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.
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.
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
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