Light On Dark Water

More Stuff I See On the Way to Work

This morning I saw a car that had a big sticker saying “Dog Is Love,” and some other dog-fanatic message that I can’t remember now. Well, fine, I like dogs, too, but I wondered if this person really meant the implicit putdown of Christianity (“God is love, and he who lives in love lives in God, and God in him”). Then I noticed that the car also had one of those Darwin-fish emblems. You know what I mean if you drive in this country: it’s a parody of the Christian icthus symbol, with Darwin’s name in place of the Greek letters (also little feet–fish evolving into amphibian). 

The Darwin fish seems to be pretty popular, which means a lot of people consider it a pretty good jibe, but it’s always struck me as a massively ineffective one, because it’s so asymmetrical. It’s like an envious person saying “Well, you may be rich, but I have a coupon for a free order of fries at McDonald’s.” It suggests that the person displaying it puts in Darwin or Darwinism the same sort of faith that a Christian puts in God, which is just sort of sad. He would be better off putting faith in his dog–at least the dog knows who he is, and loves him. In the case of the owner of this car, the dog might be a better philosopher than the master.

Maclin Horton

13 responses to “More Stuff I See On the Way to Work”

  1. Janet Cupo

    What I saw on the way to work was an absolutely gorgeous sunrise. Good thing I wasn’t driving.
    AMDG

    Reply
  2. Louise

    LOL!

    Reply
  3. Louise

    although there is that funny joke about an insomniac, dyslexic philosopher who lies awake in bed all night wondering if there is a dog.

    Reply
  4. Louise

    you know, the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that The West is just in some kind of rocky Midlife Crisis.

    Reply
  5. Janet

    This morning on the way to work, I saw mist everywhere–rising from fields and lakes–pouring over the road. It always makes me think of that poem–One misty, moisty morning when cloudy was the weather. I see that Steeleye Span recorded that, but since I’m in the library I can’t listen to it.
    AMDG

    Reply
  6. Craig

    This morning on the way to work I saw at least six separate road construction crews blocking traffic, two near accidents, and the fine print on a great many rear licence plates. Sigh.

    Reply
  7. Paul

    As I said on Facebook: I often see dumper trucks on my way to work, near the church that’s being renovated.

    Reply
  8. Mac

    This morning on the way to work I saw mist, too, but it was red.

    Reply
  9. Mac

    “The West is just in some kind of rocky Midlife Crisis.”
    Hmm, that’s a pretty interesting observation. Something to it, I think. How are we going to come out of it? Wiser, or fulfilling “no fool like an old fool”?

    Reply
  10. Louise

    How are we going to come out of it? Wiser, or fulfilling “no fool like an old fool”?
    The former, let us hope.

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  11. Mac

    Indications currently point much more to the latter, but there are some people moving the other way–a pretty small minority of course.

    Reply
  12. Louise

    But… a creative minority? I’m a big fan of reality. I really believe that at some point, Reality has to reassert itself (Himself?)
    I agree, however, that current signs are not good.

    Reply
  13. Mac

    That will certainly happen eventually. The question is how hard the blow of reality will be, or, conversely, how sensitive to it our civilization will be. In other words, will we have to continue on over the cliff and strike the bottom before we realize we’re on the wrong path? History is not comforting in that respect.

    Reply

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