Saturday, April 9, 2011

Isaiah's Job

       This is the title of an essay written more than 70 years ago, and yet I can think of few other bits of political writing that have seemed more relevant to me in recent years.  For all my good friends who care about their country and the world, and where they are and where they are going, I urge this upon you, right now, as a "must read."  It is only about twelve pages long -- less than the length of Thomas Paine's short (but immensely influential and effective) political pamphlet, Common Sense.  It will stick with you a lot longer than the little while it will take to read it, I promise.

       Among the many thought-provoking statements that the author makes, I especially like this paragraph that can be found toward the end of the essay:

. . . in any given society the Remnant are always so largely an unknown quantity. You do not know, and will never know, more than two things about them. You can be sure of those – dead sure, as our phrase is – but you will never be able to make even a respectable guess at anything else. You do not know, and will never know, who the Remnant are, nor what they are doing or will do. Two things you do know, and no more: First, that they exist; second, that they will find you. Except for these two certainties, working for the Remnant means working in impenetrable darkness; and this, I should say, is just the condition calculated most effectively to pique the interest of any prophet who is properly gifted with the imagination, insight and intellectual curiosity necessary to a successful pursuit of his trade.

        I look forward to your comments about "the Remnant," and "Isaiah's Job."  Even if there are only two things that you know, or will ever know.

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The author, Albert Jay Nock, is a very interesting person.  Read his essay at the link above, or google on the words "rockwell nock isaiah."  For additional perspective, I think you will enjoy this essay by Steven Yates.

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