Gary -
I think "immaturity" goes much further afield than the (radical?) right... we are a culture of adolescents across the board. I believe this is for several reasons, but all roughly coming down to it making us more controllable by whatever forces (commercial, religious, governmental) want to control us. We are encouraged to remain thoughtless, dependent and irresponsible. Unfortunately those who invoke my phrase here almost always are some of the least thoughful, independent, responsible people themselves, using the accusation itself as a way to try to control or justify through shame, etc.
There are theories that suggest one of the evolutionary steps to
becoming hominid from primate was to delay maturity (remain
plastic longer, learn more in the process, etc) and that we might
well be *stuck* in immaturity by an evolutionary trick or
accident... just look at the difference between men who do and
don't pump steroids... those that do often develop a body closer
to that of a gorilla than to that of a computer nerd.
Similarly, the domestication (and taming) of animals also seems to
involve delayed or stunted maturity.... anyone involved in wild
animal rescue has experienced watching a hand-raised cute little,
friendly baby this-or-that (especially a predator) become a
dangerous wild animal as it matures...
I think we need to look closely at the myriad dimensions of maturity and decide how we can achieve the best of the process without bringing on the worst (plastic vs elastic personality/intellect/etc.)?
- Steve
I would say that it is possible because it is allowed. The American mythos has always emphasized the individual over the collective society, freedom (with responsibility in theory, but usually lacking) from government interference, and generally a distrust of government in general. There is a very fine line between libertarianism and anarchism. Our constitutionally enshrined freedoms, with little, if any, enshrined responsibilities, allows people to never grow up. A society of adolescents. Most citizens come to understand the need to grow up and be responsible citizens, but are too willing to tolerate those who don't. Couple that with the inherent disdain for government and almost religious devotion to the right to bear arms, and you have a recipe for fringe anti-government militia groups. A few sayings make it clear: "Give me liberty, or give me death" (Patrick Henry); "Those who are willing to give up a little freedom for a little security, deserve neither." (Benjamin Franklin, paraphrased); "You can take my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead hands." (popularized by the National Rifle Association). This is my take on it, as someone who grew up in deep red Kansas.
On Thu, Jan 7, 2021 at 5:01 PM Jochen Fromm <[hidden email]> wrote:
- .... . -..-. . -. -.. -..-. .. ... -..-. .... . .-. .I must say the images from CNN which we receive here in Europe are a bit disturbing. The mob that stormed the heart of American democracy felt like anarchy, like a fallback in barbaric ancient times - the time of Barbarians vs Romans or even the stone age. It is like Neanderthals found a way to use a time machine to travel into the 21st century: one guy was dressed in fur pelts and was holding a wooden stick like a wizard from Lord of the Rings, and one half-naked guy was wearing furs and horns (the one known as "Q shaman"). Long-haired bearded guys have been looting stuff like cavemen - in the center of Washington D.C.!
How is this possible in the oldest democracy of the world?
-J.
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