Another Reading Excursion

Several days ago I was at Half-Price Books (surprise). I came across a copy of Literature Lost by John M. Ellis. Its subtitle "Social Agendas and the Corruption of the Humanities" indicates that it is about topics like Deconstruction and Political Correctness. Normally these are topics I will not be commenting upon, but what made this book fascinating were the comments scribbled in by a previous owner. It is obvious that this person did not agree with the author. Unfortunately, the quality of those comments validates one of Ellis's main contentions: that the PC crowd is not interested in rational debate but instead relies on ad hominem arguments and invective. Comments like " uh no" and "oh puleez" add so much to our discourse. Sadly, it is a reflection of a greater problem in our society. We can say something is wrong or disgree without having to give a valid reason. A reason implies a thought not a feeling.