Expelled

The above is an extended trailer for the upcoming Ben Stein film / documentary titled, "Expelled: No intelligence allowed." Movie trailers are notoriously poor representations of films' actual content, but my initial impression is that this is a critique not of Darwinist thinking itself (though elsewhere Stein has said that Darwin's "ideas led to genocide not once but many times"), but of our culture's open hostility toward those who question scientific dogma. Stein seems implicitly to second Mark Twain's observation, that "whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect."

A quick glance at the online reaction (update: here's some) suggests that the movie will be controversial, and the public discussion surrounding it will be reactive and uncivil. In short order, Ben Stein will be vilified as The Right's shabby response to Michael Moore (update: they did), an erroneous association.

The film may turn out in the end to be an anti-Darwinist piece, but the larger question is still well-considered: "Why do we demand that some popular ideas - even ideas grounded in empirical evidence - must not be questioned, and that other, minority beliefs must not be held at all?" If anything, the answer to that question suggests rigid limits to the essential American value most frequently given meaningless lip service: tolerance.

The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride (1987) is like an old friend with whom I share a large repertoire of inside jokes.

I am not left-handed, either.

Immortal Beloved

At the end of Ludwig van Beethoven's life in March of 1827, letters were found in his desk addressed to, "Immortal Beloved". The well-written 1994 film by that same name (trailer above) explores several theories regarding this woman's identity and why the two were never united.

It would seem that Beethoven had one true love, a "soulmate", and that a twist of fate kept them apart. The movie asserts that it was this source of passion, frustration and longing that fueled his anger and bitterness over the course of his life, resulting in some of the most transcendent music ever written.

I am fascinated by man's willingness (and capacity) to hold on to people, convictions and feelings indefinitely, even in the face of a contrary reality and long after hope is gone. The mystery to me is not that some people do hold on, but that some people do not. After all, what happened to Beethoven is not rare. Many, if not most people live their lives without that person or thing they care about the most. Apparently, there is a fine line between devotion and futility, just as there is a fine line between genius and insanity.

Here is one of Beethoven's letters to Immortal Beloved:

Though still in bed, my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved, now and then joyfully, then sadly, waiting to learn whether or not fate will hear us - I can live only wholly with you or not at all - Yes, I am resolved to wander so long away from you until I can fly to your arms and say that I am really at home with you, and can send my soul enwrapped in you into the land of spirits - Yes, unhappily it must be so - You will be the more contained since you know my fidelity to you. No one else can ever possess my heart - never - never - Oh God, why must one be parted from one whom one so loves. And yet my life in V is now a wretched life - Your love makes me at once the happiest and the unhappiest of men - At my age I nedd a steady, quiet life - can that be so in our connection? My angel, I have just been told that the mailcoach goes every day - therefore I must close at once so that you may receive the letter at once - Be calm, only by a clam consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together - Be calm - love me - today - yesterday - what tearful longings for you - you - you - my life - my all - farewell. Oh continue to love me - never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved.

ever thine
ever mine
ever ours