I Look Down My Nose...

at those who understand more than I do, declares Brendan O'Neill. He gets some things right and some things wrong in discussing Tibetan Buddhism. But what really caught my eye is how he views being a philosophical ignoramus as a sign of cynical hipness: 'Tibetan Buddhism has a “resonance and a sense of mystery,” says Gere, through which you can find "beingness" (whatever that means).'

Yes, Brendan, being so uninformed that you do not understand that ontology has been at the center of Western philosophy for 2500 years certainly entitles you to sneer at Gere.

UPDATE: Oh, yes, and here is another moronic passage from O'Neill: 'The Dalai Lama declared in a talk in Seattle in 1993, during one of his whistle stop, U2-style world tours, that “nature arranged male and female organs in such a manner that is very suitable… same-sex organs cannot manage well.” (Someone needs to explain to His Holiness how gay people get it on.)'

Right, Brendan, the issue is the Dalai Lama cannot physically conceive of how gay sex is possible! In fact, generally it is possible with the aid of things like KY jelly and dildos, the use of such aids actually illustrating the Dalai Lama's point. Now, it is one thing to contend that humans should be free to overcome the inherent "mis-match of parts" if they want to do so, but quite another to ridicule anyone who notes the reality of the situation.

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