26 Aug 06
Originally posted by Vladamir no1America and liberal in the same sentence? I don't get it.
Humanitarinism is merely a semantic ruse covering America's neo-liberal politics and neo-colonial intensions exacted through the less overt from of colonialism that we call globalisation, thoughts ?
26 Aug 06
You concern, while getting points for being difficult to read, does not really otherwise hold merit. For the most part humanitarianism is done by not political, but privately funded organizations that often act without and political sanctions of any kind. The political form of humanitarianism is writing a check (cheque?) to some poor country and telling them to please spend it on something good for them. This latter humanitarianism is a far cry from Doctors Without Borders or those people digging up mines in Afghanistan.
The imperialists just start wars, either personally or financially. Humanitarians actually try to help people with their own hands and their (some believe) ill-gotten and undeserved education.
26 Aug 06
Originally posted by thesonofsaulBut where do humanitarian beliefs stem from within the West, christianinity and an intellectual stoicism. By the West trying to homogenise its moral beliefs it is just as bad (hypothetically) as spreading its political and economic beliefs, as morality is intrinsically tied to economy and politics. As Derrida has asked, why should the West impose Christian values on non-Christian nations?
You concern, while getting points for being difficult to read, does not really otherwise hold merit. For the most part humanitarianism is done by not political, but privately funded organizations that often act without and political sanctions of any kind. The political form of humanitarianism is writing a check (cheque?) to some poor country and telli ...[text shortened]... o help people with their own hands and their (some believe) ill-gotten and undeserved education.
26 Aug 06
Originally posted by mrstabbyEsoteric means basically knowledge known to a select few.
What the hell does esoteric mean? The government throwing money at countries and expecting them to improve only makes things worse, seeing as much of that money goes into swiss bank accounts, never to be seen by the people who need it.
26 Aug 06
Originally posted by Vladamir no1I'm afraid I don't understand how humanitarianism can be birthed from "intellectual stoicism." Such attitudes usually stay at home, locked up in a lab. They often don't care that the rest of the world is suffering as long as they get their funding.
But where do humanitarian beliefs stem from within the West, christianinity and an intellectual stoicism. By the West trying to homogenise its moral beliefs it is just as bad (hypothetically) as spreading its political and economic beliefs, as morality is intrinsically tied to economy and politics. As Derrida has asked, why should the West impose Christian values on non-Christian nations?
As for Christian beliefs, yes, some humanitarianism does come through that channel. However, without knowing the numbers, I would think that most humanitarian behavior comes from people who find themselves privilaged and feel guilty about it. This sort of attitude can only come from a rich, privilaged society. The western society is currently rich and privilaged. Sooner or later that will change and a different part of the world will hold the reins. That change in the leading culture wouldn't affect the nature of humanitarianism, however. It has nothing to do with politics, but with guilt.