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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 14, 2021 20:46:19 GMT -8
I can't recall where they were posted, but we have had some discussions on the merits of colonialism. As you may recall, I have fairly broad knowledge of the subject and do not find everything about it negative. In fact, I find some number of positives. Below is a link to a piece which lays out some absolute positives about it. Tamping down barbarism I think my favorite example of positive good in this instance is the case of General Napier
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 15, 2021 13:41:42 GMT -8
What was the Progressive misadventure in Afghanistan but simply a new type of colonialism, "One World Order" style? Listen, you and I know that the British could be real bastards. The Irish and Scots know that better than anyone. But the world left to the delusional imaginations of Progressives who believe "people of color" is synonymous with Kumbaya haven't got what it takes to construct much more than fantasies. Yes, you can coerce people to a certain extent. The Roman Empires was very good at this. But there is no vision of a world of Kumbaya when you simply blame white people for everything -- particularly when you blame them for the social dysfunction and barbarism of much of the shit-hole third world "people of color" countries. Give me the British over any of these fascists or assholes. At least the British could build something useful, railroads, etc.
Napier certainly took a famous and pragmatic approach. But I can't say that the analysis in that article was enlightening. It was just, "See! Religion can't solve anything. It's the problem." Well, Napier got his values from somewhere.
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 15, 2021 14:51:08 GMT -8
My interpretation of history is that every nation, every tribe, every ethnic group is made up of "real bastards." Throughout history they have all gone after each other for fun and profit. The main crime the British and other colonialists were guilty of is that they were better at this than the rest of the world at the time. In fact, the British Empire was built on very little blood when compared to that of the Mongols, Aztecs, or Assyrians. The fact that the Brits offered some big advantages to their colonies, including a relatively light-handed rule, might have had something to do with their success. Nothing breeds resentment like success.
I agree completely. I thought it somewhat silly, but I wanted the part about Napier.
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 15, 2021 19:02:14 GMT -8
As Americans, I think we can have an objective view. We felt their abuse, parted ways, and yet are still connected at the hip. Think of the great man, Churchill, with a foot in both worlds because of his parents. And he arguably saved Western Civilization from doom. If Britain fell there was no stopping Hitler. Had they capitulated when many wanted, he would likely have been able to conquer Russia.
In America we have the best of both worlds: The influence of Britain and the independence from them.
Unless you like living like an aborigine, Britain showed much of the world how to become civilized. And as much as the Left likes to glamorize "people of color," the world is full of shit-hole countries that either were lifted up by Britain or were unfortunate enough to have some other colonizer (Spain/the Catholic Church) ruin their countries.
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Post by artraveler on Oct 15, 2021 20:10:57 GMT -8
In America we have the best of both worlds: The influence of Britain and the independence from them. In 1939 Menachem Begin the future PM of the State of Israel was reluctantly persuaded to suspend the Irgun action against the British and to unite with haganah against the Germans. Begin is to have remarked, " I hold not anger against the British. If one has to have a master they are the very best. But why have a master at all?" After the war the Irgun began a systemic campaign to throw the British out, culminating the bombing of the King David Hotel, British HQ. Forcing the British to call for an end to their mandate, and in May 1948 Israel became a free state. The British, every gentlemanly, instead of voting against partition in the UN abstained. Considering the pressure put on them by Arab oil interests it took some real guts to do that. When the world ends I believe the last voice heard will say, "I say, old chap" with a proper London accent.
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 15, 2021 20:36:21 GMT -8
Artler, your words are eloquent and meaningful. Rare to find on the web these days. Just wanted to say.
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Post by artraveler on Oct 15, 2021 21:11:02 GMT -8
Like most of this my age, 73 and counting.I have lived enough to, I hope, have some perspective of current events, the good and the increasing number of bad. The one advantage I feel I had was going to high school in the 60s in the South. As a not very observant Jew in a small southern town, Fayetteville had a population of about 12,000 in 1960 when we moved here. I counted my self as one of three Jews in high School.
It never mad a difference in jr. high and high school my teachers were mostly survivors of the depression, WWII and Korea. Their belief in America never faltered or failed and that belief carried into every classroom. It never matter who we called G-d. One of my early girlfriends was a Baptist Pastor daughter. He challenged my beliefs and respected my holding to them.
Was the south perfect in the 60s? well, we all know the sad answer to that, America was not perfect in the 60s the South was just a sideshow in the bigger dramas. In that nothing has changed. The people who hate haven't changed. They still take their hate to obscene levels, in order to frighten, confuse and dominate us. Jew and Gentile alike.
I confess I have more than a bad feeling about the future, is it because of old age approaching? maybe, or is it because of the history I've learned and experienced in 73 years, or just karma. I'm reminded of a Chinese curse. "may your children live in interesting times". I don't want my children, grand children or great grandchildren to suffer this curse. If I could take the anger, hatred and violence upon my self with the sure and absolute belief it would end I would willing walk into the fire.
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 16, 2021 7:19:15 GMT -8
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 16, 2021 9:19:40 GMT -8
It is certainly useful to put a damper on pessimism and to wonder if we, not the culture, is perhaps at fault.
The truth is, the core of the accusations made against us is true: America is built on primarily white, European, Judeo-Christian men and women. This is why so-called critical race theory exists. It must be shown that the white man is inferior and evil. It must never be shown that perhaps he had a better plan than the ragtag "people of color" scattered throughout the world living in shit-hole conditions.
That is not to disparage those in Singapore, Japan, South Korea, or other places where non-white people (in large part thanks to America and MacArthur) are living civilized lives.
Civilization is not inherently a white thing. But when racism so overtakes a cause, it finds it must brand everything in the past "bad" even if it actually was good and it worked.
So we live in the strange times of the White Queen who can believe "as many as six impossible things before breakfast." The masks are a clear sign of an irrational culture. You and I are left scratching our heads and wondering if we're just getting old. No, we're simply not getting stupid. Full stop.
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 16, 2021 14:47:04 GMT -8
The author ends the piece with:
let us take actions today to ensure it is not simply one of the last hurrahs of a failing, intellectually bankrupt society.
OK. What are your suggestions?
The problem I have with that piece is that the author bitches and moans without any suggestions as how to remedy the problems. I can understand bitching and moaning on Reviews & Things, but I expect more from "American Greatness." If a movement expects to have any success, it must lay out clear proposals as to what needs to be done to improve things. The conservatariat is particularly poor at this. We need a few Saul Alinskys and Antonio Gramscis in the movement. Steve Bannon is probably the leading conservative in "applied political action," and he has built up a group of equally motivated activists around him. While I greatly admired William F. Buckley and Rush Limbaugh, neither were very useful in actually giving people concrete ideas or directions as to what needed to be done to succeed against the Uniparty. They were probably too much a part of the Uniparty to do something against it.
Frankly, I come across few articles that are ahead of us here. I do occasionally find some pieces which go into more detail than we do, but that's about it.
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 16, 2021 17:00:03 GMT -8
I expected more from StubbornThings which is exactly why I ditched it. Here's a poster I think you would agree with. It's in reply to an article I linked to in the Culture of Hysteria thread: But, of course, we need a hell of a lot more than a change of language. I'm of exactly the same opinion, of course. The Conservative Book club has been fabulously successful at selling books or getting paid subscriptions for newsletters and this and that. But they have done next to nothing regarding concrete actions to combat the Left. Mark Levin is an exception having brought some lawsuits here and there. And I consider Dennis Prager a light in the darkness. Hell, he smuggled bibles into the Soviet Union. This guy also is more than about just talking. But most of the rest of them simply use this situation as a chance to make money. Most do next to nothing in terms of concrete action. It's just talk, talk, talk. Blah blah blah blah.
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 16, 2021 19:50:41 GMT -8
Absolutely! I long ago decided to stop allowing the left and Uniparty to set the narrative in my discussions with others. I do not accept the nonsense about 57 sexes, etc. etc. Mental illness drives many leftists and they refuse to get help. Of course, they want the rest of us to suffer with them. They are delusional and too often liars by nature. This will never change. They will say and do anything to further their power and control. Like the Islamic jihadists, if they receive a setback in their perpetual war on humanity, they will only agree to a truce, never a peace treaty or surrender. We need to keep this in mind.
The impulses which drive them are endemic in a significant part of the human race. They will always ooze to the surface if not controlled by the part of humanity that is sane, doesn't believe in unicorns or castles in the air, or that money grows on trees or that everyone will one day be able to do exactly what they please anytime they please it without negative consequences. These mental cases, crackpots, charlatans, liars, perverts, fantasists and little monsters who would destroy our country and heritage must be controlled by that part of humanity that understands man is not perfectible
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 16, 2021 20:03:19 GMT -8
What was it that Burke purportedly said?
All that is needed for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.
Well, "good Americans" have been doing nothing for far too long now and need to get up off their asses and act for the good of the country. If not for that, then for the good of their children and grandchildren. If not for that then for the good of themselves.
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 16, 2021 21:10:11 GMT -8
Chisel that bit in stone.
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 17, 2021 10:21:20 GMT -8
It's interesting that Alan Shepard was the first American in space on May 5, 1961. Sixty years later, a rich billionaire, Bezo, pulls a publicity stunt and sends Captain Kirk into space for a few minutes. This is 60 years later and viewed as a triumph.
I suppose progress outside of the corrupt NASA organization is to be applauded. I think the real message is that, beyond satellites, space is highly impractical for commercial ventures. Most of the sci-fi novels have man in space. In the Foundation books (which I've just started), Asimov talks of millions of planets with billions of humans on them.
I think the reality of that 60 year gap for another Shepard-like flight is that sci-fi is always going to be much more interesting in novels than what is practical in the near to far term of what we can do in space.
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 17, 2021 11:07:24 GMT -8
I have to admit to never having been a big Sci Fi fan. Like you say, it rarely seems to deal with human physical limitations in a serious way. For all its pretensions, to my mind, most Sci Fi is more of a fairy tale than actual fairy tales.
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 17, 2021 11:44:03 GMT -8
I have no problem with sci-f, per se. But one reason I gave it up was because most modern novels take on a Leftist/Progressive theme. It's usually some type of environmental disaster. But, like Star Trek, sci-fi can be a place to dream big. Some of the "hard science fiction novels" by Arthur C. Clarke I think you would like. You might start with Fountains of Paradise. It's been a long while since I've read that but it's a nice combination of future tech and cloak-and-dagger intrigue. Rendezvous with Rama is another fun adventure. A Fall of Moondust is a very good short story.
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 17, 2021 19:53:51 GMT -8
This was the only one of your recommendations that I could reserve at my local lending library. I will pick it up during the week and see what I think of it.
I was also able to reserve Eric Hoffer's book "The True Believer." It is the only Hoffer book in the system.
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 17, 2021 20:13:02 GMT -8
There are a couple of sequels to the book. In later years, Clarke had co-authors. Not sure how much of his own writing he did and the sequels are so-so, the second one being okay-ish.
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Post by artraveler on Nov 2, 2021 17:15:01 GMT -8
Cook Political has called the VA govoners race for Youngkin. Currently on Fox 70% of the vote is in and Youngkin has an 11% lead. Fairfax county is slow to report so there is still the opportunity for Dem cheating. But right now Youngkin has a victory beyond the capacity to cheat.
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