From the desk of George Handlery on Wed, 2012-02-15 18:34 A low-volume echo to an ongoing major trend. From the outset, North America has been a purposeful experiment. It was to prove that Europe’s best ideas were viable after a start from scratch. To proceed, we need a working designation of what “Europe” means. Along with “Western Civilization”, we like to use the term loosely. When we call Europe the “West”, we add the Americas, Australia, and New Zeeland. This separates Europe from its geographical anchor and suggests a civilization defined by change and mobility. We can continue by applying the criteria to include other “progressive” world neighborhoods. In doing so, we imply the membership of Japan, National China, Korea, Singapore. Reaching ahead to what is to follow, the reader notes how many non-European components are included. As things stand, it might be desirable to replace the term “Europe” and “West” with a new term. It would need to be cognizant that the essentials of what has once been a western monopoly – material progress and political democracy- have cut its umbilical cord to Europe and its ethnicities. From the desk of AWR Hawkins on Wed, 2012-02-15 09:23 Throughout the world the mantra rises for all nations to protect “human rights.” And while this normally refers to protecting life, it often goes out as a call to protect the latest interest of an esoteric movement: usually one availing itself of the tactic of shame in a bid to have its every demand met in full. We see this in the push to end “gender-labels,” where academicians argue that the traits of being male or female are socially constructed vehicles of oppression that stand in violation of “human rights.” And we also see it in pushes for “universal healthcare,” where people claim medical services are just one more thing to which they have a right. The Ami Gets His Way: The Ami Goes Home
“Natural Rights” v. “Human Rights”
Thursday, 16 February 2012
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