The humanist, the capitalist, the communist, the engineer, the pragmatist all met in this blog by Miguel. I have to confess that amidst all the tension of quarter grades and Communities of the World my perspective got fussy. I really forgot the reason why I chose to teach at TASIS until I read all your reactions to Miguel’s posting. You make me very proud. As a group, you have hit the core issue: should the state decisions and policies benefit the few or the many?
As you study in Rome, large scale decisions were made for the few in the name of the many. Conquering Gaul was for the “glory” of Rome, but in reality it provided Julius Caesar and his generals more land to distribute among war-weary veterans plus a chip on the shoulder to the would-be imperator. The Caesar boosted his troop's morale and credibility plus secured their loyalty. In China, the Qin Emperor built one of the world wonders for the “security” of the state (and as you remember according to Confucian beliefs, state goes before individual) in seven years. None of you live in a bubble because in your comments there is the awareness that the GOOD OF THE MANY WILL ALWAYS ENTAIL THE NEGLET OF THE FEW. Andy is right, but also Robert. Who holds the wealth and the lever that decides which humans are expendable in the name of the collective well being? Hyper powers like the Roman Empire and the Han made decisions that ended the lives of many but also pushed population, progress, and even peace… of course perishable, yet Pax.
The problem becomes when the expendable few become the many, at this point FOCDoM takes over and the wheel of history goes for a spinning. Is an egalitarian system like communism the cure for this historical fist that has befallen upon the expendable? Is capitalism the ladder towards escaping the unfortunate few “status”? What happens when the monster mutates into STATE-CAPITALISM like China? Are all these economic systems just flawed and bound to do atrocities in the name of the collective well-being?
What is the United States without the genocide of its Native American inhabitants or slavery? What is the United States without its welcoming arms receiving the exodus of starving and persecuted immigrants in Elis Island?
What is the former Soviet Union without the forced relocation of steppe people to state farms and labor camps, its gulags and annihilation of dissenters, and the pogroms (skirmishes) to Jews before WWII? What is the former Soviet Union without crushing Nazi Germany from the Eastern Front and defeating Hitler before any other power?
Caramba, maybe we are all well aware of these contradictions but choose to live in a bubble, like Andy said. Or we are pretty much Confucians yet closeted Taoist (like in Han China): we comply we our Ziggurat/Shopping Mall duties in the name of our trusted economic system and abide the law, yet in our privacy and intimacy we believe that state power is futile, flawed, unnecessary and like Jose Oscar pondered, even capable of destroying its own citizens to achieve its goals.
But if we are not in a bubble, and like Siddhartha, we have realized that this is a world of suffering, and like Emperor Asoka (of the Mauryan Empire) we decide to open temples and multiply good deeds, that this is our time to clear Karma, maybe we are humanists. Take for instance Fafi and Andy, they both participate in drives and fundraisers to help those in need. Although Andy never brags about it, but he and his mother participate in many activities aimed at the improvement of those “expendable” few. So do all of you in school through community service and other efforts. Now, one thing that we will all disagree with Siddhartha is his detachment to the flesh- but that’s another debate.
I think that the most important thing is to be humanist (like Fafi stated), and perhaps, be a contributing or positive factor to counter act the moments when the collective well-being threatens the powerless. Gabi’s soccer ball is a beginning. Yet we should live in a state of doubt like Osqui, we ought to be pragmatic like Miguel, capitalist like Andy, communist like Robert, and… well, you get the notion.
4 comments:
and what about fafi !! jajaj i said the whole umanist positie thingyy !!! jajaj
I just want to state very clearly that I am without a doubt for democracy.
I'm not for communism. I know in most cases that communism is extremely bad. The times that i defend communsim is for three reason. 1st to bother Andy, 2nd because socialist ideas and countries are attacked blindly by many people simply because the US sabotages any socialist country that is prospering, lastly to create a better form of running a state for everyone (the poor rich and middle). We need to incorporate ideas from both, the left wing politic, and right wing politics. A perfect example on how some, small and harmless socialist tweaks can be made on the US to improve living conditions is today's economic crash, (which could of been avoided if some "rights" were more strict.) Yes ceci, communism is bad; especially in China but like I said both extremes are bad (left or right). The US is very balanced in power and I acknowledge that but like i said I'm just knid of tired of seeing the rich get richer by the poor poorer. Another great example of what I'm talking about is the great depression and how Roosevelt Franklin led America out of it. (ask Bravo he knows a lot of Roosevelt). I know it's off topic but I just want to clear that in no form I am a communist. I just find the argument very interesting and even more interesting when fought on the left side (everyone seems to be against it).
PS:I know everyone in our AP class is fully aware of what communism and socialism is.
I really enjoyed your post Mr. Bravo. It is very true that we have to be a little like everyone and have all sides of the story. I didn't mean to disrespect anybody with the bubble reference but at the moment it is pretty much the case. We are all blinded by our beliefs and we need to doubt some more, like Osqui and Miguel.
wow bravo. its all true about the Eli's island immigrants and the soviet union concentration camps. but the governement does use us for their own benefit just like the church (dont want 2 offend any1) chachi says that communism is right but most people disagree. i have to admit that i think communism is the best type of governemnt there is. oly for one reason: The whole point of communism is for everyone to be in the same conomic status. he only rpoblem is that the governor, ruler, president w/e is ALWAYS a greedy *******. He takes most of the $$$ with him and his family and government partners and leaves the rest for the people. Yea, he's keeping the point in communism cuz every1 is in the same economic (Ill say it in spanish) si todo elmundo esta igual... igual de chabao. If the rulers would just be at the same economic status as his people then every1 would have a lot and sufficient money. I realy think that all these governments and religious institutions are corrupt, cuz i saw "Zeitgeist", i think all of u shuld watch that movie, and in that movie tehre are voice recordings of the Rockerfeller family talkin about their plan to take down the towers for their own economic benefit. U might not think that theres any connection with them and the 9/11 atack but if u watch the movie, ur point of view will change.
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