The American Experiment
“He who wishes”
Liberty & Power
by Charles W. Nuckolls
04/05/09
In modern democracies freedom is usually construed as freedom from contraint by others. The same was true in ancient Athens, the opinions of Plato and Aristotle notwithstanding. However, the Athenians believed that preserving freedom depended on the fulfillment of civic responsilbiities. Freedom, in other words, was both a prequisite and a product of citizenship. But why is the citizen motivated to participation? This is something I would consider essential to preserving democracy and preventing the rise of an entrenched elite. Citizens must take the initiative. But we find less and less of that today, especially in the universities, which have become holding pens for inert and essentially passive consumers-in-training...
http://hnn.us/blogs/entries/73902.html
The American Experiment
Last Free Voice
by Rhys M. Blavier
04/03/09
The history of the American Experiment in self government has always been viewed as a battle between dichotomous ideas struggling for supremacy over the other … federalist vs. anti-federalist; conservative vs. liberal; republican vs. democrat; urban vs. agrarian; north vs. south; east vs. west; central government vs. states rights; freedom vs. security; black vs. white; rich vs. poor; business vs. labor; educated vs. uneducated; interventionist vs. isolationist; inheritor vs. usurper; patriot vs. traitor; traditionalist vs revisionist; living constitution vs. original intent; hawk vs. dove; defender vs. apologist; secrecy vs. transparency; communist vs capitalist; church vs. state; chaos vs. order; good vs. evil; us vs. them; you vs. me. It is a mindset that can be expressed in the idea that ‘those who are not with us are against us and those who are against us are our enemies’. The history of the American Experiment has been seen as a polarized conflict between opposing forces but, what America has never been good at is recognizing nuance, shades of grey, middle ground or balance...
http://tinyurl.com/ctk695
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Charles+W.+Nuckolls
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Rhys+M.+Blavier
Liberty & Power
by Charles W. Nuckolls
04/05/09
In modern democracies freedom is usually construed as freedom from contraint by others. The same was true in ancient Athens, the opinions of Plato and Aristotle notwithstanding. However, the Athenians believed that preserving freedom depended on the fulfillment of civic responsilbiities. Freedom, in other words, was both a prequisite and a product of citizenship. But why is the citizen motivated to participation? This is something I would consider essential to preserving democracy and preventing the rise of an entrenched elite. Citizens must take the initiative. But we find less and less of that today, especially in the universities, which have become holding pens for inert and essentially passive consumers-in-training...
http://hnn.us/blogs/entries/73902.html
The American Experiment
Last Free Voice
by Rhys M. Blavier
04/03/09
The history of the American Experiment in self government has always been viewed as a battle between dichotomous ideas struggling for supremacy over the other … federalist vs. anti-federalist; conservative vs. liberal; republican vs. democrat; urban vs. agrarian; north vs. south; east vs. west; central government vs. states rights; freedom vs. security; black vs. white; rich vs. poor; business vs. labor; educated vs. uneducated; interventionist vs. isolationist; inheritor vs. usurper; patriot vs. traitor; traditionalist vs revisionist; living constitution vs. original intent; hawk vs. dove; defender vs. apologist; secrecy vs. transparency; communist vs capitalist; church vs. state; chaos vs. order; good vs. evil; us vs. them; you vs. me. It is a mindset that can be expressed in the idea that ‘those who are not with us are against us and those who are against us are our enemies’. The history of the American Experiment has been seen as a polarized conflict between opposing forces but, what America has never been good at is recognizing nuance, shades of grey, middle ground or balance...
http://tinyurl.com/ctk695
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Charles+W.+Nuckolls
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Rhys+M.+Blavier
rudkla - 6. Apr, 09:15
