13 Responses to “A Simple Question”

1. Mark Frank Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 1:53 am

   Yes

Comment by Mark Frank — September 17, 2007 @ 1:53 am

2. keiths Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 2:20 am

   To elaborate on Mark Frank's admirably succinct reply (he even omitted the punctuation!):

   Yes, unless they were Marxists.

Comment by keiths — September 17, 2007 @ 2:20 am

3. The Pixie Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 8:19 am

   Surely they would only be Marxists if they subscribe to the ideas Marx advocated, perhaps even more specifically to his ideas on communism?

Comment by The Pixie — September 17, 2007 @ 8:19 am

4. Chris Harrison Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 9:31 am

   Only if, when all of my friends and family celebrate my birthday we can call them "Chris Harrisonists".

   So no, is my answer.

Comment by Chris Harrison — September 17, 2007 @ 9:31 am

5. Wonders For Oyarsa Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 9:38 am

   I can't even imagine someone celebrating the birthday of Karl Marx that wasn't a Marxist.

Comment by Wonders For Oyarsa — September 17, 2007 @ 9:38 am

6. David Heddle Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 10:52 am

   Well, I'm no Marxist, but if the festivities include enjoying the seminal invention of the 20th century (the Hostess HoHo) and good strong coffee, I'll join in a chorus of Happy Birthday.

Comment by David Heddle — September 17, 2007 @ 10:52 am

7. macht Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 11:06 am

   My guess is that most of them would be neo-Marxists.

Comment by macht — September 17, 2007 @ 11:06 am

8. SteamboatWillie Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 12:17 pm

   George W. Bush recently attended the funeral of the wife of Martin Luther King. Can we assume that Bush is therefore a champion of civil rights and racial equality for African Americans because he said a few kind words about a famous activist?

   Sadly not – as with followers of Marx, Jesus, King, Mohamed or whomsoever is your philosopher of choice, words and deeds are a much stronger indicator of what floats your boat than whose's party you attend.

Comment by SteamboatWillie — September 17, 2007 @ 12:17 pm

9. kornbelt888 Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 4:44 pm

   Will there be free booze at the celebration?

Comment by kornbelt888 — September 17, 2007 @ 4:44 pm

10. thesciphishow Says:
    September 17th, 2007 at 8:31 pm

    For people celebrating Marx's birthday, yes I think it is reasonable.

    People have offered other comparisons that they think show this characterization to be unreasonable, but Marx has been dead for a long time now and people celebrating his life are going to be devotees of his ideas.

    It may not apply to everybody who people celebrate birthdays for, but where the person put forward a political ideology it is a reasonable assumption to think those who would celebrate his birthday are devotees of Marx.

    Likewise with those that make a big deal out of Darwins birthday. Or those that celebrates Christ's birth.

Comment by thesciphishow — September 17, 2007 @ 8:31 pm

11. MikeGene Says:
    September 17th, 2007 at 9:26 pm

    Hi Pixie,

    Surely they would only be Marxists if they subscribe to the ideas Marx advocated, perhaps even more specifically to his ideas on communism?

    I asked nothing about what they surely would be. I was talking about a reasonable description.

    Hi Chris:

    Only if, when all of my friends and family celebrate my birthday we can call them "Chris Harrisonists".

    So no, is my answer.

    Indeed. But those are people who personally know you. What if you were dead and people organized and promoted a birthday party for you? Could we then reasonably call them Chris Harrisonists?

    Hi David,

    Well, I'm no Marxist, but if the festivities include enjoying the seminal invention of the 20th century (the Hostess HoHo) and good strong coffee, I'll join in a chorus of Happy Birthday.

    Yeah, it's hard to turn down free food and drink. So let's make it the people who put the party together and send out the invitations.

Comment by MikeGene — September 17, 2007 @ 9:26 pm

12. neddy Says:
    September 18th, 2007 at 2:58 am

    Brazilian evolutionists are proud to be called Darwinists, and use this terms joyfully speaking about themselves!

Comment by neddy — September 18, 2007 @ 2:58 am

13. The Pixie Says:
    September 18th, 2007 at 9:00 am

    If Marx was the only famous guy who came from your town or went to your college, then I think that you might celebrate his birthday, despite not being a Marxist.

Comment by The Pixie — September 18, 2007 @ 9:00 am