I don't know Mark. I wrote this last week. I hardly think I'm being unfair to Republicans by saying that these particular candidates would be worse than Obama. I don't think all Republicans would be worse on security state stuff, and could very well vote for some of them instead of him if I thought that were the case.
But we also have actual historical record of the GOP massively expanding the security state - by a president whose rhetoric was comparably mild. Why should we expect anything less out of Gingrich or Palin? Notice Paul is not included in my critique. And I've discussed Obama's abysmal track record many times.
Agreed. Most men from previous eras would be considered racist by today's standards; and naturally, if they had come of age in present times would likely not have the same notions. I'm not sure I agree about a more explicit Christianity in Tolkien's work, however. I like that it takes work, and that he incorporates his ideas about pre-Christian Europe, faeries, and so forth in ways that might not have been quite as potent in a more explicitly Christian text.
No it's not supposed to be either so far as I can tell, or perhaps both. I always took it to be an extended metaphor for the West generally speaking, with the Shire representing the older ways and Mordor representing the rise of industrialism and totalitarianism and so forth - no hard parallels to mainland Europe or the UK specifically, but to traditional Western Civilization more broadly, and its deterioration.
Bob - to answer your first question: I do believe geography and the economy it produced is the reason the South had slaves longer than the North and were the tables turned I'm sure it's quite possible everything might have happened in reverse.
To answer your second - of course not. That there is a large population of African Americans in the United States is a very good thing. I'm not one to tinker with history. However, I wish it could have come about in a different manner.
Yeah, uhm, Bob - how they 'treated their slaves' was by, you know, keeping slaves. That says about all I need to know. I won't blanket-condemn the South, and I know the North had plenty to answer for in the war, and nor were the motives of any side pure, but slavery is simply and utterly and entirely wrong and no amount of chivalrous behavior can change that. Chivalry at the end of a whip is not chivalry at all. Give me a break.
True, Jaybird, but I think there is a lot - LOT - more stigma attached to the term confederate than progressive, if only because progressives were a very mixed bunch without the sort of unifying cause the confederates had.
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.
On “First Praxis, information-based developmental health project, launched by Cambridge researcher”
Mia, everyone writes about whatever is interesting to them at the time. And some writers take breaks for a while when they have nothing to say.
On “Julian Assange: bank account closed, prepares to meet with police, face talking-point wrath of GOP hopefuls”
I don't know Mark. I wrote this last week. I hardly think I'm being unfair to Republicans by saying that these particular candidates would be worse than Obama. I don't think all Republicans would be worse on security state stuff, and could very well vote for some of them instead of him if I thought that were the case.
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But we also have actual historical record of the GOP massively expanding the security state - by a president whose rhetoric was comparably mild. Why should we expect anything less out of Gingrich or Palin? Notice Paul is not included in my critique. And I've discussed Obama's abysmal track record many times.
On “On Hobbits, Race, and Self-Contained Worlds”
Agreed. Most men from previous eras would be considered racist by today's standards; and naturally, if they had come of age in present times would likely not have the same notions. I'm not sure I agree about a more explicit Christianity in Tolkien's work, however. I like that it takes work, and that he incorporates his ideas about pre-Christian Europe, faeries, and so forth in ways that might not have been quite as potent in a more explicitly Christian text.
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What North said.
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No it's not supposed to be either so far as I can tell, or perhaps both. I always took it to be an extended metaphor for the West generally speaking, with the Shire representing the older ways and Mordor representing the rise of industrialism and totalitarianism and so forth - no hard parallels to mainland Europe or the UK specifically, but to traditional Western Civilization more broadly, and its deterioration.
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Actually there were none specifically described as darker skinned. Here's the wiki.
On “The Future of Screen Technology”
Pretty cool. Thanks for the link.
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Yeah - I was happy to see you could dock the iPad. I can't imagine typing on a touch screen. I say typing is here to stay, damnit.
On “On Hobbits, Race, and Self-Contained Worlds”
Great points. This was one of the more frustrating parts of the second movie, though still not as bad as cutting the Shire rebellion.
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Willow was awesome when I was eight and I am ruled by my nostalgia.
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No racefail here.
On “$200,000,000 per arrest”
Good grief.
On “The Nation defends TSA against Evil Koch Brothers”
This is a very good point, James. Things will get worse before they get better I suppose.
On “A Note to Readers and Commenters”
Bob - to answer your first question: I do believe geography and the economy it produced is the reason the South had slaves longer than the North and were the tables turned I'm sure it's quite possible everything might have happened in reverse.
To answer your second - of course not. That there is a large population of African Americans in the United States is a very good thing. I'm not one to tinker with history. However, I wish it could have come about in a different manner.
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Thanks for that, James.
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Yeah, uhm, Bob - how they 'treated their slaves' was by, you know, keeping slaves. That says about all I need to know. I won't blanket-condemn the South, and I know the North had plenty to answer for in the war, and nor were the motives of any side pure, but slavery is simply and utterly and entirely wrong and no amount of chivalrous behavior can change that. Chivalry at the end of a whip is not chivalry at all. Give me a break.
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D.A. - Rage away!
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North - Can't you be changing and dying?
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Thanks for everyone's input. I just wanted to clear the air and get back on course.
On “The Wyden/Brown plan”
Well that's sort of the issue Reihan takes with it, you know?
On “Check out these WASPs”
Yep. It's sad really.
On “Language & Politics”
Quite right, Christopher!
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Like an edit-your-own comment function?
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True, Jaybird, but I think there is a lot - LOT - more stigma attached to the term confederate than progressive, if only because progressives were a very mixed bunch without the sort of unifying cause the confederates had.
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.