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November 21, 2006

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Posted by Bill

*** "The lazy Thanksgiving edition" of RINO Sightings is up at Right Thoughts.

*** Eteraz pans the concept of "Western values:"

IMHO, the idea of a "western" state is an illusion - there are only liberal states and illiberal states, defining a continuum between them.
I think my answer is better than the contortions that most have to go through to include America, but to exclude (for example) Japan. What do you all think?

I think that he's correct in modern practice, but neglects that the label is a function of origin and history rather than accurate rhetorical representation of something like Japanese democracy. Yes, significant components of modern liberalism have been found in non-Western cultures, but only in the de facto, traditional "West" (from Greece to England and America, most recently and notably) did a unique set of factors coalesce into the dominant modern values associated with the term. It's merely a word, a description. If Ali would like to rename "Western values" as liberalism to soothe cultural sensibilities and strive for descriptive accuracy, go for it. I think the argument itself can get a tad semantic. But I'm an intractable ethnocentrist.

Next Up: Why do they call Iceland "Iceland" and Greenland "Greenland," when Iceland is green and Greenland is icey?!

*** Gay marriage advocates must cringe at items like this:

Polygamists Fight to Be Seen As Part of Mainstream Society
In her battle to legalize polygamy, the only thing Valerie hasn't revealed is her last name. The mother of eight has been on national TV; her photo along with that of her two "sister-wives" has graced the front cover of a glossy magazine dedicated to "today's plural marriages."

I've previously elucidated why I believe comparisons between gay marriage and polygamy are a bit strained, but that story sure animates the slippery slope argument in the public consciousness. It's HBO's fault.

*** Polar bear eats SeaWolf:

A nuclear-powered attack submarine does look delicious. Like a huge frosted Ding-Dong sporting Harpoon and Tomahawk missiles.

Like a Hostess snack cake of Freedom.

(Via Tim Blair)

Posted by Bill at November 21, 2006 11:18 AM | TrackBack (2)

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Comments

Why do they call Iceland "Iceland" and Greenland "Greenland," when Iceland is green and Greenland is icey?!

I can't remember where I read this, but it's been argued that was intentional misdirection on the part of certain Vikings.

Posted by: Phil Smith at November 21, 2006 12:24 PM

Enviromentalists wackos should be on ever polar bears menu

Posted by: BIRDZILLA at November 22, 2006 10:23 PM

I thought of you first when I read that story about polygamy, and not just because now I have a face to attach to my fantasies....

Posted by: Steve the LLamabutcher at November 23, 2006 08:24 PM

Phil Smith has it right. From the horse's mouth, by way of the Graenlendinga Saga:

"[Eirik the Red] sailed back to Iceland the following summer and put in at Breidafjord. He named the country he had discovered Greenland, for he said that people would be much more tempted to go there if it had an attractive name."

Eirik's Saga gives the same reason.

Posted by: Jeff Boulier at November 24, 2006 01:01 AM