Have I told you about this one? In The Island at the Center of the World, author Russell Shorto describes "The Magic Foot Theory" the philosophy by which England absorbed so many lands. To snag North America for instance, all they needed was for an explorer, under their charter, to set foot on the land and be the first European to do so--then all the land cascading from their toe forward would be the kingdom's domain. It cracks me up. Though like or not, this bullying, megalomaniacal, opportunisitic, capitalistic, inspirational (however you want to slice it) philosophy was just the thing that launched this great country. Without it, we might never know these United States. Where else could men and women form a more perfect union than on new ground?
Food for thought, besides, I've been wanting to use the word megalomaniacal ever since I heard Barrack Obama use it in a piece ABC did tonight on the evening news. Fun fact: "The Magic Bullet Theory" was a ditty that fascinated me during my college years--and my intimate knowledge of it helped me (and someone I know) ace our final comps.
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