----- Original Message ----- From: "David Brin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, November 01, 2004 7:11 PM Subject: Re: Brin: some final notes about the aftermath
> > --- Robert Seeberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > > Speaking as a homeboy in one of the reddest of the > > red states, I'll > > throw in with you Gautam. > > This is one nation, regardless of who leads it. > > Regardless of > > transient divisions. > > When I wake up on the third, all of you will still > > be my countrymen > > and I will owe my allegiance to you above and beyond > > all other > > considerations, because the nation is its people > > more than it's flag, > > more than the land, more than the government. > > That is my desire too. This "culture war" thing was > not the doing of those moderates -- north and south, > urban and rural, conservative and liberal - who > believe in the pragmatic enlightenment, in modernism > and in a version of Pax Americana that the rest of the > world will follow toward light. > > It is the kleptos, apocalypts and neocon loonies who > have done this. > (http://www.davidbrin.com/neoromantics.html) > > In any event, the map MEANS something, Robert. Look > at it. Whatever your dreams and mine, about a > tolerant America that is united in joyful, moderate > disagreement, look at it. > > This is a civil war and we did not start it. We are > fighting for the Union. Nah. I live in Montgomery County...one of the more Republican counties in Texas. In the 2002 election, Republicans state wide candidates received, on average, 77.2% of the vote; Democratic candidates received 20.9% of the vote. I like my neighbors, my kids like their friends; even though we disagree on politics. They, on the whole, are against post-modernism...not modernism. The local high schools teach evolution, and no one seems too much in an uproar over it. Its true that there is a small group worried about naughty statues and naughty books in the library, but the local head librarian is my neighbor, and she's won every battle. Listening carefully to them; the biggest issue for them is certainty in the truth. I'll certainly agree that they are too black and white. However, I can almost always get them to enter into dialog once I've convinced them that I believe in the truth; its just that I differ in my understanding. It might be worthwhile for you to come down here some time and listen to these folks. Sure I disagree with them on a lot of things; but they are very strong supporters of the United States. They have sent their children into harms way in order to defend the US, and they have gone themselves. I have tremendous respect for them personally, its just that they happen to be mistaken on a point or two. :-) As you can guess; I don't like polemics. I think it tears us apart more than anything. Dramatic over the top arguments can be fun, but I cannot see how they build consensus. They are great for rousing the faithful, but tend to turn off people who feel that they are being insulted. Even if you can prove that your words didn't actually insult them; if they feel that way, the odds are high that they've tuned you out. Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
