"Ray E. Harrell" wrote:
>
> If it wasn't so terminal the continual reflex of Utilitarian Europeans to
> either/or; or Socialism/Communism vs Democracy/free market would be
> amusing. For example, Socialism has been "defeated" according to the
> local "Capitalist" media but what about Sweden, France and other parts of
> the world that haven't gotten the message? Communism must, like
> America's Capitalist story, just be
> one of many alternatives on the scale of what the West likes to call left
> and right. I find their metaphor to be flawed from the getgo.
I prefer multi-dimensional sociological
"spaces". At least 2 dimensions: (1) Nurturance
of autochthonous individuality vs psycho-colonization for obedience
being one dimension, and (2) public vs private ownership of the means of
production being a second dimension. Four quadrants are
conceivable: public ownership with social repression, public
ownership with nurturance of individuality, private ownership
with social repression, private ownership with nurturance of
individuality.
But I definitely agree, as far as actually
existing societies are concerned, Scandinavia sounds like the
statistically most auspicious place to be born at this time.
>
> Any body that contains only a left or right brain or a left or right hand,
> etc. is only half a body. Both radical elements are incapable of
> creating harmony or balance alone.
[snip]
Sorry, but I always have an urge to debunk neo-mythologies.
"right brain - left brain" is a scientific (or, more likely,
scient*istic*, i.e., applying the Galilean praxis of
time-factored-series plotting of objective phenomena against
clock-ticks, to what is not amenable to being understood thru that
methodology) *hypothesis*, i.e., a content in the living experience
of certain persons. Certain persons once believed in
adamantine celestial spheres stacked like those little Russian
folk-art figurines around an immovable earth. Right brain/left brain
may one day prove equally quaint (if less inspiring!). But even neurology
knows better, at least since Kurt Goldstein. "The brain" is
highly -- even though not infinitely! -- "plastic". And, in whatever
ways consciousness is connected with brain physiology, there is
substantial evidence that one side of the brain can do things the
other side is supposed to be uniquely able to do, "in a pinch",
i.e., when the other side is missing due either to birth defect or
surgery.
If we wish to talk about "partial bodies", let's talk about
ritual genital mutilation of children in so many cultures (fortunate
the child born male in Egypt; fortunate the child born female in
"secular" America).
+\brad mccormick
--
Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works.... (Matt 5:16)
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21)
Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [EMAIL PROTECTED]
914.238.0788 / 27 Poillon Rd, Chappaqua NY 10514-3403 USA
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