I explained this: It is defensible for a nation to vote on and arrive at a decision on what is best for that countrym and then enforce that popular decision...that is arrived at by consent, so the subjectivity in question only affects those with the subjective viewpoint... But for us to say that "These are the universal rights which worked for us...so damnit, we will enforce it upon others, whatever the cost" is to do two things;!) To decide that our own views, whether we call them univeral or not, are the same views that other nations with different priorities should have for themselves, and 2) To decide that we have the right to make that decision and enforce it upon them without their consent. That is enforcing you principles, priorities, and systems on other nations...It is, in a word, imperialism. We decided for ourselves what our inailienable rights because those reflected our priorities...Other nations have other cultural priorities which our inalinable rights don't account for...so to assume that we are so right about ours that others should have then too, becuase we called them "inalienable' is to enforce our beliefs on others, and is contrary to both the spirit and the law of what we stood for in the first place.
LOL! The "cultural priorities" you speak of are murder and torture! You say we can't force freedom on people "without their consent", yet they have no say in their lives as it stands! These people have NO rights, and you ask that Western culture respect the rights of the people??? Your argument is beyond ridiculous, and I am soooo glad that mainstream America doesn't agree with you.
Franchiseblade, I hear you and feel your pain. I'm burned out, too. Maybe you and I should try more real activism rather than the bbs kind. Activism in the real world inspires hope, not cynicism. Hang in there you have a whole life for politics. Complicating matters for all of us is the sorry state of the Rockets, which isn't much better than the sorry state of our country under Bush and Rumsfeld. Macbeth, I agree with the value of seeing people stating their true viewpoints and certainly employing a style that they don't in everyday life. It is valuable. Also, agree that though it is valuable, it is alarming to see so upclose the personal face of talk radio style elitism, militarism, xenophobia and religious and political conservative fundamentalism as evidenced on this bbs. Sadly Heath, Jorge and Treeman are like the real Bush and Rumsfeld. They are representative of millions of "Stupid White Men". Sobering. Isn't it?
FB, I can relate. I've had to slow down substantially recently also. FWIW, while many have gotten more entrenched over time, you seem to actually kept your mind open in discussions (even if you admit you would write what Batman does ). Take care.
This kind of cracks me up: johnheath, TraderJorge, and treeman are the ones under consistent personal attack from many sides and they don't need to back off... or at least announce it.
I am outraged by these remarks. I have a lot of ties to the Spanish community and I do not regard myself as being stupid. For you to misrepresent me in this manner is beyond offensive. You have insulted every ounce of my being. I demand an apology.
