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Micheline's Blog

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Micheline's Blog

Tag Archives: commonality

The Art of Destructiveness

06 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by michelinewalker in Uncategorized

≈ Comments Off on The Art of Destructiveness

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anti-tax extremism, commonality, democracy, G. K. Chesterton, nationhood, obstructionism, social programs, The Tea Party, US Economy, WordPress

Occasionally, WordPress suggests topics to blog about.  Destructiveness, or something to that effect, is one of these topics.

What I am seeing at the moment is a nation, namely the US, who has a fine administration, but where Tea Party members and hardline Republicans are putting obstacles in the path of this administration in the naïve expectation that getting rid of the Democrats will magically eliminate America’s economic woes.

First, the current administration had nothing to do with the debt.  That debt was incurred by a former administration (who had inherited a surplus by the way) and it would still be there the morning after a Republican administration might, to the consternation of most of the rest of the world, be voted into office.

It appears to most observers that the world would prefer not to deal with a parochial and intellectually weak Republican administration.

So pay the debt and support President Obama’s stimulus package.  Republicans messed up America and should be charged to pay for the clean-up.

But, don’t expect miracles.  Given the size of the problem; given also anti-tax extremism, the problem will not be fixed overnight.

Second, Tea Party members and hardline Republicans don’t really care about the people, and, by extension, about their country.  They only care about the rich citizens who fund their election campaigns. If they cared for the nation, anti-tax extremism would disappear.  If they cared, the US would have a comprehensive social program.  If they cared, these elected officials would repair the harm caused by natural disasters and rebuild New Orleans.  If they cared, there would be food on every table.  If they cared, at least certain jobs would be repatriated and many more would be created.  If they cared, veterans would be employed and suitably housed.  If they cared, they would respect the duly-elected President of the United States and work with his administration at improving the lot of the common man instead of making the rich richer. Finally, if they really cared, America might actually be a genuine democracy.

G.  K. Chesterton (1874-1936) writes that in a democracy, first, “the things common to all men are more important than the things peculiar to any men.”  Second, in a democracy “the political instinct or desire is one of these things which they hold in common.” [1]

But they don’t care.  Obstructionism is a game and, given what is at stake, the survival of America and the health of global markets, it’s an unacceptable game.

Where could I find a better example to shed light upon destructiveness?

*   *   *

October 6, 2011


[1] Gilbert K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, “The Ethics of Elflandˮ (New York:  Dodd, Mead and Company, 1943), pp. 82-83.

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“Que sais-je ?”

21 Wednesday Sep 2011

Posted by michelinewalker in Uncategorized

≈ 13 Comments

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brotherhood, commonality, Hillary Clinton, Montaigne, peace, President Hamid Karzai, President Obama, WordPress

Yesterday, I saw a video that led me to think that there just may be greater acceptance of other cultures and, especially, of the Middle East.

The video showed President Obama speaking with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan.  I saw two men who were speaking calmly and with civility.  Could this be the work of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton?  Perhaps, but there just may be more.

Many soldiers died in Afghanistan during the last few years, some of whom were Canadian soldiers.  There are unhappy memories and I feel genuine sorrow for those who have lost a loved one.

Moreover, as a woman, I rather enjoy being able to show my face.  But it could be that women whose faces are hidden and whose husbands have many wives are nevertheless happy.  “Que sais-je ?” (What do I know?)  These are the words of Michel de Montaigne  (1533-1592).

Unfortunately, one cannot roll back history, but one can make today the first day of the rest of one’s life.  We have that option.

In other words, I felt a sense of relief viewing these two Presidents speaking humbly with one another and then shake hands.

Let us hope for greater brotherhood among human beings.  Cultures may differ, but we are all human beings.  There is therefore a profound level of commonality between all of us.

It is my most sincere wish that humans will now work with one another and avoid conflicts.

*  *  *

September 21, 2011

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