--- Dan Minette wrote: <I've snipped quite a bit, since it appears that I was disagreeing with the concept of 'blind loyalty,' and that is not what Dan meant.>
> [Deborah wrote] > > --- Dan Minette wrote: > > <major snippage> > > >I also get the feeling that many on the > > > list are extremely > > > individualistic and think that loyalty to party, > > > church, civic groups is for chumps. > > > > Mmm, I'd say that _unquestioning_ loyalty to any > large group of people is not chumpish, but naive. > > That wasn't really what I was talking about. I was > thinking more about the > increasing disconnect in American society. It goes > with the discardable > society. For example, there use to be a lot of > employment loyalty... <snip> > This has even spread to churches. "Church shopping" > for a place that meets > one's needs is very common...<snip> We are very consumer > oriented, not only in buying, but in relationships. > Its not even what have > you done for me lately; its what will you do for me > tomorrow? > > Loyalty to someone doesn't mean being blind to their > faults. It means > sticking with them, even with their faults. > Sticking with someone doesn't > mean you will agree with what they do...<snip> <snip> > > I am very loyal to my friends and my principles, > but I > > will not place boundless trust in any organization > or > > group; I have not seen any that merit it. > > Boundless trust is one thing. Sticking with them, > even when you know they > mess up, even though sticking with them means tough > love is another... <snip> > > Now, as the Democratic leadership stated in arguing > with Bush, patriotism > does not mean blind acceptance of what the leaders > of an organization says... <snip> > So, I guess this reply isn't really to tell you I > think your position is > wrong; just that it addresses a different point than > the one I was trying to make. I see your point, and we were indeed addressing different aspects of loyalty. Certainly I am 'loyal' to, frex, health professionals as a whole; the vast majority of those I have met, from clerks and janitors through dieticians and X-ray techs to nurses and doctors, are conscientious people who truly want to help others and take pride in doing their work to the best of their ability. For many it is not just a job, but a calling, one that has them 'going beyond the bounds of duty.' That scumbags exist in any given field does not lessen my regard for the whole - I did not mean to give that impression at all. Debbi "But yield who will to their separation, My object in living is to unite My avocation and my vocation As my two eyes make one in sight." (IIRC- Robert Frost, from 'Two Tramps in Mud Time.') __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
