Metro Cons

The three best discussions of Derbyshires column are found at the Rattler, Josh Claybourn, and Ben Domenech. Read the comments, that's where the action is.

As in so many things, G. K. Chesterton had something wise to say

"The man who lives in a small community lives in a much larger world. He knows much more of the fierce varieties and uncompromising divergences of men. The reason is obvious. In a large community we can choose our companions. In a small community our companions are chosen for us. Thus in all extensive and highly civilized societies groups come into existence founded upon what is called sympathy, and shut out the real world more sharply than the gates of a monastery. There is nothing really narrow about the clan; the thing that is really narrow is the clique....The men of the clique live together because they have the same kind of soul, and their narrowness is a narrowness of spiritual coherence and contentment like that which exists in hell." [Heretics pp.180-181]