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The title of this thread is a quote from President Obama on June 23, 2010, which I put into the form of a question because I wanted to ask everyone: Does this sound like something our founding fathers would have said about Individuals in this country?
The title of this thread is a quote from President Obama on June 23, 2010, which I put into the form of a question because I wanted to ask everyone: Does this sound like something our founding fathers would have said about Individuals in this country?
I think I know what you're getting at here. It does have kind of an Orwellian flavor to it: "The State is more important than the individual." However, I don't think that was what Obama had in mind when he made the statement. To answer your question, yes I do think that Obama's words were in line with the general sentiment and thinking of the founding fathers. In fact, I think that the kind of freedoms that we all currently enjoy would be impossible without the idea of sacrifice for a greater good or higher ideal.
Also, the landscape of human history is littered with the kind of carnage and suffering brought about by governmental systems that let the "cult of personality" grow to the extent of creating a Hitler, a Stalin, a Mao, or a Pol Pot. These men were "individuals" responsible for incredible cruelty and destruction. Thus, it goes without saying that there are many things much more important than individual men, and I think that this idea was the motivation and spirit embodied in Obama's speech.
The title of this thread is a quote from President Obama on June 23, 2010, which I put into the form of a question because I wanted to ask everyone: Does this sound like something our founding fathers would have said about Individuals in this country?
Thanks for the responses so far, I need to head to sleep now but I'll be back to see who else has commented tomorrow and then I'll give a reply. Good night people.
He's 100% correct, and the founding fathers would have agreed.
One example: The military is stronger than any individual will ever be.
Who here thinks our democracy would survive if we had to defend our democracy as individuals, and not in a much stronger, much more organized, much more disciplined collective way?
I think I know what you're getting at here. It does have kind of an Orwellian flavor to it: "The State is more important than the individual." However, I don't think that was what Obama had in mind when he made the statement. To answer your question, yes I do think that Obama's words were in line with the general sentiment and thinking of the founding fathers. In fact, I think that the kind of freedoms that we all currently enjoy would be impossible without the idea of sacrifice for a greater good or higher ideal.
Also, the landscape of human history is littered with the kind of carnage and suffering brought about by governmental systems that let the "cult of personality" grow to the extent of creating a Hitler, a Stalin, a Mao, or a Pol Pot. These men were "individuals" responsible for incredible cruelty and destruction. Thus, it goes without saying that there are many things much more important than individual men, and I think that this idea was the motivation and spirit embodied in Obama's speech.
I think you have it skewed a little. The Hitlers and Stalins of the world, viewed state policies that violated individual human rights were justified, because their sacrifice was needed in order to advance the agenda for the "greater good or higher ideal" of the state.
He's 100% correct, and the founding fathers would have agreed.
One example: The military is stronger than any individual will ever be.
Who here thinks our democracy would survive if we had to defend our democracy as individuals, and not in a much stronger, much more organized, much more disciplined collective way?
Maybe if our country was turned into a police state.
He's 100% correct, and the founding fathers would have agreed.
One example: The military is stronger than any individual will ever be.
Who here thinks our democracy would survive if we had to defend our democracy as individuals, and not in a much stronger, much more organized, much more disciplined collective way?
It's funny you should use the military as an example because the founders mostly opposed having a standing army, as dangerous to liberty.
It's funny you should use the military as an example because the founders mostly opposed having a standing army, as dangerous to liberty.
So, you think we'd be a stronger democracy and have more liberty if we did not have a military?
What do you suppose the founding fathers would have suggested we do when we were attacked at Pearl Harbor?
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