The esteemed Professor appropriated:
>"People not in our group, or with
Are all Christians fundies?
>unfamiliar features, are "THEM"--and we
>are naturally more inclined to find fault
>and to place blame on "THEM" than we
>do on "US". However, we all realize
>upon reflection that UTism leads inevitably
>to oversimplifications and generalization
>and does NOT accurately represent reality.
>As such, habitual UTism should be
>avoided when at all possible." -Prof. Tim
Are all of the environmentally sensitive chicken littles?
Are all feminists radical?
Are all Muslims Shites
Are all republicans gun-loco and anti-abortion?
Are all protestants like Bob Barr?
Are all inmates "criminals"?
Are all pot smokers lazy?
On and on and on and on.
In the democracies political and social discourses boldly insinuate
UTism into the issues. It is always in terms of an expediant and
compulsory FOR or AGAINST. Every issue has the voice of chicken little.
Pragmatism has little or no voice. There is a thriving business in self
replicating polarizations and positional absolutism in both social and
political war zones. No leaders dare budge for fear of losing the
magnetism associated with the polarization; the votes if one does not
adhere to the unequivocal clarity of the absolutism. Citizens can cling
easily to these simplistic UTist polarizations and satisfy the need to
fit into an ideolgical US.
All this garbage seeps down into our families, churches, community organizations, and our educational facilities. ECH!
Here in NH, 37% of the electorate is registered as Independants. ( & we have no income tax or sales taxes except a Room and Meals Tax). You have heard things about the libertarian spirit here and it is true. Independants are the biggest voting block in the state. (we have a fiscally conservative, no taxes, socially liberal governor, Jeanne Shaheen). I hope that this trend continues worldwide because the level of independants in society reflect the fruits of victory in the war against intolerance, moral absolutism and UTism............jim
at least it seems that way!