roachboy's remark on the importance of remembering both the great beauty in the world as well as its ugliness prompted me to wonder if there is a correlation between the two. In my experience, from what I (er) know, people who have a deep appreciation for mankind's capacity for love, kindness and artistic beauty also have a near or balanced awareness of its uglier, more brutal side.
While conversely perhaps, and I am just speculating, there are those who tend to avoid both extremes in favor of a safe and non-threatening even-keel sort of existence.
Maybe I, and others like me, are suffering from an as yet undiscovered bi-polar awareness syndrome.
And, roachboy, for a historian (am I right?) you talk like a Buddhist.
dc...very funny.
