Brian,
Clearly the USA is not perfect, or the end point of social evolution
on this planet (or others). The USA is the outcome of one set of
highly successful (anglo-american) experiments/innovations with
"freedom" and "commerce". American individualism is not particulary
compatible with the other major world axiologies that are reflected
in collectivist cultures.
That "success" doesn't exclude "good", "truth" or "beauty" as they
have come to be experienced in other cultures.
Note that the whole idea of "freedom" is premised on the existence of
the opposite, which is to say the universal reality of "slavery" as a
social institution in every historical context experienced by
"civilized" human beings for 5,000 years (including the significant
reforms of slavery in Islam).
Historically, there has NEVER been a major culture free of slavery,
or the deeply ingrained patterns of thought and experience left in
slavery's wake.
Presumably at some (distant?) point in a more enlightened and just
future, the individual conciousness and social insitutions (as
expressions of individual conciousnes) will have evolved to reflect
additional aspects of human potential, and will have largely
transcended the shadows of the kinds of slavery/oppression that have
characterized virtually all of humanity's "civilized" history.
For an interesting summary of the basic democratic principles of
"civil society" and the relationship to the "information age", see
the statement on the web site of the
Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR)
working in the Internet Democracy Project
http://www.cpsr.org/internetdemocracy/Statement_July-13.html
excerpt:
"...Civil society is a third sector of society alongside the state
and the market. The values underlying civil society include
freedom of association, freedom of expression, participatory
democracy, and respect for diversity. A vigorous civil society
is an important counter-balance to government and business. The
growing global integration of markets and coordination of
governments creates the need for a corresponding global civil
society.
Technical coordination of the Internet’s core resources has
unavoidable social, economic, and political consequences. The At
Large elections present a welcome opportunity to achieve balance
on ICANN’s governing Board and to promote democratic governance of
Internet technical coordination. "
---
Given the massive erosion of *participatory values* that are required
for the proper functioning of democratic capitalism, americans may
not have the luxury of just resting on their venerable traditions
much longer. Democracy is messy and inefficient, in other words, "high
maintenance". Get lazy, and all sorts of sh*t starts hitting the fan.
regards,
ep
On 17 May 2001, at 12:17, Brian MacLean wrote:
Date sent: Thu, 17 May 2001 12:17:18 -0800
To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> God I live in an awful country. I'm sorry for all the tyranny my country
> has put the world through. I guess I'll just shoot myself.
...
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Author: Eric D. Pierce
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