The fact that Hunter Thingummy, Mr "Fear and Loathing", topped himself has been all over the news and blog world. Personally I've never read anything he wrote and didn't know much about him so it all rather passed me by - I'm more concerned about the frailty of Ms Andre Norton, who is an SF writer and thus apparently of less interest to the rest of the world. Anyway, Prof Bunyip wrote a sort of tribute that was interesting in that it related that the young Hunter chappie was ardently against the Rotary organization. Personally I have to say I'm only familiar with the Rotary as an orgaization that places the signs that you see here and there outside towns so my interest was piqued by this dislike.
I had a quick look at the website and from the history page noted that tomorrow, 23 February, is their centennial anniversary so may I be the first to wish the organization a
Happy Rotary Centenery
Mr "Fear and Loathing" was unhappy with rotarian values it seems. Now the website doesn't clearly identify the values but it does describe the "Rotarian Way" test, which I assume is what was so objectionable. Just for interest I thought copy it below because to the life of me I don't see what is wrong with it - a bit wishy washy maybe but it isn't insisting that the Rotarians are destined to rule the world or require that the rest of us perform some mumbojumbo three times a day. Here it is
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"
In fact it seems to me that, while it might mean the death of the gossip industry, if everyone made this test before writing or speaking there would be a lot less bile in the world.
Mind you perhaps that is just the public version and that inside their metings Rotarians follow different protocols that do seek to cause the overthrow of all the other shadowy cabals ruling the world and replace them all with the Rotary. Perhaps they silence all those who wish to speak aout against their evil ways. But somehow I doubt it. It seems to me that a certain amount of a man's characted can be determined by those he names as his enemies (this is one reason why I rather like President Bush who is apparently hates and is hated by tyrants, would-be tyrants and their sycophants worldwide) and the Rotary does not seem worthy of such emotion.