Sunday, April 1, 2012
Although I have written in the past about the need for people to grow and change, and thus the fact that it is unreasonable for us to label politicians as flip-floppers simply because they have changed their mind on one or more positions, today I shall argue the opposite.
Consider how much rides on our staying the course and remaining steadfast on certain beliefs. Money is a good example. The only thing that gives value to our dollar bills made of paper, and the denominations printed on them, is that we can count on the fact that although this paper has no inherent value, it is given value by the fact that we all agree to adopt a mindset in which it has value. If a leader could be easily influenced to try radically different approaches to problems, we would not have the confidence in our money system that we do. Without being 100% certain that our government won't abandon this system, everything could be thrown into disarray. Everything.
So consistency is a virtue. Except when it isn't.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Every Day Is Sacred
There's a big flap in Texas between private schools about which days it's ok to play sports on. There are things we should hold sacred. We should hold sacred the notion that all men are created equal. We should hold sacred the notion that everyone is entitled to the pursuit of happiness. We should hold sacred that we are all in this together and should give each other love and respect.
But as for the idea that we should hold a particular day sacred, or a particular piece of land, or that we are holy if we don’t eat a particular meat product, or a meat that wasn’t slaughtered in a particular fashion. These things are useful for one thing only. They are useful for providing people a sense of piety so that they may then treat their fellow man badly while hiding behind the pretense that they are still good people because they observe these customs. That is their only function, to obscure man’s real sins, to give cover to evil, to provide solace to the guilty. Story Here.
But as for the idea that we should hold a particular day sacred, or a particular piece of land, or that we are holy if we don’t eat a particular meat product, or a meat that wasn’t slaughtered in a particular fashion. These things are useful for one thing only. They are useful for providing people a sense of piety so that they may then treat their fellow man badly while hiding behind the pretense that they are still good people because they observe these customs. That is their only function, to obscure man’s real sins, to give cover to evil, to provide solace to the guilty. Story Here.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Tea Party Boos Ron Paul
The debate as a whole was amusing; rarely are so many clowns in one place. However, the debate did have a few moments that were nothing less than scary.
The lowest point of the low points was when Ron Paul was booed for saying something that didn't mesh with the American exceptionalism narrative. Please note that I am not a fan of Ron Paul, but he is right about at least this one thing: We were not attacked on 9/11 because terrorists hate us for who we are. That is a conservative myth. In conservative mythos, we are good and others are bad. It is an us/them mentality and that is required for a belief in American exceptionalism. It is also required for religion, but that's another subject. In any case, it is wrong and harmful.
10 years ago, we had to kick ass and take names; it would have been a mistake not to. But 10 years hence, having kicked serious ass (unfortunately, much of that ass had nothing to do with 9-1-1, but some did), and having taken out Bin Laden in particular, now is the perfect time for Americans to analyze why much of the world hates us.
Sadly, most cling to the childish notion articulated by GW that they hate us for our freedom. This was echoed by Santorum at the debate to much cheering by the audience. But it is patently untrue.
We are hated for the actions we take in their part of the world. We think we are different, but if a superpower was pushing us around in our backyard, we would hate just as surely as they do. We are not different than them, we are merely in different circumstances.
The lesson of 9/11 is not 'us good, them bad'. The lesson is two fold:
1. Religion is evil (this act was justified in their minds because it was faith driven).
2. Doing things throughout the world that cause people to have a legitimate reason to hate you has consequences.
This admission, that our actions caused others to hate us need not be seen as being soft on terrorists. We must always respond forcefully to attacks. The way to peace and prosperity is to proactively be better world citizens. I have no illusion that this would create a perfect world, for there will always be crazies and haters, but it would certainly lead to a less imperfect world.
The lowest point of the low points was when Ron Paul was booed for saying something that didn't mesh with the American exceptionalism narrative. Please note that I am not a fan of Ron Paul, but he is right about at least this one thing: We were not attacked on 9/11 because terrorists hate us for who we are. That is a conservative myth. In conservative mythos, we are good and others are bad. It is an us/them mentality and that is required for a belief in American exceptionalism. It is also required for religion, but that's another subject. In any case, it is wrong and harmful.
10 years ago, we had to kick ass and take names; it would have been a mistake not to. But 10 years hence, having kicked serious ass (unfortunately, much of that ass had nothing to do with 9-1-1, but some did), and having taken out Bin Laden in particular, now is the perfect time for Americans to analyze why much of the world hates us.
Sadly, most cling to the childish notion articulated by GW that they hate us for our freedom. This was echoed by Santorum at the debate to much cheering by the audience. But it is patently untrue.
We are hated for the actions we take in their part of the world. We think we are different, but if a superpower was pushing us around in our backyard, we would hate just as surely as they do. We are not different than them, we are merely in different circumstances.
The lesson of 9/11 is not 'us good, them bad'. The lesson is two fold:
1. Religion is evil (this act was justified in their minds because it was faith driven).
2. Doing things throughout the world that cause people to have a legitimate reason to hate you has consequences.
This admission, that our actions caused others to hate us need not be seen as being soft on terrorists. We must always respond forcefully to attacks. The way to peace and prosperity is to proactively be better world citizens. I have no illusion that this would create a perfect world, for there will always be crazies and haters, but it would certainly lead to a less imperfect world.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
