Cancel 2020.2 (07-05-2020), cancel2 2022 (07-03-2020)
Cancel 2020.2 (07-05-2020), cancel2 2022 (07-03-2020)
cancel2 2022 (07-03-2020)
Recognizing shortcomings is fine, but without looking at other countries at the same time, you lose perspective.
Granted, the West has had this problem for a long time now. There's a reason why many non-Western countries are happier in general than many Western nations. It's because these people understand the value of a common culture and common values. They take pride in their identity.
Ironically, the same side that emphasizes identity politics doesn't want any part of focusing on national identity. That's "racist", apparently. Although it only seems to be racist when a majority white country does it. Few call the Chinese racist for their nationalism. Few call Pakistanis racist for their nationalism. Few call Indians racist for theirs, and so on.
anatta (07-03-2020)
Phantasmal (07-03-2020)
So your answer to history is presentism. You apply today's standards to yesteryear's people? That shows a gross lack of understanding of history or culture.
It also paves the way for the same thing that happened in Maoist China -- the rejection of the Four Olds. Granted, I realize that is the goal of a lot of the left.
anatta (07-03-2020), cancel2 2022 (07-03-2020), Into the Night (07-04-2020)
What would the alternative, the one presumably all the protesters want, look like?
excellent analogy (4 Olds). this is a cultural revolution, and there are Maoists in the streets.
More then that there is a Maoist perception taking hold thru BLM/NYTimes "1619 Project" that
America is a racist construct from the beginning and cannot redeem itself no matter what we do
That's a crippling perspective for blacks and whites -and a fallacy as well
Saudade (07-03-2020)
Into the Night (07-04-2020)
cancel2 2022 (07-03-2020)
Fair enough, but there's a similar logical problem with the presentism that the social left is applying to historical figures.
Ultimately, a balance is needed. Historical figures cannot be held to standards outside of their times, while critiques of this society must be made in the context of what has already been established in human society before.
Anyone demanding utopian conditions is unreasonable. Incremental reforms are the most logical and must reflect the limitations of human nature.
AProudLefty (07-03-2020), Into the Night (07-04-2020)
cancel2 2022 (07-03-2020)
Into the Night (07-04-2020)
Stretch (07-04-2020)
First off, the question was "do you think the Constitution was just something a bunch of racists wrote?" To which I clearly specified "actually, based upon today's understanding, yes," which is true, no on can deny that fact
The reality is that you accept that fact, then you can continue to understand history in its proper context, but to deny the obvious and move forward is hypocritical and makes it harder for those who were the victims of those injustices to understand and accept
And the China thing is just weird, no offense intended
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