Let's do a thought experiment. You are a teacher and one
day, the parent of twin boys aged 12 years, comes to you for advice. He says
there is something unusual about the twins. Even though they look identical
physically, they are different temperamentally, maybe even intellectually. He
wants you to examine them, assess the potential of each, and recommend a course
of action for each boy that will be most beneficial to him.
You spend a day talking to the boys on and off, dispersing
the exercise with a number of written tests in comprehension and in pattern
recognition which you give to them. At the end of the day, you deem that one of
the boys has a good memory and the ability to absorb a great deal of information.
When asked a question relating to that information, he quickly finds the answer
in his memory, and repeats it exactly as he learned it.
The other boy strikes you as more of a deep thinker. He has
little patience for small talk, and tends to retain only the broad outlines of
the subjects that he studies, conveniently dismissing the details which he
feels are superfluous. Thus, when asked to sum up the essence of a text he just
read, he does so accurately but not always comprehensively. Instead, he adds
his own opinion where he feels he has something to say.
You meet the father of the twins, and you tell him that each
boy is doing well in his own way. At this age, each seems to have strengths and
weaknesses that will change over time. The good thing about them being twins is
that they complement each other. And growing up together, will give them the
opportunity to learn from one another, thus become more rounded as they age and
mature both temperamentally and intellectually.
The father asks if you know of any 'quirk' that may appear
in the future, and spoil the normal development of one or both. You think about
it, and you hesitantly tell him that being above average – which they are to
some extent – it can happen that they will notice it when comparing themselves
to other kids, and become conscious of it at all time. The fear is that they
could develop a form of narcissism; something that must be curtailed before it
grows to loom large, and become central to their character.
Well my friend; let me tell you something ... I don't know
if Tom Rogan has a twin brother, but I can say that he is above average
intellectually – but only by a little. He is also a huge narcissist that is
more of a one-dimensional intellect than he is a rounded one; a reality that
makes him boring to read because he is always forceful at trying to hammer thin
ideas into the head of his readers.
In fact, he has done it again in his latest article:
“Obama's Sunni-Arab Problem,” published on March 12, 2015 in National Review
Online. Look at this passage: “As I've noted before, with Iran advancing across the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is increasingly tempted to flirt
with proxy groups to counter Iran .”
The truth is that no reader gives a damn what a writer has noted before. And
this guy, Rogan has the habit of telling the readers what he noted before as if
to say: I was smart then and I am smart now … so, go ahead and admire me.
Aside from this demonstration of a strong narcissistic
tendency, Rogan shows how one-dimensional he can be. Given that the Saudis are
a people who keep their cards close to the chest while projecting a poker face
at all time, it is difficult to guess what they have in mind even when they
make a move that is seen and that can be assessed. And yet, you have this guy,
Tom Rogan, reiterating with absolute certainty that “Saudi Arabia is increasingly
tempted.” Tempted, he says? Tempted in the head or in the heart? How the hell
does he know what goes on in the head or the heart of the Saudis? Well, don't
expect him to answer this question because he noted nothing of the sort before.
This guy believes he knows the unknowable because it is the
common wisdom of the people of his ilk; those who adhere to the same dogmas
which nourish his intellect. They nourish it, not with allusions as to what is
happening in the real world, but with the delusions which are generated in the
minds of people so fixated on one thing; they could not see a steamroller
coming at them head on.
And right now, these people are so one-dimensionally fixated
on hating their President, Barack Obama; they believe that the whole world has
joined them in their hate. Look what Rogan says: “When an allied leader openly
criticizes the American president … that's what el-Sisi is doing. When asked
about perceptions of U.S.
leadership, Sisi responded: difficult question.” And Rogan wants us to believe
this is criticism directed at Obama.
But the truth is that the world does not blame Obama for the
political disintegration of America ;
the world blames the Jewish dominated Congress.