The difference between Ted Kaczynski and I
Some thoughts I wrote down on Sunday’s flight back from SamSphere Kansas…
The first time I ever flew on a plane I was 22. Most people would find this fact rather odd. Yes, I agree. I’ve led a fairly grounded early life…arguably insular. Part of the reason, I suppose, lies in my parents. They don’t fly. Family vacations involved our old white ‘94 Suburban, limited - of course - to the contiguous United States. I don’t think my folks had, nor continue to have, any particular aversion to the mode of travel. They just don’t fly.
I’ve flown my fair share since 22 - recently, in fact, it’s been bordering on overkill what with five or so trips in the last couple months.
In any case, every time I fly - specifically, every time the plane launches from land and, thereby, surmounts gravity - I get this subtle (and yet, at the same time, mildly overwhelming) feeling of triumph, of pride in human ingenuity, innovation and determination. Our ability to transcend our biological and environmental situation, to conquer nature’s harsher, inconvenient elements and do what we want in a comfortable, timely fashion - it’s fucking awesome. I mean, excuse the f-bomb but, seriously, no other qualification will do. Yeah, you’re with me here!
Of course, the anti-consumerist, luddite crowd rejects such sentiments. They loathe industry, lament civilization and venerate pure nature, ignorant that it is the very ability to put distance between ourselves and nature (by, hark! - industry and civilization) that allows us to enjoy nature, an environment that is - more often than not - hostile to the human endeavor.
Anyways, I’m trying to understand this philosophy….
At the recommendation of TNCM, I’m currently reading Alston Chase’s biography of America’s most notorious - and arguably most violent and intelligent - luddite, Ted Kaczynski.
Kaczynski was the most intelligent killer in modern history, and unlike every other serial murderer, he killed not for the enjoyment of it but to promote ideas. (p.39)
Entitled Harvard and the Unabomber: The Education of an American Terrorist, Chase does - thus far - a great job of explaining the cause and effects of the Unabomber’s “revenge on the technological society”.
Expect more as I get through it. Point is, though, Kaczynski detested flight, and moreover, human progress. I, obviously, do not.
