Quote:
Originally posted by Diamond Jim@Jun 18 2003, 05:00 PM
Quit giving away the secrets, Opti...
The first 25 times I read Atlas Shrugged, I considered the ideals and philosophy plausible. As I've gotten older, I've come to realize that wishful thinking really doesn't help much. While I don't believe that anyone can RATIONALLY deny any of the ideals set forth in the novel, wishing the world is different than it is, is a waste of time.
We're kind of in The Shrugging of The Flies....
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rofl, I like that. Robin's upbeat message in his pinned
thread really struck me as a contrast to the general 2003 style forum vibe.... "The Shrugging of the Flies" seems to fit right into 2003
I have a sneaky suspicion that even some of the most fanatical devotees around here feel the same as you do in real life... but its hard to be sure who is playing and who is serious around here at times! ;-)
Colin, I know it will be far easier to point out something that has given me a new personal perspective into another culture than identify something that could do the same for you with mine. Working backward from my experience I think you would first need to pick another country's flag, stick it over the stars corner of your flag and try to conceive being part of a general public that wouldn't find that a problem. For me the root difference between our societies stems from what we "feel" democracy is.. compared to the US ideals of democracy Australia looks closer to an Authoritarian than Democratic model. We have never had to fight anyone for our deomocracy.. the english set the resort up and just left us with the keys to the place one day?!?!
hmmm what to read.. "They're a Weird Mob" by John OGrady and "The Power of One" by Bryce Courtney are books with themes a lot of Australians relate to.. (both foriegn born authors too) I bet there is something better than those though. Timon sounds like he knows!
I really wish i could come up with a definitive Australian awareness activity now
I hope I didn't sound too pompos first up Colin...
in case it looked otherwise and at the risk of having to wear the brownose hat for the rest of the day... The more I learn about American's for myself the better I like you and the more I respect the culture.