Politics
Out of context: Reply #8025
- Started
- Last post
- 33,772 Responses
- TheBlueOne0
Look, and maybe I'm extreme here, or some kind of wacky "leftist" or whatever, but I think that as much as I am a huge proponent of individual freedom I think there has to be a reciprocal sense of responsibility to the larger society from the individual as well. This was a huge part of the Greek and Roma Republican equation as much as individual freedom was. It's a sense I think we have lost.
It seems like we have equated lifestyle choices with the concept individual freedom and I think it sullies and undignifies the whole thing. I mean, I look at the struggle these kids are putting out in Iran, puttin ghteir lives and livelihoods on the line just to make sure their fucking vote is counted. Facing bullets, batons and torture for that right. Here, Americans somehow think that being told that, Hey, you know, maybe smoking or that sedentary lifestyle or whatever is a bad thing and it's like "Fuck you man, I'm expressing my individual freedom." Are you? Is your free choice as a consumer equal to your ability as a free individual to express yourself safely and rightfully in an open political system? I mean, did our grandfathers die on the beaches of Normandy so you no one could pry that diet coke from your hands unless they were cold and dead? I mean, isn't their a responsibility of the citizen of a free nation to be able to, if called upon, protect that society and keep it healthy overall?
Their was a civic pride in Sparta, Athens, Thebes, Rome, of being able to be able to vote in a public election and then don some armor and take to the battlefield and protect the nation. And those that let themselves go were considered failing in their duties. In Athens the wealthy would fund great public works not just for influence, but because it was required of them, and they took great pride in doing it.
That sense has come and gone throughout US history, but I feel we have really lost it these days. It saddens me.
- If anything consider myself an old school enlightenment conservative, but under Bush I became a flaming liberal...weird how that happened.TheBlueOne
- how that happened.TheBlueOne
- yeah I kinda had the same thing happen. Bush fucked up my political identity forever.tommyo
- Only noblemen could vote back then. The others were just ordered around. It's far better as it is believe me.Corvo2
- TBO your my heroJonnyPompa