Does this Crisis echo the Glorious Revolutuon?

[Eric the Green]

(02-19-2019, 11:35 AM)David Horn Wrote:

(02-19-2019, 07:22 AM)Bill the Piper Wrote:

(02-18-2019, 03:37 PM)Eric the Green Wrote: However, all cultures and their peoples have their right to exist in peace as long as they don't break the laws, which are based on moral values. I dissent from any idea that such moral values are relative to time, evolution or culture. Their articulation in specific lists and rules may change, but not their essence.

But I don't think that such aesthetic or moral relativism is a prominent feature of the Left in politics. So I'm not sure what you mean.

I don't like the fact that Leftists refuse to condemn Islam, even if they ostensibly stand for atheism and rationalism.

No religion of any stripe is evil in and of itself.  It's only evil when practiced by evil people.  Of course, religion is the prefect foil for the larcenous and power hungry.  It's its own justification.

Bill the Piper Wrote:

Eric the Green Wrote:I don't think you advocate culture-war religious-right efforts, but I agree with the Left of course on such issues as gay rights and government-sponsored religion in public places. Abortion is an issue that can be compromised, but that doesn't seem to be possible just now.

I could just say that I'd like to see the effects of sexual revolution reversed to some degree. The entertainment industry in particular needs to be purged. To some extent, reversing the sexual revolution requires the dominant ethos of individualism (which regards selfish pursuit of happiness as the goal of life) to die off, and new ethos of communitarianism to replace it. Parents staying together for their child's sake, even if they no longer get the thrills in bed. Like it was with the GIs and previous generations.

I have to agree with much of this.  The sexual revolution had far too many excesses to remain dominant in a less hyper-individualist society.  Communalism is returning and some degree of puritanical ethos will return with it.

It seems to be happening. I have mixed opinions and feelings about it. The me too movement is a new puritanism that, though needed to an extent, often goes too far, IMO. Personally, I think a healthy society needs both individualism and communitarianism; they are both wonderful and necessary aspects of a fulfilling society. But I understand that, since the USA and other societies are largely dysfunctional, things move in cycles and go from reaction to reaction. A gradual process of real growth would be the best we can hope for amid these unfortunate cycles, which as we know move from 2Ts/3Ts to 4Ts/1Ts and back.

I disagree with your view of Mohammed and Islam, Bill. As a member of the Left, I also refuse to condemn them, and assert that the horrors of terrorist fundamentalism are the views and actions of extremists that have some appeal in oppressed societies. I agree that action needs to be taken to restrain and if necessary capture perpetrators of evil, and to counteract extremist fundamentalism by such efforts as taking down their websites and countering their propaganda.

From my point of view, I feel somewhat (at least) alienated in a society where people are close-minded and rigidly dogmatic, as older Americans seem to be, and too quick to condemn and ostracize people rather than forgive and help them learn what they need to learn. And the neo-liberals have succeeded in stopping the Awakening, and thus keeping our noses to the grindstone of imposed poverty and the rat race of phony desire and ambition, instead of self-actualization and communitarian idealism. If the neo-liberals could hook some people with hopes for better sex lives and cool parties with cool people, as well as expensive cars and neat entertaining tech devices, then that helps keep their noses down and the race going so the people can want and make more money to get those things.