Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Washed Away
Some libertarians are so committed to their vision of a society of atomistic individuals that they go far beyond calls for a minimal state, or even the abolition of the state. They sink into a something very near hatred for the society in which they were raised, its customs, language and symbols become anathema to them. As example.
What underlies this sanctimonious campaign on behalf of learning English has very little to do with immigrants respecting the language and culture of the lands to which they are moving. It has more to do with maintaining the collective political and social identity that is rapidly collapsing throughout America and Europe. The world is becoming decentralized, and nothing reflects this more than the variety of languages with which people speak to one another in society. The idea that such processes can be resisted by forcing everyone to speak in one tongue is, like the "war on terror," an expression of efforts to rebuild sand castles whose foundations are being washed away by incoming tides. Butler Shaffer Time hack -- 06:11 PM, May 23
Note here we are not speaking about the state. We are talking about American society and American culture. Shaffer cannot bear the fact that people identify with one another based on language, custom, tradition, heritage, and for better or worse, physical appearance. He is especially outrages that people that look like him, speak his language, share his way of life do so.
He seems not to mind the collective action of migrants from the south.
What underlies this sanctimonious campaign on behalf of learning English has very little to do with immigrants respecting the language and culture of the lands to which they are moving. It has more to do with maintaining the collective political and social identity that is rapidly collapsing throughout America and Europe. The world is becoming decentralized, and nothing reflects this more than the variety of languages with which people speak to one another in society. The idea that such processes can be resisted by forcing everyone to speak in one tongue is, like the "war on terror," an expression of efforts to rebuild sand castles whose foundations are being washed away by incoming tides. Butler Shaffer Time hack -- 06:11 PM, May 23
Note here we are not speaking about the state. We are talking about American society and American culture. Shaffer cannot bear the fact that people identify with one another based on language, custom, tradition, heritage, and for better or worse, physical appearance. He is especially outrages that people that look like him, speak his language, share his way of life do so.
He seems not to mind the collective action of migrants from the south.
Comments:
Post a Comment
