Author C. L. Sulzberger - “Our age of mediocrity is marked not only by an absence of outstanding men, but also by an absence of vigorous new ideas.”
Dean Acheson - “We are now in a period where there are mediocre men everywhere. People have opinions but no knowledge, and leaders are made in the image of the masses.”
André Malraux - “This is a sadly barren era: there are no great men in any field. . . . None in America, in Europe.”
Joseph Alsop - returning home right after Watergate, following a trip to Europe, Alsop noted that he'd always rejoiced such a return, leaving the pygmies he found in European capitals & returning to the vigorous political life of America. But after his post-Watergate return? In the Washington he returned to, “the pygmies now seem to reign supreme. Pygmy views on every subject are almost the only ones that are publicly heard.”
I could paraphrase the setting of the last quote because I remember when Joseph Alsop wrote it. Imagining the horror he would feel in our current poll-driven political reality.
Pygmies on the banks of the Potomac - in statehouses throughout our country - are one of many reasons it's more essential than ever to hone our ability to think critically rather that react emotionally.
Hillary is set to announce her candidacy today. Ted Cruz & Rand Paul are already in the hunt. And I am left without a single candidate who seems worthy of supporting.
Pygmies about, where & when greatness is needed. Alas, an exceptional America always sits right with the country, but exceptional intelligence & genuine leadership? They just doesn't poll well.
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