[MD] the empire

[Platt Holden]

Hi Chris,

> [Platt]
> > I'm all in favor of trying isolationism again. There's only one
> problem.
> > Who will defend the intellectual rights of free speech, freedom of
> > religion, freedom of assembly, trial by jury, habeas corpus, government
> by
> > consent, etc.? The rest of the world seems bent on appeasement, just
> as
> > Europe did during the rise of Hitler and later while threatened by
> Russian
> > communism. Even now Europeans stand idly by while Muslims, rejecting
> > Western values and refusing to assimilate, occupy their countries.
> But,
> > what the hell? If you're a multi-culturist, it makes no difference
> whose
> > regime you  live under. All are equally moral. Pirsig may be the only
> > intellectual left who believes multi-culturism is bullcrap. "A culture
> > that
> > supports the dominance of social values over biological values is an
> > absolutely superior culture to one that does not, and a culture that
> > supports the dominance of intellectual values over social values is
> > absolutely superior to one that does not." (Lila, 24) But, who pays
> any
> > attention to Pirsig anyway? Just a few of us "cult" members.
> 
> I also think that we must protect all the Good things we have against more
> reactionary social level dominated cultures. I think most of Europe is
> doing 
> that though, the best they can without sparking racism or acting 
> imperialistic - because, you know,  that's the stuff that gets towers
> blown 
> up. 

Fear of sparking racism or acting imperialistic should not deter Europe or 
anyone else from doing what is right, e.g., defending intellectual rights. 
There's no excuse for terrorism.  

Platt