CD>>Why are Nader backers so
unwilling to take *any* responsibility for this?
*****************
Of what does taking responsibility consist? Should Bush apologize for
defeating Gore or vice versa? Should whoever is the winner apologize to the
other two losers for defeating them? Does taking responsibility mean Nader
supporters should allow their opponents to a] force them to take another job
with a pay cut? b]eat Tofu and Brussel Sprouts and drink Prune Juice for a
month? c]listen with the patience of monks and repent? What? Taking
responsibility sounds like code words for "we're in love with maliciousness
and want to disenfranchize you from expressing yourself in the Agora."
I think a reading of John Locke's flawed but useful Essay on Toleration is
in order on all sides.
"Which of the parties contending about these things is in the right, which
of them is guilty of schism or heresy, whether those that domineer or those
that suffer, will then at last be manifest when the causes of their
separation comes to be judged...If anyone maintain that men ought to be
compelled by fire and sword to profess certain doctrines, and conform to
this or that exterior worship, without any regard had unto their morals; if
anyone endeavour to convert those that are erroneous unto the faith, by
forcing them to profess things that they do not believe and allowing them to
practise things...it cannot be doubted indeed but such a one is desirous to
have a numerous assembly joined in the same profession with himself; but
that he principally intends by those means to compose a truly [insert
political party affiliation here] is altogether incredible...no private
person has any right in any manner to prejudice another person in his civil
enjoyments because he is of another church or religion[ or party
affiliation]. All the rights and franchises that belong to him as a man, or
as a denizen, are inviolably to be preserved to him. These are not the
business of religion. No violence nor injury is to be offered him, whether
he be Christian or Pagan. Nay, we must not content ourselves with the narrow
measures of bare justice; charity, bounty, and liberality must be added to
it. This the [Democracy, Agora]Gospel enjoins, this reason directs, and this
that natural fellowship we are born into requires of us. If any man err from
the right way, it is his own misfortune, no injury to thee; nor therefore
art thou to punish him in the things of this life because thou supposest he
will be miserable in that which is to come."
We're still as dumb as our ancestors 'cause we got the same kind brains they
had :-)
http://vesuvius.jsc.nasa.gov/er/seh/Apollo_17_View_of_Earth.pdf
Om Nama Shivaya :-)
Ian
