I took Zman’s assertion that natural or individual rights do not exist as the affirmation that these concepts originate in Western Civilization, and are not universal. Throughout my military career traveling the globe, this resonated with me as our ideas are just that – ours. One would receive blank stares from Indonesian bush folks if you began to try and explain these. This is why the dilution of Western countries by mass immigration (invasion, really) puts these abstract conceptions of natural and individual rights at risk under our supposed Democracy. For example, look to the polls of Muslims in the US and UK who overwhelmingly agree with the notion of living under Sharia law if they could. Or how varied the customs, cultures and traditions are in the Middle East compared to the West.
My biggest appeal to the DR side is seeing the world as it is and not how people ‘wish’ it were. This means that differences should be acknowledged and a sane and serious approach to societal ills should be employed in the areas of crime, immigration, and the well-being of the citizens in our nation.
Hi Arthur, I agree that these ideas of rights are ours in the West, really the Anglo-Saxon West. They are the product of a particular time and place and most of us in the West no longer understand them much less the invaders. I also agree that there is such a thing as reality and it is important to discuss what that reality is. Our worldviews aren’t really that far apart. Zman is big on western tradition which is great but he certainly values some tradition above other tradition (I know that’s not a surprise). Zman’s post disturbed… Read more »
Hello, Glenn. As another career military man I too have been around-the-world three or four times. I agree with Zman that what we call human rights are an invention as we have no natural, unalienable “rights”. What we call rights are privileges and will last no longer than we can/will defend them. Our 1st and 2nd Amemdment “rights” are currently under attack. We either defend them or lose them. Uncontrolled immigration is another tool to dilute our will to defend our Constitutional privileges. Players such as Soros, Gates, Buffet and others are spending big money on the gamble that ruining… Read more »