Comments on: Archival Culture(s) http://calitreview.com/47 An arts and culture magazine. Wed, 23 May 2012 14:35:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Leslie Kitchenhttp://calitreview.com/47/comment-page-1#comment-449 Leslie Kitchen Sun, 27 May 2007 23:30:11 +0000 http://calitreview.com//uncategorized/archival-cultures/#comment-449 Knowledge is meaningful to the person who wants to acquire it. That desire has an emotional base. The act of accumulating and sharing the knowledge is values-laden. This business of delivering magisterial statements denigrating the correctness of the emotions and values of others is obnoxious and deeply, sadly divisive. It stems from a sense of cultural superiority that is only alive in the author's imagination. It is obvious from this and other writings that Mr. Kessler possesses a fine intelligence. It should also be noted that he often writes with great passion. An essay such as this, however, serves as an example of the insuffiency of intelligence and passion when unaccompanied by the greater clarity that could be provided if authors such as Mr. Kessler could leaven their thoughts with more generous portions of empathy and decency. Knowledge is meaningful to the person who wants to acquire it. That desire has an emotional base. The act of accumulating and sharing the knowledge is values-laden. This business of delivering magisterial statements denigrating the correctness of the emotions and values of others is obnoxious and deeply, sadly divisive. It stems from a sense of cultural superiority that is only alive in the author’s imagination.

It is obvious from this and other writings that Mr. Kessler possesses a fine intelligence. It should also be noted that he often writes with great passion. An essay such as this, however, serves as an example of the insuffiency of intelligence and passion when unaccompanied by the greater clarity that could be provided if authors such as Mr. Kessler could leaven their thoughts with more generous portions of empathy and decency.

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