Never gave this much thought before...........

 

.........................but the difference between tradition and convention is worth pondering.

Ah, tradition.......................

 Of course, I have noticed that what I think does not control the workings of the universe, doubtless a cosmic oversight of some sort. Still, it might be a good idea to think things through before undertaking them. Granted, this would be a break with tradition, but a little adventure spices up life.

-Fred Reed

a precious inheritance...............

      In all those ways modern conservatism arose as a defence of the individual against potential oppressors, and an endorsement of popular sovereignty.  However, it opposed the view that political order is founded on a contract, as well as the parallel suggestion that the individual enjoys freedom, sovereignty and rights in a state of nature, and can throw off the burden of social and political membership, and start again from a condition of absolute freedom.  For the conservative, human beings come into this world burdened by obligations, and subject to institutions and traditions that contain within them a precious inheritance of wisdom, without which the exercise of freedom is likely to destroy human rights and entitlements as to enhance them.

-Roger Scruton, Conservatism: An Invitation to the Great Tradition

mental factions......................

      There are minds that, having risen beyond primitive, unthinking orthodoxies, often merely turn to a rejection of the traditional.  Whoever has made this apparent advance is convinced that he or she has reached a superior condition.  Minds that have improved their knowledge and remained open to more have indeed progressed.  But we often find those who have achieved a critical attitude to the traditional have also adopted a largely, or wholly, uncritical attitude to untried, or even failed, alternatives whose attraction so verbal rather than real.

     "Special interests" are often, and sometimes rightly, indicted for various social and other offenses.  But, of course, special interests are not necessarily economic.  What may reasonably be called interest groups could equally be emotional or mental factions, that is, insistent minorities in society.  Often, what is more, they themselves feel pressure from their own extremer wings—that is to say, a minority within a minority.  Greed is only one of the deadly sins.

-Robert Conquest, The Dragons of Expectation:  Reality and Delusion in the Course of History

thanks Michael

Two realms.....................

 In the realm of tradition, truth is something that precedes individual human beings, something we inherit and must hand down, in turn.  We can discover truth and reason about it, to be sure, but we can't change it.  In the realm of progress, however, truth is what individuals or groups can articulate or build on their own, through scientific inquiry and their acts in history.  Truth thus becomes an ongoing project, a malleable thing.  In our realm of progress, tradition is viewed as not only antiquated and inefficient, but as an impediment to achievement.

     But what if that confidence of the modern world is an illusion, the product of a determined resolution not to confront the fundamental dilemmas of what it means to be fully human?  Or what if beneath the moderns' complacency lurks a deep soul-soreness?

     Pick your favorite negatively trending social indicator—loneliness, alienation, addiction, polarization, etc.—and the dire message is the same: the realm of progress can't fulfill our soul's yearning or satisfy our urge to put ourselves right with the sacred.

-Sohrab Ahmari, The Unbroken Thread: Discovering the Wisdom of Tradition in an Age of Chaos

against a culture.........................

 How do I transmit to my son the value of permanent ideals against a culture that will tell him that whatever is newest is also best, that everything is negotiable and subject to contract and consent, that there is no purpose to our common life but to fulfill his desires?  How do I reinforce that fragile thread linking my son to a life of humane obligations and responsibilities?  To a life anchored in stable and unchangeable ideals?  To a life, in other words, filled with the goods secured by tradition?

-Sohrab Ahmari,  The Unbroken Tread: Discovering the Wisdom of Tradition in an Age of Chaos

Quest.............................

 . . . the Western dream of autonomy and choice without limits is, in fact, a prison; that the quest to define ourselves on our own is a kind of El Dorado, driving to madness the many who seek after it; that for our best, highest selves to soar, other parts of us must be tied down, enclosed, limited, bound.

-Sohrab Ahmari,  The Unbroken Thread: Discovering the Wisdom of Tradition in an Age of Chaos

      

Traditions............................

..........................................The Courthouse lighting:  this is how we know Christmas is coming to Licking County

but it just might give them a better chance at having a life filled with grace and joy...

But the world looks different from the perspective of middle age. In her last 19 months of life, Ruthie showed me that I now had important work to do back home. Hers was a work of stewardship—of taking care of the land, the family, and the people in the community. By loving them all faithfully and tending them with steadfast care, Ruthie accomplished something countercultural, even revolutionary in our restless age.

-Rod Dreher, from this incredible essay on life its ownself

Now here's...........................

...........................................................a tradition worth emulating.

a long-standing human tradition.............

"...there is a long-standing human tradition to become so enthusiastic about a favoured scientific, religious or superstitious explanation for the world as to close your mind and come to hate those who disagree.  We have seen it far too often to ignore it, and scientists have shown themselves no better than the rest of us at resisting the urge."

-Matt Ridley

The art of the insult................................

...........is an honored tradition among Great Britain's political class.

"An empty taxi arrived at 10 Downing Street, and when the door was opened, Attlee got out." 

"A sheep in sheep's clothing."

-two comments by Winston Churchill about Clement Attlee

more fun with words here

Traditions........................

As annual traditions go, this is a pretty good one.  My Sweetie and I are in the habit of spending a week on Hilton Head Island during the summer.  For the fourth (or maybe the fifth - who can remember these things) year in a row, one evening was reserved for a rendezvous with Aiken/Augusta based Intertunnel friends, Doug Eclecticity Fine and Ray the not-so-simple-Village Undertaker Visotski.  Previous meetings were held at the now defunct Lobster House in Allendale, S.C.  A new venue was sought - and found.  We now have a favorite hangout in Hampton, S.C.  Do visit Will's if you ever pass through Hampton.
      Once-a-year meetings are interesting.  Just enough time to catch up on work, family, pets, our latest music and readings, favorite blog posts, and life its ownself;  sharing a brief snapshot of our lives, and renewing friendships.  It is a blessing.

A new venue

Nobody knew our names, but they were friendly anyway

Ray gritted his teeth for a photo under a Clemson banner

Doug sucked it up for a picture under a USC banner.  Rivalries are great.

Hampton is about half way.  The longest part of the trip was
getting off the Island in heavy traffic.

Just because.......................................

Guy Lombardo and The Royal Canadians.....Auld Lang Syne

Happy Turkey Day.................................

Bill Clinton...............................Thanksgiving Turkey Pardon

Inquiring minds want to know............

............................what's with this Easter bunny and egg thing?

via

The real answer is nobody knows for sure.  Here are some good guesses.

It's a tradition.......................

U2........................................................New Year's Day




here is last years version

Traditions................................

For those of you......................

.........who don't believe Thanksgiving is over until you have listened to the whole of Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant, but didn't want to take the time to do it yesterday - here 'tis:

Granville's 4th of July Parade, a local tradition.....

Here comes the Parade.  Weather looks iffy

The Color Guard

Not as easy as he made it look

The fire departments were well represented.  Here comes the rain

The fabulous Licking County 4-H Band

Don't ask.  Don't know

The Shriner's jet is a long time fixture at local parades

Ecumenical spirit reigns.  Kiwanis sponsored parade, big Rotary float