I think it rather stronger than a myth one can adhere to or not. Each nation has its beliefs that its citizens grow up with. They accept them whether they are conscious of them or not. Consider the Saudi myth Osama bin Laden grew up with. It is impossible for him to throw that off or look at it objectively. He can't see it from our point of view. As to America's rugged individualism as opposed to Europe's Paternalism, I think the former far more healthy. I prefer a philosophy that encourages us to stand on our own two feet as much as possible as opposed to one that encourages its citizens to expect the world (or its government) to provide it a living. European Paternalism is Marxism-Light. And, no, the government has no right to restrict our right to keep and bear arms. You are still quibbling about who we are. Some of us are babies who shouldn't be allowed to hold a gun. Some of us have Alzheimer's who shouldn't be allowed near guns. Some of us are in Prison. Some of us are in mental Institutions. So many Lit-Ideas quibblers. So large a waste of time. Lawrence -----Original Message----- From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Phil Enns Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 7:37 AM To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Feeling Safe isn't safe Lawrence Helm wrote: "Only those qualified means: not-criminals, not-nutcases, not-inept, and not too lazy to become qualified." We agree, then, that government has the right to restrict gun ownership and that gun ownership is a privilege to be earned. It would appear that the 'if more people had guns, we would be safer' talk is something of a problematic distraction but I can see how it fits the 'Rugged Individualism' mythology. We all have our myths that we use to get through the day, but as Freud tells us, some myths are healthier than others. And surely the John Wayne mythology of carving law and order out of a chaotic frontier land is a bit out of place in an increasingly globalized world, and therefore perhaps not entirely healthy? Sincerely, Phil Enns ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html