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> And the United States of America, the former colonies of the British Empire, became infected with this meme of human rights, a very powerful one.

This is plainly not true. The USA has no conception of human rights. For instance, Americans do not even recognize human rights. Set down the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in front of them and they will sputter that most or all of them aren't human rights. This is because Americans automatically translate universal human rights into civil rights. It's a false cognate between the American language and the English language. The term 'human rights' simply doesn't exist in American.

> How do you see this coming battle between the fundamentalist segment of Islam, Humanist Europe, and the schizophrenic USA

Which battle and in what terms? Military, economic, social, legal?

> Will liberal humanist citizen be able to educate and motivate a large enough majority of voters to stem the tide?

No, absolutely not. Will humanists be able to educate the children of these people to stem the tide of barbarism? Almost certainly.

by richardk (richard kulisz gmail) on Fri Mar 2nd, 2007 at 11:43:27 AM EST
I think you overgeneralize Americans. There are large numbers who demonstrate, constitute the NetRoots, and vote for decent candidates, but we suffer from the same limitations on our nastiness that all liberals do: hesitancy and failure to believe in our own morality.

As cognitive science educates us in the wellsprings of morality in reciprocal altruism and game theory, we may get off our fence and ride into battle.

Or we can play relativistic games and lose the war. The oligarchs sure don't believe in fair play. They're the free riders, the parasites who are sucking us dry.

Which battle and in what terms? Military, economic, social, legal?

I'm all ears. Lay it out. I'm here to learn.

Will there be any humanists alive to teach these children, and will their schools have been transmuted into Western madrassas?

Align culture with our nature. Ot else!

by ormondotvos (ormond.otvosnospamgmialcon) on Sat Mar 3rd, 2007 at 01:38:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]
> I'm all ears. Lay it out. I'm here to learn.

Well, most people here aren't and my guess at your email address just bounced. Send me an email if you care.

by richardk (richard kulisz gmail) on Sat Mar 3rd, 2007 at 12:28:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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