I’m always intrigued by the Loury/McWhorter dialogues. This morning I saw a quote which seems germane, from a Greek philosopher named Epictetus (himself a slave for a time during the reign of Nero--and I DID have to look that up)--“No man is free who is not master of himself.” Others may categorize us based on skin pigmentation, but ou…
I’m always intrigued by the Loury/McWhorter dialogues. This morning I saw a quote which seems germane, from a Greek philosopher named Epictetus (himself a slave for a time during the reign of Nero--and I DID have to look that up)--“No man is free who is not master of himself.” Others may categorize us based on skin pigmentation, but our dreams, ambitions, fears and anxieties are our own, and we are free to shape ourselves according to our own will, not the hierarchical constructs of others. To obsess, legislate, educate, award, deny, or enumerate based on race is counter-productive to individual freedom. Conversely, the Marxist orthodoxy of collectivism, conformity and denial of individualism is the antithesis of freedom. I prefer to be my own master.
Some comparatively few Americans who are still alive in some states dealt with those up to their demise over a half century ago - but definitely let’s base our entire present discussion on race on them. Meanwhile immigrants from all over the world show up, start at the bottom, succeed and become productive and successful Americans.
Yeah, kinda will base it on that, as my father, aunt, etc are still very much alive.
Yeah...coming to America on a student visa 1998 is a tiny bit different than 1898...1930....etc.
Plus, every immigrant and immigrant groups experience is different, due to the era/cultural environment that exist when they arrive. So, that tired point is colossally stupid.
Also probably helps if you come willingly and further down the historical road you don't have to deal with federal and state laws and other legally codified/systemic efforts prohibiting your complete, free existence as a citizen.
Or, who knows? Maybe coming from Africa on a student visa in 1998 is exactly the same experience as Jim Crow/Segregation.
Nobody alive in the US came here unwillingly legally. Certainly due to Democrats' border failures, there are those who come here unwillingly but unlawfully. Let's stop that and control the border, right?
Nobody in the US has to deal with, or has had to deal with in the past half-century, "federal and state laws and other legally codified/systemic efforts prohibiting your complete, free existence as a citizen." Coming from Africa on a student visa in 1998 has nothing to do with some states' policies that ended decades before.
Any person's future starts today, and that was true 50 years ago too. SC's Senator Tim Scott didn't get mired in all the defeatism you espouse, nor did generations of successful immigrants. More forward.
Stop comparing all immigrant experiences to each other. Which you did.
It's dumb. That's the take-away.
50 years....ancient history. But the good news is that history starts over every 24 hours, apparently.
Have moved forward quite well. Have properties in Costa Rica and Panama. On schedule to retire at 58. Don't need your white input/advice on how to be successful. Doing great.
Glad you get it and things are working out for you. Leftist victim culture is absolutely a dead end. Good on you for figuring it out. But, since we're enumerating dumb things, your advocacy for victim culture here is intellectually dishonest.
"Epictetus (himself a slave for a time during the reign of Nero--and I DID have to look that up)--“No man is free who is not master of himself.” That kind of stuff is just...too....damned....hard.
I’m always intrigued by the Loury/McWhorter dialogues. This morning I saw a quote which seems germane, from a Greek philosopher named Epictetus (himself a slave for a time during the reign of Nero--and I DID have to look that up)--“No man is free who is not master of himself.” Others may categorize us based on skin pigmentation, but our dreams, ambitions, fears and anxieties are our own, and we are free to shape ourselves according to our own will, not the hierarchical constructs of others. To obsess, legislate, educate, award, deny, or enumerate based on race is counter-productive to individual freedom. Conversely, the Marxist orthodoxy of collectivism, conformity and denial of individualism is the antithesis of freedom. I prefer to be my own master.
Yes....ancient Greece and America are quite analogous.
CAN WE STOP TALKING ABOUT SLAVES, SLAVERY, ETC.?!
Let's keep it contemporary/modern and focus on Segregation, Jim Crow, etc. - stuff that people who are still alive went through.
Some comparatively few Americans who are still alive in some states dealt with those up to their demise over a half century ago - but definitely let’s base our entire present discussion on race on them. Meanwhile immigrants from all over the world show up, start at the bottom, succeed and become productive and successful Americans.
Yeah, kinda will base it on that, as my father, aunt, etc are still very much alive.
Yeah...coming to America on a student visa 1998 is a tiny bit different than 1898...1930....etc.
Plus, every immigrant and immigrant groups experience is different, due to the era/cultural environment that exist when they arrive. So, that tired point is colossally stupid.
Also probably helps if you come willingly and further down the historical road you don't have to deal with federal and state laws and other legally codified/systemic efforts prohibiting your complete, free existence as a citizen.
Or, who knows? Maybe coming from Africa on a student visa in 1998 is exactly the same experience as Jim Crow/Segregation.
Nobody alive in the US came here unwillingly legally. Certainly due to Democrats' border failures, there are those who come here unwillingly but unlawfully. Let's stop that and control the border, right?
Nobody in the US has to deal with, or has had to deal with in the past half-century, "federal and state laws and other legally codified/systemic efforts prohibiting your complete, free existence as a citizen." Coming from Africa on a student visa in 1998 has nothing to do with some states' policies that ended decades before.
Any person's future starts today, and that was true 50 years ago too. SC's Senator Tim Scott didn't get mired in all the defeatism you espouse, nor did generations of successful immigrants. More forward.
Stop comparing all immigrant experiences to each other. Which you did.
It's dumb. That's the take-away.
50 years....ancient history. But the good news is that history starts over every 24 hours, apparently.
Have moved forward quite well. Have properties in Costa Rica and Panama. On schedule to retire at 58. Don't need your white input/advice on how to be successful. Doing great.
Glad you get it and things are working out for you. Leftist victim culture is absolutely a dead end. Good on you for figuring it out. But, since we're enumerating dumb things, your advocacy for victim culture here is intellectually dishonest.
#7
"Epictetus (himself a slave for a time during the reign of Nero--and I DID have to look that up)--“No man is free who is not master of himself.” That kind of stuff is just...too....damned....hard.
😂
You've got the right of it. That's a great quote by my Main Man. I only know of a couple, one-a which is this:
“It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
That is a good one jt!