Comments on: “They All Look The Same To Me” (II) http://larison.org/2006/10/17/they-all-look-the-same-to-me-ii/ n. the principle of good order "Observe the strange inversion of all order and sense! Dignity debased; how vilely is the function of a consul prostituted!" ~The Craftsman Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:19:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Grumpy Old Man http://larison.org/2006/10/17/they-all-look-the-same-to-me-ii/#comment-4834 Tue, 17 Oct 2006 23:12:02 +0000 http://larison.org/2006/10/17/they-all-look-the-same-to-me-ii/#comment-4834 This ignorance is of a piece with our lack of knowledge of foreign languages and cultures, which in turn is not only a consequence of our being a continental nation, but also of the American heresy you refer to in another post. If we are "the light of the world" or at least "a shining city of a hill," the world should be learning our lingo, not we theirs. This ignorance also rests on the plebeian strain in American populism. Too much book learnin' and your boys'll turn into sissies and your girls into promiscuous bluestockings. "Culture," said Nixon, "that's the Jews" or words to that effect. There's just enough truth in those stereotypes for them to persist, and enough mischief in them to give rise to many Trent Lotts. Say what you will about the British Empire, it did spawn some diligent characters who managed to learn a great deal about the languages and cultures of those who inhabited their domains. See <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-Game-Struggle-Central-Kodansha/dp/1568360223/sr=1-2/qid=1161126654/ref=sr_1_2/104-3052729-3950336?ie=UTF8&s=books" rel="nofollow">The Great Game</a>, for example. This ignorance is of a piece with our lack of knowledge of foreign languages and cultures, which in turn is not only a consequence of our being a continental nation, but also of the American heresy you refer to in another post. If we are “the light of the world” or at least “a shining city of a hill,” the world should be learning our lingo, not we theirs.

This ignorance also rests on the plebeian strain in American populism. Too much book learnin’ and your boys’ll turn into sissies and your girls into promiscuous bluestockings. “Culture,” said Nixon, “that’s the Jews” or words to that effect.

There’s just enough truth in those stereotypes for them to persist, and enough mischief in them to give rise to many Trent Lotts.

Say what you will about the British Empire, it did spawn some diligent characters who managed to learn a great deal about the languages and cultures of those who inhabited their domains. See The Great Game, for example.

]]> by: hambone http://larison.org/2006/10/17/they-all-look-the-same-to-me-ii/#comment-4833 Tue, 17 Oct 2006 20:59:13 +0000 http://larison.org/2006/10/17/they-all-look-the-same-to-me-ii/#comment-4833 I would like to know Senator Santorum's answer - he was bloviating on Imus last week about how Iran was the key to establishing the new Caliphate throughout the world. It would certainly be ironic that the heirs of Ali, the martyr of the Caliph, would take up that mantel. I cry for this country when I think of the ignorance of its people and how easily they are gulled by the likes of Santorum, Cheney, Bush and Company. I used to feel sorry for the people in nations that had corrupt, oppressive rulers but more and more I subscribe to the notion that countries deserve the rulers they have - just look at us and Iraq, Bush and Saddam are exactly what we and they deserve, our mistake was upsetting the balance. I would like to know Senator Santorum’s answer - he was bloviating on Imus last week about how Iran was the key to establishing the new Caliphate throughout the world. It would certainly be ironic that the heirs of Ali, the martyr of the Caliph, would take up that mantel. I cry for this country when I think of the ignorance of its people and how easily they are gulled by the likes of Santorum, Cheney, Bush and Company.

I used to feel sorry for the people in nations that had corrupt, oppressive rulers but more and more I subscribe to the notion that countries deserve the rulers they have - just look at us and Iraq, Bush and Saddam are exactly what we and they deserve, our mistake was upsetting the balance.

]]> by: hambone http://larison.org/2006/10/17/they-all-look-the-same-to-me-ii/#comment-4832 Tue, 17 Oct 2006 20:44:56 +0000 http://larison.org/2006/10/17/they-all-look-the-same-to-me-ii/#comment-4832 I would like to know Senator Santorum's answer - he was on Imus the other week bloviating on Iran and how they would establish the new caliphate. I am sure that the heirs of Ali who was martyred by the followers of the original caliph are waiting in line to sign on. I cry for this country. I would like to know Senator Santorum’s answer - he was on Imus the other week bloviating on Iran and how they would establish the new caliphate. I am sure that the heirs of Ali who was martyred by the followers of the original caliph are waiting in line to sign on. I cry for this country.

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