General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Who was the most influential person who helped shape your politics to this day? [View all]OffWithTheirHeads
(10,337 posts)I'm not quite sure how to put this into words but his writings, probably more than anyone else, helped me to think of myself as being part of the universe rather than, I'm not sure how to put this, a San Franciscan, an American, an Earthling? When you start thinking "universally", it's hard to take things like Capitalist, Communist, Gay, straight, Christian, other, etc. quite so seriously. I'm not saying that these things are not important in our daily lives but, lets face it, in the overall scheme of things, these issues are really petty and inconsequential. Again, I wish I could be more eloquent but, on the spur of the moment, words fail me.
Of course, I read Watts over 40 years ago so who knows? All I know is that I don't think the same as most folks and I think Alan Watts planted that seed.
Now, this thread has got me thinking. I wonder how I would feel about him if I re read his work with another 40+ years of life tacked on. I think I don't want to find out.