM

Well, that's what it was.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at December 24, 2006 08:01 AM

Oops -- now with my real url. Darned browser -- I have to clear my saved info again.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at December 24, 2006 08:01 AM

I just wish the movie version of Starship Troopers was so appallingly bad.

Posted by: Andrew Ian Dodge at December 24, 2006 09:39 AM

In fairness, it must be admitted much of the blue territory was also taken by conquest. The point is that the blue bits are now those places most likely to support literacy, longevity, women's suffrage, etc. and so forth. If the reverse was true and the green parts of the map had produced anything equivalent the Arabic speaking parts of the internet would be more concerned with dieting and celebrity news than grievance and slaughter.

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at December 24, 2006 03:38 PM