The concept of "golden mean" applies to some things, but not to
others. There is no such thing as a golden mean between man and woman,
between reason and emotion, between competition and cooperation,
between population and government, between public sector and private
sector, between divine revelation and scientific thought. These are
things that are meant to work together applying to each other at lower
levels the checks-and-balances that prevent each other from erring,
while at the top level possessing a mutual understanding that allows
them to craft, together, from raw materials of each other, through
synergistic collaboration, manifestations that reflect the best in each
other. That allows them to create something that has not existed before
and that cannot come from either method alone, but rather that puts the
methods together into a product that builds on both and produces
craftsmanship that reflects wisdom, inspiration, intelligence and
emotional understanding.
This can be applied to the totality of the civilization. Through the
fact of the human will, man is made a shaper - a builder - a craftsman,
who can piece together what's given and from it to sculpt
magnificence. Through integrating and synergizing of different inputs,
is created a civilization that builds upon what is given to create
magnificence in all areas of life. This applies, indeed, to just about
any endeavor, from architecture, engineering and technology to
literature, music, painting, photography, sculpture and graphic design.
I believe that in the mechanism of free-market democracy, we have all
that is needed to create the most magnificent civilization that ever
existed, with many masterpieces comparable to those of Renaissance and
Impressionism. All that is required, is to instill in American people
understanding, appreciation and valuation of beauty in all its forms,
and then they will use the demand side of the economic equation to
procure and commission the most magnificent works in the history of the
world. Works that will add richness and dignity to the experience of
American people, and that will give pride to the nation of having
accomplished splendor and virtuosity comparable with anything that ever
was built, written, invented, painted or conceived.
To do so, is to do greater service to American civilization than can be
achieved by any form of productive endeavor. It is a pursuit that will
sprinkle America with magnificent artifacts, building, bridges, cars,
and fill its homes and skyscrapers with spectacular works the likes of
which have not been seen in a long time. It is a pursuit that will
enrich the lives of American people, giving them splendor, quality,
wisdom and elegance that many could have only dreamed of; and that will
further enhance national pride, with masterpieces produced remaining in
place for multiple generations and inspiring in them appreciation and
gratitude for those who had the wisdom and foresight and goodness and
inspiration and inner splendor to bring them into existence.
The best part about this is that this will take, by American standards,
minimal expenditure of resources and minimal harm to the environment.
Unlike many consumer items, art is non-polluting, and the abundance of
talented living artists ensures that its price will be far below other
items that have the same enriching effect and lasting value. I seek no
change in either economic or political systems. I believe that American
system possesses all that is necessary for creating the most
magnificent civilization in all of history, and the only prerequisite
necessary is development of value and appreciation for beauty in all
its forms.
Ilya Shambat.
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