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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (7306)	3/4/2001 12:30:32 PM
From: Neocon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

As I said, they volunteer in their communities and contribute to their favorite charities, so they may very well hold the hand of the dying or otherwise ease current suffering. On the other hand, however important responding to the suffering around us may be, supporting policies which will help to improve the lot of most people in the long run is no small thing. Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell made greater contributions to human welfare than someone with a free clinic, however admirable that person may be. Churchill, by rallying his countrymen to withstand the Nazis, did more for the future of mankind than Mother Teresa, a woman I truly admire. DW Griffith, by showing the potential of the cinematic medium, did more for the improvement of human life than someone who runs a hospice, although that person is worthy of praise. If we take the contribution, rather than the sentiment, the great humanitarians are those who contributed the most to material, political, and cultural progress.

To: Lane3 who wrote (7306)	3/4/2001 12:38:37 PM
From: epicure	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

I think perhaps, a definitional problem is rearing it's quirky little head. You and I are thinking of the person- of the qualities of the humane person. The Dali Lama- to take an extreme example- is a man of such gentleness, and yet firmness in the face of inhumanity, a man of "goodness" (although I do NOT like that word, but I can't think of a better one right now.) I think we are thinking not of the civil society, and of people making their contributions to it, but of the really outstanding humane individuals that go beyond the normal daily societal conventions of civility and charity. Neo is stuck on the practical aspects of the civil society- and so we are talking at cross purposes- I think. You are talking about something completely different from what Neo is talking about- or at least that is my perception.