Text 15407, 51 rader
Skriven 2008-05-16 11:43:03 av Michiel van der Vlist (2:280/5555)
  Kommentar till text 15309 av Jeff Smith (1:14/5)
Ärende: Guns
============
Hello Jeff,

On Tuesday May 13 2008 21:54, you wrote to me:

 JS>>>       Here guns have been a part of our culture since day one.
 JS>>>  Their ownership and possesion by Americans are protected. That
 JS>>> has been the way is has been and will be for the forseeable
 JS>>> future.

 MV>> That is probably what the slave owners said when slavery was
 MV>> still part of the American culture.

 JS>      I imagine so. The differance being that with slaves we are
 JS> talking people. Not a thing such as a gun. Need I elaborate?

Not really, the pattern is clear.

First you defend your guns by claiming it is part of your culure and that there
is nothing inherently wrong with culture.

When I then come up with examples of cultural aspects that by most people in
civilised countries is considered medieval and backward, aspects that most
countries have gone through but left behind, you come up with excuses.

Example such as:
o Elimination of dissidents and deviants. Sexual, religious or political.
o Slavery

And your response is "that was different".

I know that I have no hope of convincing you. Cultures do not change because
people change. Those who are in it, never see that there something wrong. Too
close to the trees to see the forest. The slave owners did not see something
was wrong with slavery because it was part of their culture. Islamic
fundamentalists do not see there is something wrong with executing homosexuals
because that is part of their culture. You do not see that there is something
wrong with your addiction to guns because that is part of your culture. It
takes an outsider to see that.

Cultures do not change because people change, they change because old people
die and young people with new ideas take their place.

Some time, some day, the people in the US will remelt their guns into plows and
declare their gun addiction history. Like slavery and witch hunting. But I
doubt you and I will live to see it...


Cheers, Michiel

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