Howya Platt,
> Also part of the challenge, especially here, is to see the world through the
> spectacles of the MOQ.
Fair enough.
I agree too that this is different from 'rationalising' one's pre-existing
bias. Also, I want to make myself clear that I am not using 'bias' or
'prejudice' here in a derogatory fashion, but rather in a technical one - a
synonym for static patterns of value, which can be a sort of Social-level
Monkey Trap. Anyone can wind up "pushing" their preexisting social values
(or even a stripped-down version of them) using MoQ language - without
necessarily being aware of it.
I will cut to the contentious stuff for fun...
> Well, you have "fessed up" as to your political leanings...
Well, not really. If I had _really_ 'fessed up, I would have said that I
have anarchist/libertarian sympathies (with intellectual warts and all), and
that I am a knee-jerk emotional-reactionary who tends to automatically take
the side of the weaker party to any conflict (even, on occasion, US
Republicans ;-)
> I fess up to believing the U.S. is the greatest country in the world. If it is
> as bad as you say, ...
Whoa there, pardner! "as bad as I say" is that it is probably the most free
country in the world, internally. It is also my contention that the Social
Level has a plurality of elements, which may be judged independently from
one another, and not necessarily as one monolithic lump. For example, to
criticise the US' Government/State and it's political class's
actions/attitudes is not the same thing as casting aspersions on the US'
Constitution, or US' culture (small "c": Mom, apple pie, rugged
individualism, spirit of rebellion etc.), or even the US' People.
In a similar manner, one may criticise "Islamic fundamentalism" without
necessarily casting aspersions on Muslims, or the State of Israel without
being antisemitic. This also depends on correctly stating one's intentions
(and following through with them), and if I am guilty of not clearly stating
mine, and offending your sense of patriotism, I apologise. My negative
criticism was directed at the foreign policy of the US' "State Class".
> ... millions of people all over the
> world are lining up to get in.
... My grandparents having been among some of them...
> Must be a whole lot of "suckers" out there.
No one intends to be suckered by clever, manipulative people; it's not
necessarily a "Moral" failing. Again, if I have not made myself clear, I was
refering to a Government (or sucession of governments) "suckering" it's
citizens, not people being stupid just because they are of a particular
nationality.
> Like Pirsig, I believe freedom trumps everything.
And like you, I value the freedoms that the US can guarantee to their
citizens, and the ideals to which many of their citizens aspire to. This is
why I take issue with the actions of the US State when they contradict and
undermine those same freedoms and ideals either inside or outside of it's
borders.
Take care,
- Oisín.
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