----- Original Message ----- From: "Nick Arnett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Brin-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2001 4:25 PM Subject: RE: T. Friedman editorial
> > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On > > Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > [snip] > > > Wealth and power are not necessarily signs of virtue - but > > virtuous behavior, we have seen, produces them. > > Jesus, Buddha, Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Oscar > Romero... there is a long list of virtuous people who did not receive > material wealth as a consequence. Arguing that virtuous behavior produces > material wealth and power is ridiculous, to be blunt. Some virtuous people > have been wealthy; many materially impoverished people have been virtuous. > The only cause and effect between material wealth and virtue taught by the > collected wisdom of the ages is that wealth can become an obstacle to > virtue. It is very easy, many religions warn us, to fall in love with > things and as a result, fail to love one's neighbors and God. Nick I think you guys are talking about two different things. You sem to be speaking to the idea of wealth, power and virtue as applied to the individual. Marvin and Gautam are speaking of the same but at the communal level. Without recognising the difference everyone could be speaking about true and factual things, yet still be talking past one another. Myself, I believe that virtue is its own reward. xponent rob
