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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (46346)	5/22/2004 3:13:11 PM
From: Lane3	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 794008

You've accepted my analogy but missed the point. I don't think so. I tried to address what may be our disconnect. I don't think the UN is a paragon and I don't think the Papacy was a paragon. The definition of "paragon" is a model of perfection. We agree, I think, that neither is that. A conferrer of legitimacy is a different concept. Medical boards, Sports Illustrated, the Academy of Motion Pictures are entities that confer legitimacy. Unfortunately, according to polls, majorities in Europe and even America think legitimacy does come from the UN. They are true believers in the church of the UN. That is a lack of critical thinking. "UN" has become a proxy for international backing in many minds. If those who were surveyed were asked whether it was the UN infrastructure or the consensus of member nations that conveyed legitimacy, I imagine they would recognize the difference. But that's neither here nor there when it comes to paragons. Now, what is that, if not a paragon of virtue? A cruel hoax? <g> The only difference between the Papacy and any other legitimizing entity we have is that the Papacy was established externally--by authoritarian fiat by God as his representative on earth. Our other legitimizing entities serve in that capacity only to the extent that we consent. If we think that the Cannes Film Festival judging stinks, we don't accept their legitimizing authority as legitimate. And, as you said, even the representative of God can eventually be ignored by the stout of heart.