To be an Athenian in America: Pondering Iran

The late social critic Neil Postman said there are two kinds of people: Athenians and Visigoths. Athenians appreciate poetry and knowledge, Visigoths believe in mauling all competitors. The halls of power are often filled with Visigoths, while some of the great Athenians are found in the working class.

I'll apply that to our dealings with Iran. Visigoths like to portray rivals as Visigoths, in order to find an excuse to bomb them. Athenians by contrast, even when they fight, seek to empathize with their enemies.

For three decades, we have spoken daily in the West of attacking Iran. Some of their leaders have bloviated on occasion of desires to stick it to Israel, which leads to us speaking even more frequently and loudly about attacking Iran, which adds to their own bluster. Iran is surrounded by geopolitical threats. Yet when they respond with bluster, we heighten our desire to go Visigoth on them.

An Athenian reads the situation one way, a Visigoth another. Postman hoped there would be more Athenians among us than Visigoths. So do I.