July 8, 2008
A Special Grace
There's a lot to think about in this article.
Posted by Ith at July 8, 2008 9:09 AM
| PROCURE FINE OLD WORLD ABSINTHE
Perhaps this is a quibble about nothing more than a “feel good” moment for Spengler but, in the 11th paragraph he writes:
“Rights under law, from the American vantage point, are sacred, not utilitarian, convenient or consensual.”
Perhaps he means those rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independence and just got caught up in a “stream of consciousness” moment. Certainly, rights under law are not sacred as they are constantly being changed, amended, and REVERSED.
The D of I states “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The key words being “among these”. Which are the others? Those enumerated in the Constitution’s Bill Of Rights. Can’t be. “Congress shall make no law prohibiting…” ergo the States may prohibit, therefore the rights are not “sacred” and are in effect utilitarian, convenient, consensual. Is the “right to a living wage” really a “right”.
I believe Spengler has gone on a bender, with rose colored glasses on, at least I hope that’s all it is. The we are of a “special grace”, “an almost chosen people” and other like phrases I hear bandied about regards the uniqueness of the United States generally worries me. Those with special graces and those who are chosen, by extension, have much expected of them, - responsibilities, duties, obligations. Just what, I wonder, does Spengler envision these might be? More American adventurism? More democracy evangelicalism? More dragons slain? An ongoing crusade to save the rest of the benighted world? We (the USA) are special, but not that special. We (the USA) have been graced but not anointed. We (the USA) should look first to the perfection of ourselves.
Perhaps this is a quibble about nothing more than a “feel good” moment for Spengler but, in the 11th paragraph he writes:
“Rights under law, from the American vantage point, are sacred, not utilitarian, convenient or consensual.”
Perhaps he means those rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independence and just got caught up in a “stream of consciousness” moment. Certainly, rights under law are not sacred as they are constantly being changed, amended, and REVERSED.
The D of I states “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The key words being “among these”. Which are the others? Those enumerated in the Constitution’s Bill Of Rights. Can’t be. “Congress shall make no law prohibiting…” ergo the States may prohibit, therefore the rights are not “sacred” and are in effect utilitarian, convenient, consensual. Is the “right to a living wage” really a “right”.
I believe Spengler has gone on a bender, with rose colored glasses on, at least I hope that’s all it is. The we are of a “special grace”, “an almost chosen people” and other like phrases I hear bandied about regards the uniqueness of the United States generally worries me. Those with special graces and those who are chosen, by extension, have much expected of them, - responsibilities, duties, obligations. Just what, I wonder, does Spengler envision these might be? More American adventurism? More democracy evangelicalism? More dragons slain? An ongoing crusade to save the rest of the benighted world? We (the USA) are special, but not that special. We (the USA) have been graced but not anointed. We (the USA) should look first to the perfection of ourselves.
Posted by: george at July 8, 2008 10:56 AM