Karen
trying to "convince" others is basically proselytizing- because so many people here hold their politics like religion- it's a matter of faith. It is essentially irrational. It is almost impossible to use reason against faith. I've seen people try- but it's a fairly pointless exercise.
Long gone, for example, with his references to communism. He "believes" that because I see some biological differentiation in people I am somehow part of Mao's plan. The irony is that long gone, if born in China, would be a communist. If born in Sweden, he'd probably be an ardent socialist. His politics are probably an accident of his birth in this country. Irrational people, fervent people, are the least likely to have critically examined their positions, and are also the least like to WANT to critically examine them. They believe, that's enough. Those gun toting folks in the heartland that you want to understand? They are simply filled with belief about everything- and they don't short circuit that belief with anything resembling critical thought. Now belief makes people able to do amazing things- amazing horrible, and amazing good- and it seems to me, the good doesn't outweigh the bad. So as a moderate, lover of stability, I can't stand belief and zealotry, but as a relativist I can't really condemn it either, except personally, because it tends to make the world uglier in my perception. |
