tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post5680472378821102593..comments2023-11-03T07:31:49.573-04:00Comments on Liberal Citizen: An Obscure Question: Is this an Age of Englightment, or an Enlightning Age? [or, are philosophical meanderings totally boring & impractical?]Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09253150846911854844noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-89311395377447857902007-10-31T20:13:00.000-04:002007-10-31T20:13:00.000-04:00Ha! This is a good one. Did you know that there is...Ha! This is a good one. Did you know that there is no official language in the US? There have been attempts to make English the official language, but nothing so far. Recently, during the debate about immigration--in a very flawed legislation bill that got nowhere--there was another attempt at this. <BR/><BR/>Oh, com'on, Greek the official (2nd?)language of the US?!! Probably the legend/myth originated from one of those non-biding resolutions cities, states and even Congress pass... So, for one day everybody is Greek, Irish, and that the Ottomans were genocidal...<BR/><BR/><BR/>Guys, in practice Spanish (a slight variation of the spoken Spanish of Spain) is the second language in the US. Latinos recently surpassed blacks in numbers. Asians are numerous here too, but they don't speak the same language.<BR/><BR/>PS>As a matter of utility, many localities (even states) publish official instructions (election, health notices, etc) in 2 languages (usually Spanish, or in Chinese in ..Chinatown, NY) to better inform the public. What do you say to this? Should it be done????!!!!Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09253150846911854844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-66335770450856299642007-10-31T17:29:00.000-04:002007-10-31T17:29:00.000-04:00There is an urban legend that because of Muhlenber...There is an urban legend that because of Muhlenberg, German didn't become the second official language of the United States. At the heart of this legend is a vote in the United States House of Representatives from 1794, where a group of German immigrants asked for the translation of some laws into German. This petition was rejected by a 42-41 vote and Muhlenberg was later quoted as having said "the faster the Germans become Americans, the better it will be".<BR/><BR/>Τα ίδια λένε και για την ελληνική γλώσσα, ότι για μία ψήφο δεν καθιερώθηκε ως επίσημη σε κάποια ...ψηφοφορία της Μασαχουσέτης.<BR/>Είναι legend, suburban myth.<BR/><BR/>Do you know anything about it?<BR/><BR/><BR/>There is a controversy about this here (comments 55-65): https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27768437&postID=3518354675676140172<BR/><BR/>Συγνώμη για την άσχετη δημοσίευση dear Andros!doctorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15900873479697515730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-38440185411309385152007-10-18T13:06:00.000-04:002007-10-18T13:06:00.000-04:00The one that doesn't condemn pleasure and has a wi...The one that doesn't condemn pleasure and has a wine god who like the rest of them bunch often is naked!Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09253150846911854844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-13813815067274868902007-10-18T13:04:00.000-04:002007-10-18T13:04:00.000-04:00Aha! You didn't specify which world view (religion...Aha! You didn't specify which world view (religion?) is more humanistic....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-85691186433984546892007-10-18T13:03:00.000-04:002007-10-18T13:03:00.000-04:00The first pix is from Athens, and it presents the ...The first pix is from Athens, and it presents the dichotomy between one set of world view (more humane in my own estimate) and another.<BR/><BR/>I shot the second in Liberty State park a couple years ago during the 4th of July a couple years ago. The band is Lowry (off beat rock).<BR/><BR/>The third is from Pier 17, South Street Seaport last summer.<BR/><BR/>Yes, it'a about people having fun, being themselves, doing what they like... with a personal definition of pleasure!Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09253150846911854844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-81409928382668090052007-10-18T13:00:00.000-04:002007-10-18T13:00:00.000-04:00I'm trying to figure out the meaning of the pictur...I'm trying to figure out the meaning of the pictures you have in this post.<BR/>The first one, I think it's the old civilization (and religion) being supplanted by the newer.<BR/><BR/>The other two are people having fun, which is good. Any other meaning?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-20255899504324779002007-10-18T12:58:00.000-04:002007-10-18T12:58:00.000-04:00Of course, and I'm not dismissing the importance o...Of course, and I'm not dismissing the importance of culture. But, I think enlightned people can always improve their culture. After all, people do change so culture should too. I understand the need for normalcy and peace & order in a society, yet, today we know that under this guise many people have been suppressed, kept as chattel, or killed to preserve cultural purity.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09253150846911854844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-81963792432924026002007-10-18T12:55:00.000-04:002007-10-18T12:55:00.000-04:00Culture is important because it provides cohesion ...Culture is important because it provides cohesion and, why not, some kind of normalcy. Often people are happy with the prevailing culture. Are they not?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-76945645360265966532007-10-13T11:26:00.000-04:002007-10-13T11:26:00.000-04:00WE BECOME LIKE OUR ENEMIESRoll over Jefferson and ...WE BECOME LIKE OUR ENEMIES<BR/><BR/>Roll over Jefferson and roll<BR/>Now Madison within<BR/>Your graves--it takes no Gallup poll<BR/>To know that men have been<BR/>Defrauded of democracy,<BR/>Fraud purchased by hypocrisy,<BR/>Hooray, hooray bureaucracy,<BR/>To hell with you and me!<BR/><BR/>None stands like Patrick Henry stood<BR/>For liberty or death<BR/>Defending to the death right good<BR/>Words carried by the breath,<BR/>Breath even of one´s enemy<BR/>without there be a penalty--<BR/>Hooray, hooray for speech that´s free<BR/>Now lost to you and me.<BR/><BR/>Roll over Washington and roll<BR/>Now Adams and the rest:<BR/>The parchment hollowed of its soul<BR/>Becomes a cheaper jest<BR/>Than empty psychotherapy<BR/>With words sweet and cornsyrupy--<BR/>Hooray, hooray the satrapy<BR/>Installed o´er you and me. <BR/><BR/>--i.m. smallAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-50220977317874020572007-10-12T22:44:00.000-04:002007-10-12T22:44:00.000-04:00Correction: I meant, there can't be democracy with...Correction: I meant, there can't be democracy without an more equitable distribution of wealth. [I omitted the negative]Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-79618624382067053062007-10-12T22:41:00.000-04:002007-10-12T22:41:00.000-04:00I agree. And this great chasm of wealth distributi...I agree. And this great chasm of wealth distribution in this country is obscene in my judgment.<BR/><BR/>Paul Krugman just made the point that you can't have a truly democratic society when there's some kind of fair distribution of the wealth and resources of a country.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-12108186062043378162007-10-12T22:38:00.000-04:002007-10-12T22:38:00.000-04:00Of course there's an access problem. I've been adv...Of course there's an access problem. I've been advocating education and healthcare for all members of any civilized & advanced country.<BR/><BR/>I meant that if you have a skeptical mind (from the Greek, skepticos--thoughtful), are a free-thinker then you can be part of the such elite. And, I believe it's important for a society to have many intellectuals and other creative people. Yes, you need to have a working class to make a successful economy which in turn funds the arts and sciences, but we've seen in the past that lots of wealth doesn't necessarily produce a great civilization.<BR/><BR/>Open, tolerant societies are necessary for the great advances in all sorts of things. It's no accident that cosmopolitan societies tend to be much more successful than then closed-minded, and isolated ones.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09253150846911854844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-44891957866964943792007-10-12T22:32:00.000-04:002007-10-12T22:32:00.000-04:00The elite you're talking about is educated for the...The elite you're talking about is educated for the most part. Don't you see this as an access problem? The cost of higher ed is increasing, so it does make financial sense to get a degree with a good return in the future!<BR/><BR/>Maybe there are fees after all to join.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-47049132086689979052007-10-12T22:25:00.000-04:002007-10-12T22:25:00.000-04:00Interesting approach the pleasure and pain as cond...Interesting approach the pleasure and pain as conditions for human behaviour....<BR/><BR/>It's true for the most part. People seek pleasure, although you correctly point out that due to a perversion of what human nature is religion often cautions us against "too much" pleasure...<BR/><BR/>Especially the self-gradifying kind if you know what I mean...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-66022031720398408502007-10-12T22:22:00.000-04:002007-10-12T22:22:00.000-04:00The point of practicality is well made, though I t...The point of practicality is well made, though I think more is coming. I do think that all ideas can have a practical application if they make people do things.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-44145990080650055702007-10-12T22:20:00.000-04:002007-10-12T22:20:00.000-04:00yes, and those stories are codified into holy book...yes, and those stories are codified into holy books, and are part of the culture... <BR/><BR/>obviously many people fail to see the relevance of it... that those myths are relevant to the people who invent them and not to others who invent something else!Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09253150846911854844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-13806263236440898722007-10-12T22:18:00.000-04:002007-10-12T22:18:00.000-04:00Surely ideas are extremely important. I remember w...Surely ideas are extremely important. I remember watching The Power of Myth on PBS many years ago. Captivating. I don't know if everyone got the message that people make up stories....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-9837808378723211152007-10-12T22:16:00.000-04:002007-10-12T22:16:00.000-04:00Well, yes, people do look for maximizing their wor...Well, yes, people do look for maximizing their worth, in monetary values. There's nothing wrong with it, except it may blind them to other venues of activities.<BR/><BR/>I think the question, what is the meaning of life, should be pondered frequently.<BR/><BR/>I do believe that every person should make their own paths to shaping their own lives as they see fit. Of course, this is not always easily done. And, that's why I'm concerned with access to opportunity of all sorts. Yes, it's a moral thing to have a system that rewards people for their efforts (as Adam Smith argued), but there has to be the conditions for action...<BR/><BR/><BR/>Oh, by the way, people often make the wrong choices, not the most economic ones as you suggest. Culture and personal beliefs interfere with such.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09253150846911854844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-37604857369686744452007-10-12T22:09:00.000-04:002007-10-12T22:09:00.000-04:00I think we discussed this earlier. People do make ...I think we discussed this earlier. People do make the most economical choices. Majoring in the humanities probably condemns someone into a life of poverty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-29212986744630203532007-10-11T22:59:00.000-04:002007-10-11T22:59:00.000-04:00Talking about convenience, we want our politics li...Talking about convenience, we want our politics like we want our food at the drive through of Burger King...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-861223958004375542007-10-11T20:33:00.000-04:002007-10-11T20:33:00.000-04:00What kind of exposure to the world of ideas & phil...What kind of exposure to the world of ideas & philosophy do our students get today? Not much. There's a growing trend toward majors that can result in better financial future for the holders of degrees. Interest in the Humanities is declining. <BR/><BR/>Is the utility of making money going to completely overshaddow the utility of having free-thinkers and skeptics and well-rounded educated people?<BR/><BR/>One thing that's missing from most higher-ed schools is this exposure to the great minds of the past and present. My goodness, at least we should expose the young adults to such ideas; they may never have the chance to delve into such subjects in the "real" world.<BR/><BR/>Great post. I found it very refreshing and surprising (for a blog)...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com