Thursday, July 24, 2008
World Citizen
Just for the record, I'm not a world citizen. I do not grant sovereignty over any little thing I say or do to the UN, the EU, or the Hague. I'm an American citizen. Yes, I was born very lucky, and being an American citizen is special.
The over-educated work ceaselessly to end nationalism, seeing it, like guns, as the source of never ending human conflict. But they are wrong, again. Weapons prevent violence as often as they are used in it. It is the person that carries the weapon and his purposes that matter. And so it is with nationalism. It is not good or bad in itself, it is the instrument of a nation. It is the purposes of the nation that determine whether it is good or bad.
Nationalism in America and nationalism in North Korea are not morally equivalent. The end of nationalism in those nations that hold high purposes will not benefit any 'world citizens.'
Spare me the messiah who will lower the oceans and end violence among men.
The over-educated work ceaselessly to end nationalism, seeing it, like guns, as the source of never ending human conflict. But they are wrong, again. Weapons prevent violence as often as they are used in it. It is the person that carries the weapon and his purposes that matter. And so it is with nationalism. It is not good or bad in itself, it is the instrument of a nation. It is the purposes of the nation that determine whether it is good or bad.
Nationalism in America and nationalism in North Korea are not morally equivalent. The end of nationalism in those nations that hold high purposes will not benefit any 'world citizens.'
Spare me the messiah who will lower the oceans and end violence among men.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Open Borders
How do you think it would go for you in a Mexican hospital?
Monday, July 07, 2008
From the Inbox: Post Turtle
Post Turtle: While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75 year old Texas rancher, whose hand was caught in a gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to Obama and his bid to be our President. The old rancher said, 'Well, ya know, Obama is a 'post turtle'.' Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a 'post turtle' was.
The old rancher said, 'When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a 'post turtle'.
The old rancher saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued to explain. 'You know he didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't belong up there, he doesn't know what to do while he is up there, and you just wonder what kind of a dumb rascal put him up there.'
The old rancher said, 'When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a 'post turtle'.
The old rancher saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued to explain. 'You know he didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't belong up there, he doesn't know what to do while he is up there, and you just wonder what kind of a dumb rascal put him up there.'
