2007-12-20
Through the Looking Glass
Sara at Orcinus spells more reasons why I am now and always will be a PROUD liberal.
Orcinus: "When conservatives tell us that we need constant surveillance to make us secure, what they're telling us is that they themselves are prone to criminal behavior if they think nobody else is watching. The fear of exposure is the only force keeping them on the right side of the law -- and that's why it's the only form of 'security' they understand. Bear this in mind if you decide to do business with them.
When they tell us that our future depends on supporting a military that's bigger than the rest of the world's fighting forces combined, what they're telling us is that they can't handle chaos, complexity, change, or being out of control. The whole world is a threat; the only solution is a bigger gun. Bear this in mind if you find yourself in conflict with them.
When they tell us diplomacy isn't an option, they're telling us that it's not an option they understand. Words, agreements, treaties, and contracts mean nothing to them. Brute force is the only option they comprehend...or are likely to respond to themselves. Bear this in mind before you negotiate with them.
When they tell us that homosexuality is a threat to American families, what they're telling us is that homosexuality is a threat to their families. As in: if they ever dared to admit their own sexual interest in other men, their wives would leave them, and take the kids. Bear this in mind when they hold themselves up as moral paragons.
When they tell us the Islamofascists are a threat to our way of life, they are quite correctly pointing out that there are fascists threatening our way of life. They're just deflecting their own intentions on to brown people far away. Bear this in mind before assuming they share your belief in constitutional democracy.
When they accuse reality-based folks of promoting "junk science," they're telling us they basically think all science is junk. Bear this in mind before attempting to present them with convincing evidence of anything.
When they tell us to support the troops, what they're really saying is: You better, because we won't. Bear this in mind when you evaluate the real costs of the war.
When they tell us the government can't be trusted, they're telling us they can't be trusted to govern. Bear this in mind every time you step into a voting booth."
Orcinus: "When conservatives tell us that we need constant surveillance to make us secure, what they're telling us is that they themselves are prone to criminal behavior if they think nobody else is watching. The fear of exposure is the only force keeping them on the right side of the law -- and that's why it's the only form of 'security' they understand. Bear this in mind if you decide to do business with them.
When they tell us that our future depends on supporting a military that's bigger than the rest of the world's fighting forces combined, what they're telling us is that they can't handle chaos, complexity, change, or being out of control. The whole world is a threat; the only solution is a bigger gun. Bear this in mind if you find yourself in conflict with them.
When they tell us diplomacy isn't an option, they're telling us that it's not an option they understand. Words, agreements, treaties, and contracts mean nothing to them. Brute force is the only option they comprehend...or are likely to respond to themselves. Bear this in mind before you negotiate with them.
When they tell us that homosexuality is a threat to American families, what they're telling us is that homosexuality is a threat to their families. As in: if they ever dared to admit their own sexual interest in other men, their wives would leave them, and take the kids. Bear this in mind when they hold themselves up as moral paragons.
When they tell us the Islamofascists are a threat to our way of life, they are quite correctly pointing out that there are fascists threatening our way of life. They're just deflecting their own intentions on to brown people far away. Bear this in mind before assuming they share your belief in constitutional democracy.
When they accuse reality-based folks of promoting "junk science," they're telling us they basically think all science is junk. Bear this in mind before attempting to present them with convincing evidence of anything.
When they tell us to support the troops, what they're really saying is: You better, because we won't. Bear this in mind when you evaluate the real costs of the war.
When they tell us the government can't be trusted, they're telling us they can't be trusted to govern. Bear this in mind every time you step into a voting booth."
2007-12-07
Cultural Relativism and Human Rights
Dispatches from the Culture Wars: Sandefur on Azar Nafisi: "The problem with such cultural relativism is that by denying the universality of human rights, one no longer has a principled defense of their own freedom. If we excuse such deprivations of liberty as justifiable because that culture does not hold the same values we do, how then can we take a stand against our own culture's deprivations of liberty for ourselves or others?"
"If we make all such violations simply a matter of majority rule, we have no principled objection when the majority in our own nations choose to violate our own rights. Rights then become something granted by government, and therefore subject to withdrawal by government, rather than a value that cannot be justly violated by any government. When we begin to think in such ways, liberty will inevitably wither."
"If we make all such violations simply a matter of majority rule, we have no principled objection when the majority in our own nations choose to violate our own rights. Rights then become something granted by government, and therefore subject to withdrawal by government, rather than a value that cannot be justly violated by any government. When we begin to think in such ways, liberty will inevitably wither."
2007-12-06
What Atrios said.
Eschaton: "Much of the time it seems that atheists are the only people who understand that importance of religious freedom, and for that we get accused of being hostile to it."
2007-12-04
The Meritocracy Myth
