I have been reading Walker Percy's 1987 novel Thanatos Syndrome. This passage caught my eye. It is the reflections of the main character (humorously named Thomas More) who is a renound psychiatrist who has just gotten out of prison for prescribing drugs to people who he ought not have given prescriptions. He discusses one quirk of life in minimum security federal prison:
For two years I was caught between passionate liberals and conservatives among my fellow inmates at Fort Pelham. Most prisoners are ideologues. There is nothing else to do. Both sides had compelling arguments. Each could argue plausibly for and against religion, God, Israel, blacks, affirmative action, Nicaragua.
It was more natural to me, less boring, to listen than to argue. I was more interested in the rage than the arguments. After two years no one had convinced anyone else. Each side made the same points, the same rebuttals. Neither party listened to the other. They would come close as lovers, eyes glistening, shake fingers at each other, actually take hold of the other's clothes. There were even fist fights.
It crossed my mind that people at war have the same need of each other. What would a passionate liberal or conservative do without the other?
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