Solzhenitsyn Dies, and Anarchism & Libertarianism

Solzhenitsyn has died at the age of 89. I don’t know how his political philosophy should be described in a few words. A symbol against the Stalin type of Soviet totalitarianism and for Slave solidarity, he vocally advocated the freedom of men. But it certainly did not mean to applause and accept the society of the West.

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赤塚不二夫も亡くなった。自分が「黒柳徹子」を知ったのは、赤塚作の「おそ松くん」のおかあさん役声優としてだった。あんまり関係ないけど、京都「バル・ビル」近くのスナック「あるまじろ」でときどき会った府立医科大病院の先生が赤塚不二夫の風貌に似ていたので、勝手に「赤塚さん」と呼んでいた。20年以上前の話。

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The word, “anarchism” gives me some negative connotations perhaps because of the few anarchists who were the philosophical pillar for those young soldiers who plotted to topple the parliamentary democracy before the war. However, reading Chomsky, I belatedly realized that anarchism is closely related to libertarianism, even though both thoughts are hard to define. A few things that can be said about the two are deep suspicion toward “authority” and a strong advocacy for individual freedom. If this is true, my own attitude, and sadly not action always, conforms to them. The popular labels attached to anarchism are those of extreme left-wing and attached to libertarianism to conservatism (right or left and I don’t know where I got this idea), which confuses us as Ronald Reagan, an arch-conservative and believer of strong defence, fervently advocated in smaller government, personal freedom and capitalist society.

Chomsky talked long about the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), the themes of Orwell’s “Homage to Catalonia” and Koestler’s “Scum of the Earth,” both of which I read some time ago. I’m still very much jejune in understanding the intricacies of the revolution, and anarchism.

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「元田昌義」で検索して、このブログに到達した方、何とも「マイナー」ですね。でも、先日の「宿痾の指揮マネ病」と同様に「同志」のような気がします。ありがとうございます。

（写真：漬物になる前のセロリ、ピーマン（赤、黄、緑）とにんじん。あんまりうまくない……。）