Introduction: James vs. James
I was minding my own business the other day when I got an e-mail from the political columnist James Hall. Wait a minute, I thought, that's me!
But it wasn't, exactly. Now, James Hall isn't a completely unusual name. In fact, there are quite a few of us around. You may have heard of James Hall the gospel singer, James Hall the rock musician, James Hall the Detroit Lions football player, James Hall the writer of detective fiction like _Tropical Freeze_, while an earlier James Hall co-wrote _Mutiny on the Bounty_ and its two sequels. After a particularly horrendous train or airplane accident you may have even seen James Hall the Director of the National Transportation Safety Board on television explaining what went wrong.
But another James Hall, political columnist, on the internet? That floored me. Especially when I found out that he's a self-described conservative populist. (In my mind the term's an oxymoron. Populists represent the common people, who we know are mostly Democrats. Perhaps he's the populist of the country club set.)
In any case, James has written for Enter Stage Right (http://www.enterstageright.com/ ), Ether Zone (http://etherzone.com/ ), and has his own website, "Breaking All The Rules," at http://www.go.to/batr/ where he frequently writes under the pen name of Sartre, demonstrating a keen interest in philosophy. Wait a minute--I enjoy philosophy, too, though I lean towards the English Liberals rather than European Existentialism.
After politely introducing himself, James said he had read my work and agreed with almost nothing I wrote. What nerve! Then he challenged me to a James versus James debate, to see which one of us most deserves to write about politics in our name.
So over the next few weeks, we'll air our opinions and let you, our beloved readers, decide who best merits the name of James Hall, political columnist. May the best James win!
Without further ado, here's James writing about the meaning of third parties in Amercan politics.
James, from the Left  Upon discovery that a column was being published under my name sake was surprising. When I read that it was penned from 'Fantasy Land', I was shocked. And after discovering that it is an illusion, written with errors, I must correct the record.
Therefore, the sword fencing must begin! The foil that false fantasy promotes, must be repulsed. The epee art is more than self defense. It is a quest to clear confusion from the public arena. The Duel between Gentlemen, requires a victory. TRUTH reigns supreme.
The task for the sincere is to understand the correct nature of that Reverie, to slay that Chimera, and replace it with Vision of TRUTH and WISDOM!
For this task I accept the challenge to rid the bewilderment and bring sanity back to the Magic Kingdom . . . And follow the lead of those who know the difference.
James - 'The Right' When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge.
- Albert Einstein |
