Differences of opinion
I have two authors whose writings I enjoy. One is Jerry Pournelle and the other is Piers Anthony. I just got done reading both their websites. It is fairly obvious that Mr. Pournelle is a conservative and Mr. Anthony is a liberal. Both men are successful authors and both firmly believe in their point of view as being the correct one.
It would seem that they are opposites other than their choice of work.
They do have some common areas.
They are both fiercely protective of their family.
As both are well beyond retirement age their nests are empty but they both show deep signs of attachment to their spouses.
Both of them have been married to their spouses for the majority of their lifetimes.
Both have children from those successful marriages and both occasionally mention their adult children with affection.
Both have served in the U.S.A. military either as lower level soldiers or as high level advisers.
It is there that you see some differences. Mr. Anthony served as a lower level soldier. Mr. Anthony's background is Quaker, though he says he is now agnostic.
Mr. Pournelle served as a high level adviser to the military and had the ear of past presidents and members of congress.
Their own writings show Mr. Anthony as having a degree of Asperger's syndrome, though it is largely self diagnosed. Mr. Pournelle mentions no similar issues.
As far as I know, Mr. Anthony has never suffered a life threatening illness for himself, though he recently lost one of his adult daughters to cancer.
Mr. Pournelle had a brain tumor that was "gamma knifed" out of existence so he has had a first hand brush with death due to illness.
Mr. Pournelle describes himself as a devout christian fully believing in God and in an afterlife.
I think these two men would have much they could agree on as far as family values. I also think they would be very antagonistic towards each other when it came to political issues.
As a person who is an Agnostic it is logical that Mr. Anthony would want a liberal government that respected diversity.
Mr. Pournelle favors a conservative government which supposes he hopes for a government that more financially sound.
I look at these two fine men and am perplexed as I like both of them and their writings. How can such different people both create magnificent stories that captivate and at the same time make one think about the lessons to be learned from their characters plights.
I could try to continue to analyze these two gentlemen but I think I would be only scratching the surface of the human equation.
If you have not, take a look at their writings, I would recommend any of their works.
It would seem that they are opposites other than their choice of work.
They do have some common areas.
They are both fiercely protective of their family.
As both are well beyond retirement age their nests are empty but they both show deep signs of attachment to their spouses.
Both of them have been married to their spouses for the majority of their lifetimes.
Both have children from those successful marriages and both occasionally mention their adult children with affection.
Both have served in the U.S.A. military either as lower level soldiers or as high level advisers.
It is there that you see some differences. Mr. Anthony served as a lower level soldier. Mr. Anthony's background is Quaker, though he says he is now agnostic.
Mr. Pournelle served as a high level adviser to the military and had the ear of past presidents and members of congress.
Their own writings show Mr. Anthony as having a degree of Asperger's syndrome, though it is largely self diagnosed. Mr. Pournelle mentions no similar issues.
As far as I know, Mr. Anthony has never suffered a life threatening illness for himself, though he recently lost one of his adult daughters to cancer.
Mr. Pournelle had a brain tumor that was "gamma knifed" out of existence so he has had a first hand brush with death due to illness.
Mr. Pournelle describes himself as a devout christian fully believing in God and in an afterlife.
I think these two men would have much they could agree on as far as family values. I also think they would be very antagonistic towards each other when it came to political issues.
As a person who is an Agnostic it is logical that Mr. Anthony would want a liberal government that respected diversity.
Mr. Pournelle favors a conservative government which supposes he hopes for a government that more financially sound.
I look at these two fine men and am perplexed as I like both of them and their writings. How can such different people both create magnificent stories that captivate and at the same time make one think about the lessons to be learned from their characters plights.
I could try to continue to analyze these two gentlemen but I think I would be only scratching the surface of the human equation.
If you have not, take a look at their writings, I would recommend any of their works.