Terence McCarthy wrote:
or the black slaves that the "noble constitution" exploited, until Lincoln found it convenient to use the "slavery issue" during the American Civil War).On Wed, 19 Feb 2003 08:59:08 +0100 Roger Oberholtzer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:In fact, people need to re-evaluate where the USranks in freedoms. The immediate reaction is always "at the top". This has, of course, been historically true.
Yes, of course, (but ask the indigenous North American peoples, "ethnically cleansed" from their own land by the post-British European colonists,
Uh, you'd better get a refresher on history. Convenience had nothing to do with it. The abolitionist movement started many years before, and was the general principle behind the States motivation to secede from the United States, which is why war was declared. To preserve the Union was the reason the war took place. Yes, Lincoln supported the abolishment of slavery, but not because it was "convenient". By the way, how many Druids are still hanging out sipping a few pints? <g>
(If in doubt read what the "US Government" wants as powers to "protect" (read "control") its vassals- all in the name of Freedom).But what about today?
Ask those who find that "Big Brother" is already there removing their privacy as law-abiding, socially aware, tax paying, and responsible citizens.
So where does "God Save the Queen" fit? (American assumption that it applies to the empire, not Her Majesty) And did not the British Empire have exactly the same stigmata during it's own "Crusade" to colonize the world? Do they tell the Northern Irelanders that they're free? Are they protecting or controlling? The only difference is which end of the barrel you're on. (They also tend to shut up when they're on the receiving end.) The ones that don't are given labels such as "martyr", "hero", "rebel", "traitor" and others. Just depends on who's saying it, and just because they say it doesn't make it so. Another reason I tend to categorize sensationalistic journalism with pond scum, insurance companies, long term welfare recipients, and Windows.A recent Uk analytical news article argued that the USA (as a political entity) actually believes it is "God's Own Country". It is therefore on a "Crusade"!
There's only one right and one wrong, and it's never the other guy who's right, is it? (unless they've got the gun)This can be compared to the Israeli belief that they are still "God's Chosen People". Both attitudes/beliefs assume that others are (a) not a subject of God's Own Country", or (b) not one of "God's Chosen Race", and are therefore beyond the pale.
Yep, I agree. In the end, what is freedom? It has as many definitions as there are grains of sand in a desert. None of us, nation or individual is capable of saying they haven't transgressed in the same manner, or at the same level we tend to be so quick to criticize. We're all a bunch of hypocrites, myself included. We repeat what we've heard, teach what we're taught, and stumble along in ignorant bliss, a pulsating mass of self important twits, repeating the same mistakes, almost always none the wiser. But hey, we're an interesting study for whatever discovers us in the future if we're still here.May God protect us all from the zealots (and, please God, allow us all a knowledge of our common history, and an awareness of our common humanity....).
Rant over, shields up.
Drop 'em. I just took over as the target rich environment.
Terence
<snip> -- Andrew Mathews --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2:56pm up 9 days, 21:16, 10 users, load average: 0.00, 0.02, 0.00 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Shah, shah! Ayatollah you so! _______________________________________________ General mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.linux-sxs.org/mailman/listinfo/general
