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December 08, 2006
On Civilization
I'm not a great philosopher - but I don't need to be.
There are other people out there to do the heavy lifting for me.
I've seen, at various times, third-world pest-holes, and been mightily glad that I don't live in such a place.
Kim du Toit, HERE, put in two quotes that summarizes why true civilization is a much better deal than barbarism. If you're not completely lazy, you'll follow the links to read the entire essays, HERE and HERE.
The Distillation of Civilization is this snippet from Mrs. du Toit:
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There is something to be said about a life of happiness, the simple joys of sharing your daily bread. But there is also something equally interesting and important about a life with a safety net. The simple things are handled. We get to focus on greatness. |
For all of us in the First World - the "simple things", like garbage collection and disposal, putting food on the table, turning on the lights at the flick of a switch, these "simple things" that we take for granted are actually hard-won necessities that really do allow us to "focus on greatness".
The "simple things" came to us through the sweat and tears, and all to often, the blood of our predecessors. I mention the "blood" on purpose. Think of all the wars and famines that raged through Europe in the past. And our own Civil War, and the struggles and friction that we've had since then.
And from those wars, and that friction, our predecessors managed to build a country in which Catholic and Jew and Muslim and Protestant, White and Brown and Black, Asian and European, all manage to live together WITHOUT trying to kill each other.
Instead, we live together, work together, and worship as we choose. We cooperate.
It's been a long hard road, as our predecessors will tell us at every opportunity. And, so far, we've listened and tried to build on their works.
The results are there for all to see. The results are obvious.
These ideas and ideals are not bounded by borders or geography. They are not limited by the edicts of man. For the edicts of man are small beer indeed compared to the power of ideas.
Here in America we build things. We build ideas, and put 'em up for all to see. Those ideas are tested. They are battered and knocked around. If they stand the test of time, they survive and grow. This Test is not static - it is dynamic, with many shifts and viewpoints brought to bear.
And I sure as Hell do NOT want to live in a Third-world shithole. I like it here in America just fine, Thank You!
Instead of focussing on survival, I get to focus on greatness.
Even if I'm not real good at "great".
Posted by ward at December 8, 2006 10:05 PM