Richmond West, literature and philosophy

The Paradox that is my Writing Life

bamaphilosopher — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:38:17 +0000

Hello, patient reader. Oh, that I can be as patient as an author.

I wanted to mention a paradox I find myself struggling with, especially as a cultural critic who is thus not very popular during his time. After all, I am critical of our society’s militarism, as well as our sexual harassment and mental health industries. Plus, I push to be very libertarian on sexual issues, in a society that does not seem to me to be very open in regard to sexuality. Thus, I find myself in the odd position, based on poor reception, of being ashamed of my work, giving it away to friends and yet apologizing to them for it.

At the same time, I wouldn’t be writing if I didn’t believe I have a tremendous gift for it, along with a hope that my writing will indeed find an audience in the future…when the time is right. In other words: in God’s time, not in my time. But I even had the gall to submit my novel Witch Hunt for the Pulitzer Prize! I know it is too polemical and political to stand a snowball’s chance in hell, and yet I believe in its quality. Hence, submitting it for the Pulitzer, knowing it has no chance, is a simple statement for myself that I believe it is good enough to win in terms of quality, if not for the political aspects of the award.

Thus, I think my writing’s great, but I think no one else will think that in my lifetime. And therein lies the paradox: I think I have a gift given by God, an inspired muse of genius; and yet I have been humbled to the point of being ashamed of my writing. And so I just keep writing, knowing no one will read me unless I give my books away.

This is the paradox of my writing life.

My books now available on Kindle as well as Amazon

bamaphilosopher — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:09:08 +0000

All three of my published books are now available on Kindle as well as Amazon, meaning you can have digital access and can even sample the beginnings of each book for free! So please give them a try.

For the links, visit my website, www.richmondwest.net.

Thanks so much for taking an interest in my work. My fans mean so much to me.

Love and Compassion Always,

Richmond West

NCAA concerns (Alabama related)

bamaphilosopher — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:31:44 +0000

Hey, folks! As you may know, I am from Alabama and am an Alabama football fan. Recently, Alabama was hit yet again with very harsh penalties by the NCAA, and I think what Alabama has been through has been unfair. So I wrote this to Dr. Paul Dee, head of the NCAA Committee on Infractions, and I wanted to share it on my blog:

Dear Dr. Dee,

I am a teacher in ethics and philosophy, and currently a Ph.D. student in Philosophy and Literature at Purdue University. If you do take the time to read this, I appreciate it very much. I have been observing NCAA infractions cases of late, and I have cause for alarm and concern, and, though I am sure this will do little good, I nevertheless feel compelled to write you about my concerns.

In particular, I have noticed that the NCAA seems to hammer some schools, while leaving others absolutely alone. This seems like a very biased system, based on revenge and spite, rather than uniformity and consistency. I’ll be the first to admit that life isn’t fair, and that there is no system that can ultimately be fair. However, the NCAA’s system causes me great alarm, as there seems to be no attempt whatsoever at fairness, but rather at “making examples” selectively of some schools, while turning a blind eye toward others. And there is no attempt at uniformity of penalties, which seems to me to be very important, from an ethical standpoint.

Take, for example, the University of Alabama of late: twice, this University acted proactively and was ultimately severely punished for doing so. In the Beamon case, an assistant coach tried to get boosters to pay for a player, the boosters turned the coach in, and the coach was fired. The result? The window was extended for the school, leading to far harsher penalties in a later case.

Then, this recent book scandal case, which the University again acted proactively and cooperated with the NCAA, only to be penalized harshly.

On the other hand, schools that do not cooperate with the NCAA fare far better. What kind of message does this send? As an ethicist myself, I am concerned that the message you send is this: it is better to cover up things than follow the rules. This is a dangerous message to be sending in the field of college athletics.

Thus, the University of Alabama is now in danger of the death penalty, for being proactive. How does this make sense?

Please consider the following two cases, far more severe than athletes giving away textbooks that were returned, in which the NCAA turned an absolute blind eye. The following is taken from http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/extras/2009/ferpaextras.html:

“Those who call out schools for breaking NCAA rules often find themselves ostracized by fans, their communities and their own universities. While the NCAA won’t publicly name whistleblowers, they often become known through other sources, including newspaper stories, court records, and even university officials. Some go public on their own after their allegations are dismissed by school officials. Here are some of their stories:

“Linda Bensel-Meyers
“School: Tennessee
“Job: English professor

“Allegation: She accused football players of academic fraud in an 1999 ESPN.com report, saying that papers were being plagiarized and athletes were receiving grades they didn’t earn.

“Allegation: Tennessee launched its own investigation and forwarded the results to the NCAA, which investigated the matter but dropped the case in March 2000. Bensel-Meyers said she was prevented by then-UT President Wade Gilley from showing allegedly damaging academic records to an NCAA investigator. Two years later, syndicated Tennessee journalist Bob Gilbert said he had papers given to him by Bensel-Meyers that showed a clear and consistent pattern of academic fraud at Tennessee. Again, the NCAA found no reason to punish the university.

“Personal fallout: Bensel-Meyers received death threats, some involving her children. She said her office was burglarized and her phone line tapped. People spat on her. Air was let out of her car’s tires. She moved to Colorado in 2002, where she now works as an associate professor at the University of Denver. Her husband refused to leave, she said, so they divorced. Her two oldest sons, who were finishing high school, also stayed in Tennessee. Bensel-Meyers has twice undergone operations for digestive tract issues she said were related to the stress caused by her coming forward.

…

“James Gundlach
“School: Auburn
“Job: Sociology professor

“Allegation: He made allegations in a 2006 New York Times story that 18 members of the undefeated 2004 Auburn football team, including star running back Cadillac Williams, took a combined 97 hours of sociology professor Thomas Petee’s courses during their careers. Petee was accused of helping football players stay eligible by offering independent study classes that required little work or no work.

“NCAA action: Auburn promptly conducted an internal investigation and cleared athletics officials of any wrongdoing in 2006. Two years later, the NCAA found no major rules violations or instances of academic fraud in its review of independent-study courses at Auburn. Although the NCAA said the school was guilty of secondary infractions, no penalties were imposed on Auburn.

“Personal fallout: Gundlach was vilified by Auburn fans. He received numerous hate e-mails and said the university tried to discredit him. A former Auburn player said the professor’s accusations were “total lies” and questioned his motives. Gundlach said he also received a lot of public support. He has since retired after 30-plus years of teaching at the university. Gundlach received the Drake Group’s 2008 Robert Maynard Hutchins Award, which honors an individual “who has shown courage in standing up for academic integrity in the face of commercialized college sports.” ”

Again, I know life isn’t fair.

But surely an organization like the NCAA should be concerned with fairness across the board, not picking on certain schools while turning a blind eye toward others.
And I know our criminal justice system isn’t fair, but at least there should be attempts to make sure there is uniformity in punishment.

Your Committee on Infractions unfortunately has a history of simply choosing whatever punishment it feels like. There is no uniformity. There is no attempt at consistency.

Surely, as a law school professor yourself, you must be concerned about this?

Thank you for your time.

Yours,

Richmond West, Ph.D. student in Philosophy and Literature, and teacher in ethics and philosophy

Dostoyevsky…the kind of writer I want to be

bamaphilosopher — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:23:11 +0000

Hey, folks!

Plodding through more of my Philosophy and Literature Ph.D. program, I have discovered a real love for Dostoyevsky! I recently read Notes from Underground and Crime and Punishment to do a report for my Existentialism class. And though I haven’t read The Brothers Karamazov yet (it’s on my summer reading list), which is just humongous, I have watched the movie version (with Yul Brenner and, in his first role: William Shatner!).

I think a great idea for an Intro to Philosophy or Existentialism class is to have them watch the movie (maybe in two sessions – it’s 2 1/2 hours long), and then read “The Grand Inquisitor” section (a shorter piece in the middle of the novel). “The Grand Inquisitor” is not near as understandable if you don’t know the whole story, but the novel is just too lengthy for undergrads, I think, so having them see the movie and then reading “The Grand Inquisitor” would work really well, I think.

Another thing that might work really well, whenever discussing Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, is watching Alfred Hitchcock’s movie Rope. That is a classic movie, with Jimmy Stewart no less, and the writer obviously read and drew form Crime and Punishment. The philosophy behind the murders (great men are above the law and can hence commit murder – something like a perverted form of Nietzsche’s overman) is almost exactly what Raskolnikov expresses in Crime and Punishment.

Another great movie for an existentialism class? Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal, which I watched for the first time this semester. Wow, what a classic! The unfulfilled existentialist search for meaning in the face of death…it’s all there.

Back to Dostoyevsky. Dostoyevsky…his characters are so weird, so flawed, so tragic, so irrational, so…human! And he always so deeply explores issues of good and evil, and redemption through suffering. Yes, that’s just the kind of philosophical writer I aspire to be! I’m not saying I’ve every written any characters as complex as Dostoyevsky (I sure hope I’ve gotten close with Witch Hunt), but Dostoyevsky is definitely now one of my stylistic role models, along with Kierkegaard and Nietzsche. Ah, well, enough of my existentialist ramblings for now.

(My newest novel, Witch Hunt, is now available on Amazon. If you want to take a look, check out my website, www.richmondwest.net, which has a description and a link to the Amazon site.)

Love and Compassion Always, Richmond

Three Parables

bamaphilosopher — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:33:34 +0000

Three parables: The Parable of the Stolen Muse, How the Runner Got Lost, and Is It Possible to Swim the Pacific Ocean?

The Parable of the Stolen Muse

Once, in the ancient world of Chronos, there lived a poor shepherd boy. He barely had a penny to his name, but he cared not for such things. Often he would pass a river, a beautiful, flowing river. Whenever he was thirsty, he would drink from it. And the water was so refreshing, so pure. It replenished him in ways beyond imagination.

One day, as he passed the river, he reached into his pocket, and realized he had but three pennies left. But he cared not for such things.

This river, this beautiful river, deserves these more than I, the poor waif thought on a whim. And so he tossed his three pennies into the river. He had nothing left in his pocket. And he went on his merry way. Foolish, perhaps, but happy.

Another day, as the poor waif passed the river, he saw a beautiful woman bathing. He felt guilty for looking at her naked body, but he could not help himself. He was mesmerized, enthralled…she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Enticed beyond imagination, he tried to get closer.

But a twig snapped.

In deep shame, the poor boy closed his eyes, hoping somehow to disappear. He was sure the woman would be angry. And so he thought about just running away.

But when he opened his eyes, he saw that she was smiling at him. Her eyes were as blue as the river, as if they were part of the river.

“Hello, shepherd boy,” the dazzlingly beautiful woman said. “Did I see you the other day, throwing your last three pennies away? Some would say that was rather foolish.”

“Well, I, uh…I didn’t care. I don’t care much for money,” the shepherd boy said.

“I am the Goddess of the River,” she said. “Thank you for the pennies. That was very sweet. I’d like to give you something in return. Here, let me slip this into your pocket. There. You may go now.” The woman dove into the river and disappeared, and the embarrassed waif went on his merry way.

Several days passed, and then the poor boy went into town one day. He saw a poor beggar woman, holding a cup and asking for handouts. The poor boy glanced into the cup, and saw that the poor woman had but three pennies to her name.

“It will be cold tonight,” the poor boy said, “but I have a warm stack of hay under some shelter – you can sleep there if you like.”

“Thank you,” the poor woman said. And so the boy took her home.

When she disrobed, the boy realized she was a woman of stunning beauty. Enchanted, enthralled, his heart beat very fast.

“I would like to date you, poor shepherd boy,” the beautiful woman said.

The boy loved the sound of that. He had never seen anyone so beautiful. But alas, his heart was clouded with doubt.

“Beautiful maiden, I would never be able to keep you. No one would ever believe we belonged together. Surely someone will steal you away from me, for you have such awesome beauty, and I am but a poor shepherd boy.”

“That may be so,” the dazzling woman said with a smile. “But you’re my shepherd boy. Just make sure, as we walk together, that you tell everyone you know about me. And every once in a while, check your pockets.” And then she winked.

As the beautiful woman held the poor boy’s hand, they walked around town together. As he had been instructed, he told all his friends, and even some strangers, about his new love.

Alas, as the poor boy feared, this striking woman of great beauty began to attract the attention of numerous men. He would see them watching her. Soon he realized he would never be able to keep her.

As expected, one night some men in hoods came and stole her away. The boy watched in sorrow as they took her, knowing he was powerless to stop them. For some odd reason, though, the woman was smiling. In fact, the poor boy thought he saw the woman wink at him. But after she was carried away, the poor waif thought he had just imagined the wink.

In fact, in the days ahead, several men came by and told the poor boy that he was just imagining things. “Surely you are not right in the head,” they would say. “Maybe you need medicine.” And on some days, the poor boy would believe them.

Soon, in great sorrow, the poor boy could hardly sleep. He wandered around looking destitute. This caught the attention of several people, who worried that the boy wasn’t sleeping.

One day a stranger saw the boy.

“Are you not getting enough sleep?” the stranger asked.

“No, I guess not,” the boy replied.

“Well, just remember: always check your pockets. You never know when there might be three pennies there.”

The boy was stunned – he had forgotten about his pocket. And so he dug around for three pennies.

But there were no pennies there.

He did notice, however, a slip of paper, with an address on it. Curious, the boy searched around, and finally found the address. It was an old, abandoned shack, on the outskirts of nowhere.

The boy knocked on the shack door.

“Come in,” a female voice said.

The poor boy entered, and was overjoyed! There she was, the love of his life! Right before his eyes!

“Oh, Sodol-kai, you wise fool. I am your Muse. You were always my favorite. There was never a doubt! And I will always love you.”

She held out her arms.

Sodol-kai fell into them, and soon cried himself to sleep.

How the Runner Got Lost

Once, a young runner began a marathon with a veritable host of competitors. But they were all faster. But the poor boy, he just loved running. So he jogged at his own pace, aware of the others around him.

But one day, he closed his eyes and just kept jogging. He jogged and he jogged and he jogged. Occasionally he would pop open his eyes, just to see where he was. He noticed the hills beneath his feet, he noticed the streams and the living waters, he avoided Oil Slicks, and he would sometimes notice the mountains. The mountains would tell him stories, stories of kings and empires, and treacheries past.

And then the runner was tired, and paused to catch his breath. But then, to his anguish, he noticed that no one was with him. He was alone, lost in the woods. So very alone.

He found his way to a human settlement, but they thought he was nuts. He tried to speak to them, but they could not comprehend.

This is so simple, he thought. I’m just trying to tell them that I got lost. Why is this such a difficult concept to grasp?

But then the runner realized that he was dirty, stinky, and unshaven.

Perhaps this was why they did not understand them.

Is It Possible to Swim the Pacific Ocean?

A Song of Sodol-kai

One day a fantastic swimmer noticed that other swimmers received fine medals and awards for swimming the English channel. They would brag in front of the television cameras about the fine swimming schools they went to, in order to achieve their great feats.

And so the fantastic swimmer, secretly trained by a former Olympic swimmer, decided he would swim the English channel, considered quite a daunting feat by the swimmers of his day. But he would do it at night, when no one was looking.

Despite how arduous the task was said to be, he found it rather easy. He barely broke a sweat.

And so he wanted a new challenge. He looked at the globe. This time he decided to swim from Greenland to Iceland. It was a little chilly, but frankly, it was not that difficult a task.

And so then he eyed the distance between Brazil and Africa. And one day he tried it…in secret.

It made him somewhat tired, but…he made it!

He then remembered a famous line from an Eastern text: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

The swimmer pondered the identity of the Olympic swimmer who had trained him and sent him, and he began to realize who it was – actually, it was someone quite well known in this world, but whose feats were often co-opted by greedy, and unfortunately less capable, swimmers.

The fantastic swimmer thought about trying to swim the entire Atlantic next, but then decided against that. He wanted an even bigger challenge, nay, the biggest. And so then he asked himself: what is the greatest distance? He looked at his globe again.

The swimmer began to eye the Pacific Ocean.

From the Panama Canal to China? He reflected on this task. Surely he would need help. Perhaps a boat could shadow him. At night, when he needed to rest, the boat could drop anchor, and he could climb aboard and sleep. The next day, refreshed, he could swim from the same point again. The boat would have to be well-stocked with provisions, he reflected. Surely he would need much help. His friends would all have to help him.

But he already had planned the line he would use when he reached China. When the news reporters and cameras showed up, microphones sticking in his face, he would say with a wink and a wicked smile: “You know what the secret beauty of it all is? I never really learned how to swim.”

New blog for Richmond West

bamaphilosopher — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 06:58:46 +0000

Hey, everyone!

I was kicked off my writer’s group blog for not following their rigid schedule, so I have decided to create my own blog on WordPress. This way, I can post on my own time, in my own way, free from fetters. I have posted past blogs on Socrates, Wittgenstein, and Buddhist philosophy, but unfortunately I can’t copy and paste them here. However, you can check them out on my MySpace profile anytime, www.myspace.com/richmondwest.

Soon, I will post a blog about Foucault. I am reading and making notes on him now, and, since I am highly critical of the mental health industry and the sexual harassment industry (hostile environment only, not quid pro quo sexual harassment law, which I do support), I am fascinated by his showing how all “knowledge” about mental health and sexual “abnormality” changes over time, and that this entails power relations. I plan to use this material in my upcoming book Witch Hunt, which is based on some personal experiences I’ve had, fictionalized into a novel.

I also hope to use Kierkegaard, Foucault, and Wittgenstein as well in a future book, Sexual Freedom in an Age of Sexual Tyranny. By “freedom,” I will mean not license to do whatever one wants, but rather a Kierkegaardian sense of freedom, whereby one chooses oneself as God wills one to be. In other words, one chooses to love one’s sexual being, rather than have it defined and dominated by others.

I’m also working on a World War II novel, based on a loss in our family during the war of a man who would have been my uncle, Marvin Hamby. I have all his letters home, plus knowledge of some stories about my grandparents dealing with his death, and they are very powerful. My tentative title for this is A World at War.

I currently have two books I’ve self-published, The Deviants and Your Yesterday is My Tomorrow, which you can find out more about on my website, www.richmondwest.net. They’re rather eccentric, as is my writing style, and they’re both fantasy/sci fi in a way, but I’m hoping Witch Hunt and A World at War, being more realistic stories, will attract a larger audience, so I will shop around for an agent for these.

Well, anyway, thanks for reading. I’ll be posting on Foucault soon, and continuing to deliver thoughts on religion, philosophy, ethics, and so forth.