[MD] Unreality of Equality

[Arlo J. Bensinger]

[Platt]
You'll have to excuse me for smiling at the knee-jerk, politically 
correct response of you and Arlo at the mention of bones in noses,  completely
ignoring the meaning of the sentence that says there's a 
differences in cultures and that some are better than others. 

[Arlo]
I don't think my response was knee-jerk, unless you consider anything other than
masturbating to the American flag to be knee-jerk. My point was that you are
comparing one thing (bone in the noses) and another (man on the moon) and
making an absolute comparison based on those. All I said was that the "bone in
the nose" is more comparable to "cuff links". 

And, although you continue to taut the "dash their brains on rocks" Pirsig
comment, you also completely ignore the other 99% of what Pirsig said about
Indians. The point stands, and SA was correct, one could just as easily compare
the generosity of Indian values with the values of a culture that gives pox
blankets to women and children. 

SA- here's a pointer. With Platt there are only two options. America is the
Greatest, Most Superior, Holy Moral, Absolutely Highest nation that has ever
existed, or you are a commie, knee-jert, traitorous wacko. 

A reasoned opinion would agree that American, and western culture has brought
the world a lot of good. But would also be able to step back and (1) examine
what it brings that might not be good, and (2) accept that other cultures may
do some things better. It is not an "all or nothing" game, as Platt makes it.

Pirsig points out in ZMM what the effects of western intellect has been, in
giving us power and stuff beyond our wildest imaginations, but at a great
expense, being part of the world and not an enemy towards it. In his
masturbatory glee over American Moral Supremity, Platt is unable to heed these
words, and like most of Pirsig it ends up ignored in favor of that which
conforms to his political ideology.

America is great, sure. But in many ways it is not so great. It has done good
things, and it has done evil things. The trick is to be willing and able to
rise above blind allegience to static social patterns. To be able to recognize
the expense at which comes "the stuff".

As with the Middle East tumor, you see the inability of right-wing dogma to
embrace anything other than its own perceived Moral Righteousness. Here and
there, as I've always said. Now, under the guise of "inequality", we are right
back to more "we are the greatest" dick stroking. No one on "the left" I know
has ever said that they believe all people to be "equal in skill". Yo Yo Ma is
a better cello player than I'll ever be. Einstein a far greater mathematician.
Emeril a better chef. But notice the sly (and not indeliberate) extension from
this to both "one person has more value" and "by virtue of a skill set, one
culture is superior to another".

Russia, by the way, has put men into space, to a far greater extent than we
have. But I doubt Platt would want to live there. This is not to say their is
noticable ability in Russia's efforts, there are, but by the virtue of this one
skill, its impossible to extrapolate the "inherent superiority of a culture".
Personally, I'd favor a culture that feeds it hungry and heals its sick over
one that spends billions to put a man on a distant rock while people starve and
go without shelter. But that's me.

And yes, people have "unequal" skill sets. So what? Being better at a skill
doesn't make someone "better". So, Platt thinks he is superior to a "bone in
the nose" aborginal. Like Dusenberry, I think I'd prefer the company of the
latter.

Arlo

PS: Marsha, sorry for boring you.