On Fri, 17 Jan 2003 19:54:16 +0100 (CET) [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Richard
Menedetter) writes:

> MY problem is if America wants to force american law to worldwide 
> affairs. THIS is not possible.

I agree, Ricsi. One should not force their own ways upon others. 

It is equally true that Americans don't want others to force foreign ways
upon America. And, if a foreign force were to come and attempt to make
this happen, they would fail. This is because, as a last resort, the
American people still possess their guns. (Gee, I'm starting to sound
like Mr. Heston?)

 
> (education)
> There is no "don't agree".
> There are facts. If somebody teaches something wrong, you can 
> intervene. For me this is the best system available.
> And it saves the children from misguided parents.
> In America it is possible that children grow up with the thought 
> that black/white/purple whatever people are inferior.
> In Europe the child would at least hear something different in 
> school.

I'm guessing your haven't interviewed too many Turkish kids in Germany,
Kurdish kids in France, Kosovars in Serbia, Hungarians in Romania,
Romanians in Hungary, Gypsy peoples anywhere in Europe, etc., etc.

Or, dare I ask, what do you think the French and Dutch kids hear in their
schools about the German people. 

Care to guess what the Serbian people say about Austrians?

The Europe I know isn't quite so perfect. I haven't yet been to Portugal.
Perhaps they have reached the position where all prejudices have been
abolished. For the rest of the world, it's still THEM vs US (whoever them
and us happens to be). It's actually the core concept in Cultural
Anthropology.


< snipped - Sam Heywood's comment about right to own guns >
> For me this is no basic human right. (and for most of the world)
> Naturally if a nation is still wants such archaic things they can 
> additionally do it.

And they will probably remain so - a nation free to do what they want.


> The UN and me think that there is basic knowledge that every human 
> being should know. This is not indoctrination.

Critical question - am I free to disagree and decline the opportunity to
receive this enlightenment? 

*Basic* implies a standard, the minimal requirement. If an individual or
group decides to remain ignorant and, thus, receive no indoctrination
from anyone, is it acceptable? Or, for the good of the world and the
betterment of all people, must all receive the enlightenment?

If I am free to choose, then the subject knowledge cannot be *basic*. So,
am I mandated to receive this *non-indoctrination*, or is it REALLY not
actually *basic*, but merely an opinion which you hold and desire that I
embrace?


> Indoctrination is what is done on CNN and Fox-news.
> When I first saw that I thought it was a joke.
> BIG american flags blowing in the wind, taking away 25% of the screen.

I'm guessing that you haven't watched too many replays of the 1936
Olympics.

 
> For me the education is a safeguard that young people get to know a 
> diversity of opinions.

I'm also guessing that the school system did a poor job of teaching the
American perspective. Or were you absent that day?


> What is the UN.
> It is an organization formed by the world governments.
> So, no you couldn't be more wrong.
> Because the world's governments can never form a world government.

So, does that mean that it's OKAY for all of us to keep our separate
ways? Or must everybody change so that all become alike, yet each keeps
their individual name so that *diversity* remains?

Because, what I'm hearing is that you don't like some of the American
ways. And, my understanding is that you think America should change.

What I have failed to grasp is any reasoning that would suggest why it is
logical to argue that America should change to a European perspective,
yet illogical to argue that it is Europe who, in fact, needs to change
its perspective.

Maybe that's because I've never been indoctrinated with that particular
version of basic knowledge.


Bob


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